Jobs that actually got a raise in Ohio

Consumer prices rose about 26% between May 2019 and May 2025, so a wage that grew less than that lost ground while appearing to rise. The column on the right is the inflation-adjusted change; the nominal figure beneath it is what a paycheck comparison would have shown. Limited to occupations employing at least 50,000 people, so the ranking is not dominated by tiny, noisy ones.

Cost of living: prices in Ohio run 7.2% below the national average (2024), so a Ohio salary is worth about 1.08× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order. To see where a job pays a real premium, use jobs that pay more in Ohio.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in Ohio

OccupationMedian, Ohio · Real change since 2019

1Coaches and Scouts$46,530
Bachelor's degree
$28,280 – $81,760+50.0%+88.9% nominal
2Waiters and Waitresses$36,700
No formal educational credential
$23,820 – $63,740+46.2%+84.1% nominal
3Driver/Sales Workers$35,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$22,490 – $59,370+39.1%+75.2% nominal
4Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists$36,260
Postsecondary nondegree award
$23,520 – $77,330+29.4%+63.0% nominal
5Manicurists and Pedicurists$35,590
Postsecondary nondegree award
$26,650 – $53,260+26.4%+59.2% nominal
6Bartenders$30,880
No formal educational credential
$22,990 – $72,190+24.7%+57.1% nominal
7Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders$55,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,010 – $71,080+23.5%+55.5% nominal
8Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse$37,470
No formal educational credential
$26,740 – $54,100+23.5%+55.5% nominal
9Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity$62,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,660 – $74,270+22.1%+53.7% nominal
10Food Preparation Workers$34,530
No formal educational credential
$26,640 – $44,500+22.0%+53.6% nominal
11Engine and Other Machine Assemblers$74,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,200 – $79,400+20.7%+52.1% nominal
12Commercial Pilots$150,330
Postsecondary nondegree award
$60,300 – $219,140+20.7%+51.9% nominal
13Home Health and Personal Care Aides$34,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,370 – $39,530+18.8%+49.6% nominal
14Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$44,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,700 – $61,860+17.9%+48.5% nominal
15Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$62,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,110 – $91,550+17.3%+47.8% nominal
16Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers$29,400
No formal educational credential
$22,900 – $39,070+17.3%+47.7% nominal
17Counter and Rental Clerks$38,590
No formal educational credential
$24,140 – $75,970+17.1%+47.4% nominal
18Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants$34,990
No formal educational credential
$27,580 – $42,040+16.7%+47.0% nominal
19Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$79,270
Associate's degree
$38,670 – $101,030+16.5%+46.7% nominal
20Food Batchmakers$44,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,510 – $59,860+16.2%+46.3% nominal
21Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers$28,540
No formal educational credential
$23,400 – $35,740+15.5%+45.5% nominal
22Tire Repairers and Changers$41,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,400 – $57,160+15.3%+45.3% nominal
23Telemarketers$35,290
No formal educational credential
$24,940 – $43,450+15.3%+45.2% nominal
24Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$47,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,650 – $68,160+14.7%+44.4% nominal
25Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood$45,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,940 – $57,070+14.4%+44.0% nominal
26Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing$43,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,010 – $53,150+14.3%+44.0% nominal
27Fast Food and Counter Workers$28,430
No formal educational credential
$23,200 – $34,920+14.0%+43.5% nominal
28Order Clerks$46,120
Some college, no degree
$33,280 – $63,200+13.5%+43.0% nominal
29Crossing Guards and Flaggers$37,440
No formal educational credential
$28,180 – $61,690+13.3%+42.6% nominal
30Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$32,170
No formal educational credential
$27,650 – $37,750+13.2%+42.6% nominal
31Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians$78,500
Associate's degree
$48,820 – $97,740+13.1%+42.4% nominal
32Stockers and Order Fillers$37,130
No formal educational credential
$28,770 – $48,770+12.8%+42.0% nominal
33Cooks, Restaurant$35,540
No formal educational credential
$27,590 – $44,940+12.7%+41.9% nominal
34Dishwashers$29,520
No formal educational credential
$23,150 – $36,670+12.7%+41.9% nominal
35Labor Relations Specialists$80,150
Bachelor's degree
$46,660 – $127,010+12.1%+41.2% nominal
36Food Servers, Nonrestaurant$30,440
No formal educational credential
$26,450 – $38,310+12.1%+41.2% nominal
37Packers and Packagers, Hand$37,000
No formal educational credential
$29,780 – $47,360+12.1%+41.2% nominal
38Cooks, Short Order$29,290
No formal educational credential
$22,260 – $38,620+11.9%+41.0% nominal
39Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment$35,230
No formal educational credential
$27,120 – $45,670+11.9%+40.9% nominal
40Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers$27,770
No formal educational credential
$22,810 – $36,200+11.7%+40.7% nominal
41Veterinary Technologists and Technicians$47,990
Associate's degree
$34,760 – $61,360+11.7%+40.7% nominal
42Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$46,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,240 – $62,090+11.1%+39.9% nominal
43Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers$36,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,330 – $47,070+11.0%+39.8% nominal
44Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other$27,540
No formal educational credential
$22,790 – $35,790+10.6%+39.2% nominal
45Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop$27,550
No formal educational credential
$22,870 – $37,320+10.5%+39.2% nominal
46Pediatricians, General$217,970
Doctoral or professional degree
$163,780 – $296,660+10.3%+38.9% nominal
47Parking Attendants$30,100
No formal educational credential
$29,120 – $37,560+10.2%+38.7% nominal
48Respiratory Therapists$79,920
Associate's degree
$65,580 – $97,030+10.2%+38.8% nominal
49Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks$30,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$27,340 – $36,390+10.0%+38.5% nominal
50Nurse Anesthetists$231,810
Master's degree
$148,690 – $329,690+9.5%+37.9% nominal

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianOhio	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Real change since 2019
1	Coaches and ScoutsBachelor's degree	$46,530	$28,280 – $81,760	+50.0%+88.9% nominal
2	Waiters and WaitressesNo formal educational credential	$36,700	$23,820 – $63,740	+46.2%+84.1% nominal
3	Driver/Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$35,720	$22,490 – $59,370	+39.1%+75.2% nominal
4	Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and CosmetologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$36,260	$23,520 – $77,330	+29.4%+63.0% nominal
5	Manicurists and PedicuristsPostsecondary nondegree award	$35,590	$26,650 – $53,260	+26.4%+59.2% nominal
6	BartendersNo formal educational credential	$30,880	$22,990 – $72,190	+24.7%+57.1% nominal
7	Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,080	$40,010 – $71,080	+23.5%+55.5% nominal
8	Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and GreenhouseNo formal educational credential	$37,470	$26,740 – $54,100	+23.5%+55.5% nominal
9	Bus Drivers, Transit and IntercityHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,760	$40,660 – $74,270	+22.1%+53.7% nominal
10	Food Preparation WorkersNo formal educational credential	$34,530	$26,640 – $44,500	+22.0%+53.6% nominal
11	Engine and Other Machine AssemblersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,750	$45,200 – $79,400	+20.7%+52.1% nominal
12	Commercial PilotsPostsecondary nondegree award	$150,330	$60,300 – $219,140	+20.7%+51.9% nominal
13	Home Health and Personal Care AidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$34,460	$28,370 – $39,530	+18.8%+49.6% nominal
14	Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,830	$35,700 – $61,860	+17.9%+48.5% nominal
15	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,860	$47,110 – $91,550	+17.3%+47.8% nominal
16	Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender HelpersNo formal educational credential	$29,400	$22,900 – $39,070	+17.3%+47.7% nominal
17	Counter and Rental ClerksNo formal educational credential	$38,590	$24,140 – $75,970	+17.1%+47.4% nominal
18	Automotive and Watercraft Service AttendantsNo formal educational credential	$34,990	$27,580 – $42,040	+16.7%+47.0% nominal
19	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$79,270	$38,670 – $101,030	+16.5%+46.7% nominal
20	Food BatchmakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,590	$31,510 – $59,860	+16.2%+46.3% nominal
21	Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket TakersNo formal educational credential	$28,540	$23,400 – $35,740	+15.5%+45.5% nominal
22	Tire Repairers and ChangersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$41,760	$29,400 – $57,160	+15.3%+45.3% nominal
23	TelemarketersNo formal educational credential	$35,290	$24,940 – $43,450	+15.3%+45.2% nominal
24	Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,070	$37,650 – $68,160	+14.7%+44.4% nominal
25	Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, WoodHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,010	$35,940 – $57,070	+14.4%+44.0% nominal
26	Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except SawingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,930	$35,010 – $53,150	+14.3%+44.0% nominal
27	Fast Food and Counter WorkersNo formal educational credential	$28,430	$23,200 – $34,920	+14.0%+43.5% nominal
28	Order ClerksSome college, no degree	$46,120	$33,280 – $63,200	+13.5%+43.0% nominal
29	Crossing Guards and FlaggersNo formal educational credential	$37,440	$28,180 – $61,690	+13.3%+42.6% nominal
30	Maids and Housekeeping CleanersNo formal educational credential	$32,170	$27,650 – $37,750	+13.2%+42.6% nominal
31	Mechanical Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$78,500	$48,820 – $97,740	+13.1%+42.4% nominal
32	Stockers and Order FillersNo formal educational credential	$37,130	$28,770 – $48,770	+12.8%+42.0% nominal
33	Cooks, RestaurantNo formal educational credential	$35,540	$27,590 – $44,940	+12.7%+41.9% nominal
34	DishwashersNo formal educational credential	$29,520	$23,150 – $36,670	+12.7%+41.9% nominal
35	Labor Relations SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$80,150	$46,660 – $127,010	+12.1%+41.2% nominal
36	Food Servers, NonrestaurantNo formal educational credential	$30,440	$26,450 – $38,310	+12.1%+41.2% nominal
37	Packers and Packagers, HandNo formal educational credential	$37,000	$29,780 – $47,360	+12.1%+41.2% nominal
38	Cooks, Short OrderNo formal educational credential	$29,290	$22,260 – $38,620	+11.9%+41.0% nominal
39	Cleaners of Vehicles and EquipmentNo formal educational credential	$35,230	$27,120 – $45,670	+11.9%+40.9% nominal
40	Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service WorkersNo formal educational credential	$27,770	$22,810 – $36,200	+11.7%+40.7% nominal
41	Veterinary Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$47,990	$34,760 – $61,360	+11.7%+40.7% nominal
42	Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,790	$38,240 – $62,090	+11.1%+39.9% nominal
43	Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal CaretakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,340	$29,330 – $47,070	+11.0%+39.8% nominal
44	Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All OtherNo formal educational credential	$27,540	$22,790 – $35,790	+10.6%+39.2% nominal
45	Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee ShopNo formal educational credential	$27,550	$22,870 – $37,320	+10.5%+39.2% nominal
46	Pediatricians, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$217,970	$163,780 – $296,660	+10.3%+38.9% nominal
47	Parking AttendantsNo formal educational credential	$30,100	$29,120 – $37,560	+10.2%+38.7% nominal
48	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$79,920	$65,580 – $97,030	+10.2%+38.8% nominal
49	Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$30,630	$27,340 – $36,390	+10.0%+38.5% nominal
50	Nurse AnesthetistsMaster's degree	$231,810	$148,690 – $329,690	+9.5%+37.9% nominal

More for Ohio

Metro areas in Ohio

Pay varies more between metros than between states — the spread inside one state is often wider than the gap between two.

By field in Ohio

Without a degree

The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Ohio to rank honestly.

Jobs that actually got a raise in Ohio

More for Ohio

Metro areas in Ohio

By field in Ohio

Without a degree

Jobs that actually got a raise in each state