Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Columbus, OH

Each occupation's median wage in Columbus, OH compared against the national median for the same occupation. Unlike a cost-of-living adjustment — which scales every job in a state by the same constant and so cannot change their order — this genuinely re-ranks, and it shows where Columbus, OH pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

Cost of living: prices in Columbus, OH run 4.5% below the national average (2024), so a Columbus, OH salary is worth about 1.05× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order.

Local wage estimates are suppressed more often than state ones — BLS withholds any figure too few local employers report — so an occupation missing here simply has no published local estimate.

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

Find high paying jobs in Columbus, OH

OccupationMedian, Columbus, OH · vs. national

1Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall$80,000
No formal educational credential
$38,130 – $80,020+62.9%
2Crossing Guards and Flaggers$61,690
No formal educational credential
$33,280 – $61,690+61.9%
3Machine Feeders and Offbearers$60,410
No formal educational credential
$38,170 – $60,730+46.6%
4Pipelayers$71,560
No formal educational credential
$63,940 – $89,640+46.0%
5Commercial Pilots$175,690
Postsecondary nondegree award
$60,300 – $216,270+42.6%
6Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$100,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,450 – $111,420+32.4%
7Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$78,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,610 – $99,390+31.9%
8Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other$74,800
Bachelor's degree
$33,390 – $104,290+31.9%
9Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers$61,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,820 – $72,220+30.0%
10Construction Laborers$60,540
No formal educational credential
$38,490 – $81,250+28.5%
11Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education$79,470
Bachelor's degree
$51,400 – $100,720+26.8%
12Sheet Metal Workers$77,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,690 – $96,950+25.8%
13Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity$73,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,030 – $73,790+25.0%
14Community Health Workers$64,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,330 – $75,380+25.0%
15Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars$83,580
Associate's degree
$51,000 – $118,870+22.9%
16Structural Iron and Steel Workers$76,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,960 – $132,650+22.5%
17Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$78,150
Bachelor's degree
$48,760 – $102,050+22.2%
18Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents$76,110
Bachelor's degree
$55,580 – $104,230+22.0%
19Tire Repairers and Changers$44,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,060 – $58,190+18.5%
20Brickmasons and Blockmasons$73,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,500 – $124,340+18.4%
21Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary$94,620
Doctoral or professional degree
$48,620 – $130,750+18.4%
22Operations Research Analysts$104,970
Bachelor's degree
$52,000 – $135,500+18.0%
23Public Safety Telecommunicators$62,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,970 – $76,810+17.8%
24Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators$62,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,710 – $94,190+17.2%
25Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$75,710
Bachelor's degree
$49,380 – $103,570+16.3%
26Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$76,530
Associate's degree
$50,120 – $96,410+15.7%
27Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$57,510
No formal educational credential
$37,500 – $63,380+15.7%
28First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$121,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$67,080 – $154,800+14.8%
29Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$64,910
No formal educational credential
$46,620 – $84,050+13.8%
30Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary$48,710
Bachelor's degree
$30,990 – $57,950+13.5%
31Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$81,400
Bachelor's degree
$51,340 – $118,650+13.0%
32Food Batchmakers$47,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,610 – $59,670+12.6%
33Computer Occupations, All Other$129,940
Bachelor's degree
$60,150 – $162,930+11.5%
34Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers$44,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,490 – $66,290+11.2%
35Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists$73,690
Bachelor's degree
$51,930 – $86,280+11.2%
36Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers$65,450
No formal educational credential
$48,140 – $74,400+11.1%
37Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$56,150
Postsecondary nondegree award
$34,420 – $85,590+10.9%
38Carpenters$66,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,270 – $82,630+9.7%
39Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$98,920
Bachelor's degree
$63,420 – $178,410+9.7%
40Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$59,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,080 – $93,600+9.6%
41Industrial Machinery Mechanics$70,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,220 – $92,910+9.1%
42Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$60,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,700 – $78,150+8.7%
43Bartenders$37,000
No formal educational credential
$23,670 – $75,010+7.7%
44Opticians, Dispensing$50,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,310 – $65,560+7.3%
45Loan Officers$82,160
Bachelor's degree
$39,650 – $144,880+7.1%
46Mechanical Drafters$76,480
Associate's degree
$51,350 – $94,910+6.9%
47Glaziers$61,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,110 – $75,540+6.9%
48Network and Computer Systems Administrators$105,750
Bachelor's degree
$65,780 – $143,780+6.7%
49Computer Network Support Specialists$81,220
Associate's degree
$50,770 – $147,740+6.6%
50Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$52,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,860 – $76,700+6.5%

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

#	Occupation	MedianColumbus, OH	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and WallNo formal educational credential	$80,000	$38,130 – $80,020	+62.9%
2	Crossing Guards and FlaggersNo formal educational credential	$61,690	$33,280 – $61,690	+61.9%
3	Machine Feeders and OffbearersNo formal educational credential	$60,410	$38,170 – $60,730	+46.6%
4	PipelayersNo formal educational credential	$71,560	$63,940 – $89,640	+46.0%
5	Commercial PilotsPostsecondary nondegree award	$175,690	$60,300 – $216,270	+42.6%
6	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$100,890	$60,450 – $111,420	+32.4%
7	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,950	$50,610 – $99,390	+31.9%
8	Community and Social Service Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$74,800	$33,390 – $104,290	+31.9%
9	Automotive Glass Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,900	$37,820 – $72,220	+30.0%
10	Construction LaborersNo formal educational credential	$60,540	$38,490 – $81,250	+28.5%
11	Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$79,470	$51,400 – $100,720	+26.8%
12	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,760	$46,690 – $96,950	+25.8%
13	Bus Drivers, Transit and IntercityHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,790	$45,030 – $73,790	+25.0%
14	Community Health WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,810	$44,330 – $75,380	+25.0%
15	Health Information Technologists and Medical RegistrarsAssociate's degree	$83,580	$51,000 – $118,870	+22.9%
16	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,920	$50,960 – $132,650	+22.5%
17	Elementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$78,150	$48,760 – $102,050	+22.2%
18	Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue AgentsBachelor's degree	$76,110	$55,580 – $104,230	+22.0%
19	Tire Repairers and ChangersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,680	$33,060 – $58,190	+18.5%
20	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,550	$47,500 – $124,340	+18.4%
21	Mathematical Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$94,620	$48,620 – $130,750	+18.4%
22	Operations Research AnalystsBachelor's degree	$104,970	$52,000 – $135,500	+18.0%
23	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,490	$45,970 – $76,810	+17.8%
24	Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,490	$38,710 – $94,190	+17.2%
25	Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary SchoolBachelor's degree	$75,710	$49,380 – $103,570	+16.3%
26	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$76,530	$50,120 – $96,410	+15.7%
27	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$57,510	$37,500 – $63,380	+15.7%
28	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$121,750	$67,080 – $154,800	+14.8%
29	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$64,910	$46,620 – $84,050	+13.8%
30	Teaching Assistants, PostsecondaryBachelor's degree	$48,710	$30,990 – $57,950	+13.5%
31	Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$81,400	$51,340 – $118,650	+13.0%
32	Food BatchmakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,630	$35,610 – $59,670	+12.6%
33	Computer Occupations, All OtherBachelor's degree	$129,940	$60,150 – $162,930	+11.5%
34	Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,050	$34,490 – $66,290	+11.2%
35	Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$73,690	$51,930 – $86,280	+11.2%
36	Drywall and Ceiling Tile InstallersNo formal educational credential	$65,450	$48,140 – $74,400	+11.1%
37	Automotive Service Technicians and MechanicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$56,150	$34,420 – $85,590	+10.9%
38	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,480	$47,270 – $82,630	+9.7%
39	Occupational Health and Safety SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$98,920	$63,420 – $178,410	+9.7%
40	Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,420	$42,080 – $93,600	+9.6%
41	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,410	$49,220 – $92,910	+9.1%
42	Legal Secretaries and Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,420	$45,700 – $78,150	+8.7%
43	BartendersNo formal educational credential	$37,000	$23,670 – $75,010	+7.7%
44	Opticians, DispensingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,730	$36,310 – $65,560	+7.3%
45	Loan OfficersBachelor's degree	$82,160	$39,650 – $144,880	+7.1%
46	Mechanical DraftersAssociate's degree	$76,480	$51,350 – $94,910	+6.9%
47	GlaziersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,010	$47,110 – $75,540	+6.9%
48	Network and Computer Systems AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$105,750	$65,780 – $143,780	+6.7%
49	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$81,220	$50,770 – $147,740	+6.6%
50	Maintenance and Repair Workers, GeneralHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,800	$35,860 – $76,700	+6.5%

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

Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Columbus, OH

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