Highest paying jobs in Columbus, OH
The best paying occupations in the Columbus, OH metro area, ranked by median annual wage. Metro wage estimates are suppressed more often than state ones — BLS withholds any figure that too few local employers report — so an occupation missing here simply has no published local estimate.
Cost of living: prices here run 4.5% below the national average (2024).
Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025
| # | Occupation | MedianColumbus, OH | 10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Surgeons, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree | $609,450 | $232,960 – $821,140 | 180 |
| 2 | AnesthesiologistsDoctoral or professional degree | $441,230 | $173,860 – $615,240 | — |
| 3 | Emergency Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree | $331,600 | $133,030 – $523,860 | — |
| 4 | Physicians, PathologistsDoctoral or professional degree | $285,280 | $99,630 – $445,210 | 70 |
| 5 | RadiologistsDoctoral or professional degree | $269,430 | $99,330 – $418,060 | — |
| 6 | General Internal Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree | $249,990 | $203,200 – $461,360 | — |
| 7 | Nurse AnesthetistsMaster's degree | $231,810 | $221,440 – $373,700 | 450 |
| 8 | PsychiatristsDoctoral or professional degree | $220,940 | $105,830 – $314,250 | 120 |
| 9 | Physicians, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree | $214,760 | $70,830 – $465,130 | 3,830 |
| 10 | Obstetricians and GynecologistsDoctoral or professional degree | $179,810 | $102,160 – $181,520 | 490 |
| 11 | Commercial PilotsPostsecondary nondegree award | $175,690 | $60,300 – $216,270 | 1,410 |
| 12 | PhysicistsDoctoral or professional degree | $170,400 | $62,090 – $271,830 | 70 |
| 13 | Computer and Information Systems ManagersBachelor's degree | $167,630 | $105,720 – $270,450 | 4,330 |
| 14 | Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree | $166,180 | $64,100 – $306,960 | 780 |
| 15 | Chief ExecutivesBachelor's degree | $162,910 | $90,330 – $433,150 | 1,160 |
| 16 | Architectural and Engineering ManagersBachelor's degree | $162,770 | $119,900 – $215,400 | — |
| 17 | Compensation and Benefits ManagersBachelor's degree | $147,100 | $101,100 – $229,360 | 80 |
| 18 | Financial ManagersBachelor's degree | $145,630 | $91,210 – $267,050 | 5,750 |
| 19 | Medical DosimetristsBachelor's degree | $144,370 | $105,630 – $171,870 | 40 |
| 20 | Purchasing ManagersBachelor's degree | $141,490 | $93,360 – $221,230 | 560 |
| 21 | Sales ManagersBachelor's degree | $138,580 | $77,750 – $254,150 | 4,460 |
| 22 | Natural Sciences ManagersBachelor's degree | $138,110 | $84,030 – $217,760 | 300 |
| 23 | LawyersDoctoral or professional degree | $137,810 | $79,510 – $235,150 | 4,960 |
| 24 | Physician AssistantsMaster's degree | $137,550 | $97,820 – $212,220 | 1,140 |
| 25 | Database ArchitectsBachelor's degree | $135,840 | $97,800 – $175,570 | 470 |
| 26 | Marketing ManagersBachelor's degree | $134,420 | $82,950 – $224,440 | 2,330 |
| 27 | Nurse MidwivesMaster's degree | $134,380 | $110,430 – $143,250 | 50 |
| 28 | PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree | $133,960 | $50,450 – $166,620 | 2,610 |
| 29 | OptometristsDoctoral or professional degree | $133,370 | $67,350 – $211,980 | 260 |
| 30 | Managers, All OtherBachelor's degree | $131,580 | $67,970 – $216,720 | 1,680 |
| 31 | Computer Network ArchitectsBachelor's degree | $131,260 | $85,410 – $180,790 | 1,270 |
| 32 | Human Resources ManagersBachelor's degree | $131,100 | $89,150 – $220,890 | 1,870 |
| 33 | Advertising and Promotions ManagersBachelor's degree | $131,050 | $80,350 – $180,060 | 40 |
| 34 | Computer Occupations, All OtherBachelor's degree | $129,940 | $60,150 – $162,930 | 2,410 |
| 35 | PodiatristsDoctoral or professional degree | $128,600 | $72,600 – $205,890 | 40 |
| 36 | Economics Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree | $127,420 | $64,540 – $168,890 | 70 |
| 37 | Environmental EngineersBachelor's degree | $127,190 | $76,330 – $147,250 | 130 |
| 38 | Psychologists, All OtherMaster's degree | $127,090 | $82,350 – $145,180 | 50 |
| 39 | Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and InspectorsBachelor's degree | $126,780 | $88,710 – $180,590 | — |
| 40 | Aerospace EngineersBachelor's degree | $125,500 | $83,440 – $202,890 | 270 |
| 41 | Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree | $124,580 | $99,960 – $150,250 | 3,140 |
| 42 | Public Relations ManagersBachelor's degree | $123,970 | $56,930 – $231,240 | 310 |
| 43 | Training and Development ManagersBachelor's degree | $123,690 | $84,750 – $192,120 | 260 |
| 44 | VeterinariansDoctoral or professional degree | $123,270 | $47,990 – $208,390 | 850 |
| 45 | Information Security AnalystsBachelor's degree | $122,600 | $75,820 – $174,670 | 1,650 |
| 46 | Software DevelopersBachelor's degree | $122,340 | $80,130 – $170,000 | 9,880 |
| 47 | First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent | $121,750 | $67,080 – $154,800 | 960 |
| 48 | Computer Hardware EngineersBachelor's degree | $120,950 | $79,410 – $217,380 | 90 |
| 49 | Sales EngineersBachelor's degree | $117,110 | $67,820 – $159,910 | 160 |
| 50 | Bioengineers and Biomedical EngineersBachelor's degree | $113,570 | $82,770 – $169,100 | 120 |