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Registered nurse salary in Ohio

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Published by Humblebee.

$82,510median pay per year in Ohio, or $39.67 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $66,980lowest 10% earn less
  2. $79,20025th percentile
  3. $82,510median
  4. $99,03075th percentile
  5. $105,290top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[2]US median for this job, $97,550[3]

The median pay for registered nurses in Ohio was $82,510 a year[1]. That was $15,040 lower than the US median[6].

Jobs in OH
143,730[4]
Rank by median pay
38 of 51[5]
Compared with US median
−15.4%[6]

How much do registered nurses make in Ohio?

The median is the middle point. Half of registered nurses in Ohio earned more than $82,510 a year and half earned less[1]. The average was a bit higher, at $87,730 a year[7]. Across the US as a whole, the median was $97,550[3]. Ohio's median was $15,040 (15.4%) lower[6]. Ohio ranked 38th out of the 50 states and DC for this median[5]. Compared with all jobs in Ohio, where the median was $49,380[8], registered nurses earned $33,130 more[9].

At the low end, the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $66,980 a year[2]. At the high end, the highest-paid 10% earned more than $105,290[2]. The middle half of registered nurses earned between $79,200 and $99,030[2]. Hourly, that middle half ranged from $38.08 to $47.61[10].

Among metro areas in or partly in Ohio, Cleveland had the highest median at $83,940[11]. Columbus came in at $83,900 and Cincinnati at $83,650[12]. About 143,730 people worked as registered nurses in Ohio[4].

OEWS counts wage and salary workers only. It leaves out the self-employed and does not include bonuses or the cost of benefits like health insurance[13].

Ohio vs US pay

Pay for registered nurses in Ohio next to the national figures[1][3].

OHUS
Median per year$82,510[1]$97,550[3]
Median per hour$39.67[1]$46.90[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$66,980[2]$68,940[14]
Top 10% earn more than$105,290[2]$137,470[14]
Jobs143,730[4]3,379,720[3]

Pay by metro area in Ohio

Metro areas in Ohio with the most jobs for registered nurses, and the median pay in each[12]. A metro area that crosses state lines is counted as a whole.

Metro areaMedian per yearJobs
Columbus, OH[12]$83,90030,510
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN$83,65028,520
Cleveland, OH$83,94028,240
Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH$82,51011,640
Akron, OH$80,7708,040
Toledo, OH$81,0507,890
Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH$81,0105,580
Youngstown-Warren, OH$78,6804,090

Pay in nearby states

Median pay for registered nurses in the states that border Ohio, highest first[15].

StateMedian per yearJobs
Pennsylvania[15]$96,430146,520
Michigan$94,300104,950
Indiana$83,50068,980
Kentucky$81,04050,300
West Virginia$80,13023,430

Median pay for registered nurses in every state

Job outlook and training

Across the US, jobs for registered nurses are projected to grow 5.6% from 2025 to 2035[16]. BLS does not publish this projection by state. The typical education for entry is: bachelor's degree[17].

How to become one: steps, training and duties

Frequently asked questions

How much does a registered nurse make in Ohio?
The median pay for registered nurses in Ohio was $82,510 a year[1]. The average was $87,730 a year[7].
How much does a registered nurse make an hour in Ohio?
The median hourly wage was $39.67[1]. The middle half earned between $38.08 and $47.61 an hour[10].
Which city in Ohio pays registered nurses the most?
Of the 15 metro areas in or partly in Ohio with a published median, Cleveland had the highest at $83,940 a year[11].
Is Ohio a good state for registered nurses?
Ohio had the 38th highest median annual wage for registered nurses out of the 50 states and DC[5]. The median was $15,040 lower than the US median[6].
What do you need to become a registered nurse in Ohio?
Across the US, the typical education needed for entry is a Bachelor's degree, with no related work experience and no on-the-job training[17]. This is a US figure, not an Ohio one.

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Registered Nurses in Ohio was $82,510 per year and $39.67 per hour. Half of these workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Registered Nurses in Ohio: 10th percentile $66,980, 25th percentile $79,200, 75th percentile $99,030, 90th percentile $105,290. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less, the 90th means 10% earned more. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Registered Nurses in the US as a whole was $97,550 per year and $46.90 per hour, with about 3,379,720 jobs nationwide. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 143,730 people worked as Registered Nurses in Ohio (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: Ohio had the 38th highest median annual wage for Registered Nurses out of the 50 states and DC with a published median. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Registered Nurses in Ohio ($82,510) was $15,040 (15.4%) lower than the US median ($97,550). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Registered Nurses in Ohio was $87,730 per year and $42.18 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in Ohio was $49,380. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Registered Nurses in Ohio was $33,130 higher than the median for all occupations in the state ($49,380). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Registered Nurses in Ohio: 10th percentile $32.20, 25th percentile $38.08, 75th percentile $47.61, 90th percentile $50.62. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 15 metro areas in or partly in Ohio with a published median for Registered Nurses, Cleveland, OH had the highest median annual wage, $83,940. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. Metro areas with the most jobs in this occupation, with median annual wage, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Registered Nurses in the US: 10th percentile $68,940, 25th percentile $80,330, 75th percentile $112,350, 90th percentile $137,470. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, median annual wage for Registered Nurses in states that border Ohio (highest first): Pennsylvania $96,430; Michigan $94,300; Indiana $83,500; Kentucky $81,040; West Virginia $80,130. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state): employment of Registered Nurses is projected to grow 5.6% nationwide from 2025 to 2035, with about 180,800 openings a year on average. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5%. BLS Employment Projections
  17. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state), typical path into Registered Nurses: education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections

State figures cover only Ohio. Job outlook and entry requirements are national (US) figures: BLS does not publish them by state in our sources. Figures labelled “CareerFacts calculation” are simple differences between the BLS numbers shown.