Registered Nurse Salary in Ohio (2026)

Official state-level BLS pay data for Registered Nurses in Ohio, plus how it compares with the rest of the country.

Official BLS state wage data · Unknown vintage
Ohio Median
$82,510
per year
Hourly Rate
$39.67
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-15% vs US median
US median $97,550
State Rank
#38 of 51
143,730 employed here

How much does a Registered Nurse make in Ohio?

Registered Nurses in Ohio take home a median of $82,510 annually — roughly $39.67 an hour — which runs 15% below the national median of $97,550.

Within Ohio, entry-level pay starts around $66,980 while the top 10% make $105,290 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $79,200 and $99,030 a year.

Registered Nurse salary range in Ohio

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$66,980$32.20
25th percentile (early career)$79,200$38.08
50th percentile (median)$82,510$39.67
75th percentile (experienced)$99,030$47.61
90th percentile (top earners)$105,290$50.62

How Ohio compares

Ohio ranks 38th out of 51 states and territories for Registered Nurse pay. The top 5 best-paying states:

RankStateMedian salary
1California$140,270
2Hawaii$136,320
3Oregon$129,010
4Washington$124,200
5Alaska$109,480

Working as a Registered Nurse in Ohio

Nationally, about 3,380,000 people work as Registered Nurses in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.

Considering a move? Compare Ohio pay ($82,510) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Registered Nurse make in Ohio?
The median Registered Nurse salary in Ohio is $82,510 per year, or about $39.67 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $66,980 at the entry level to $105,290 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Ohio pay compare to the national average?
Ohio pays Registered Nurses about 15% less than the national median of $97,550. Ohio ranks 38th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Ohio a good state for Registered Nurses?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $82,510 a year. About 143,730 Registered Nurses are employed in Ohio. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Ohio?
The highest-paying occupations in Ohio include Surgeon, All Other ($554,220), Cardiologist ($504,260), Anesthesiologist ($490,530), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.

← See the national Registered Nurse salary report

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.