Top Paying Jobs in Columbus, OH (2026)
Columbus, OH has 4,320 jobs across diverse industries. The highest-paying occupations include Physicians, All Other ($231,590), Nurse Anesthetists ($224,150), Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric ($222,280). The cost of living index is 95.47 (national average = 100). Median 2-bedroom rent is $1,430/month.
$153K
Avg. median salary
95.47
Cost of living index
$1,430
Median 2BR rent
N/A
Population
Highest paying careers in Columbus
| Rank | Occupation | Category | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Physicians, All Other | Healthcare | $232K | $111.34/hr |
| 2 | Nurse Anesthetists | Healthcare | $224K | $107.77/hr |
| 3 | Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric | Healthcare | $222K | $106.86/hr |
| 4 | Chief Executives | Management | $213K | $102.26/hr |
| 5 | Pediatricians, General | Healthcare | $197K | $94.88/hr |
| 6 | Computer and Information Systems Managers | Management | $166K | $79.96/hr |
| 7 | Architectural and Engineering Managers | Management | $162K | $78.08/hr |
| 8 | Compensation and Benefits Managers | Management | $143K | $68.76/hr |
| 9 | Computer and Information Research Scientists | Technology | $139K | $66.63/hr |
| 10 | Computer Hardware Engineers | Engineering | $138K | $66.48/hr |
| 11 | Human Resources Managers | Management | $138K | $66.26/hr |
| 12 | Financial Managers | Management | $137K | $65.79/hr |
| 13 | Nurse Midwives | Healthcare | $136K | $65.56/hr |
| 14 | Optometrists | Healthcare | $135K | $64.69/hr |
| 15 | Physicists | Science | $134K | $64.55/hr |
| 16 | Pharmacists | Healthcare | $134K | $64.26/hr |
| 17 | Marketing Managers | Management | $134K | $64.18/hr |
| 18 | Sales Managers | Management | $133K | $63.97/hr |
| 19 | Natural Sciences Managers | Management | $133K | $63.93/hr |
| 20 | Lawyers | Legal | $133K | $63.85/hr |
| 21 | Database Architects | Technology | $132K | $63.61/hr |
| 22 | Dentists, General | Healthcare | $132K | $63.6/hr |
| 23 | Physician Assistants | Healthcare | $131K | $62.85/hr |
| 24 | Psychologists, All Other | Science | $129K | $61.85/hr |
| 25 | Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | Engineering | $128K | $61.64/hr |
Affordability snapshot: Columbus
Cost of living vs. national average-4.5% less expensive
Studio apartment (FMR)$/mo
1-bedroom apartment (FMR)$/mo
2-bedroom apartment (FMR)$1,430/mo
3-bedroom apartment (FMR)$/mo
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After federal and state taxes