Lawyers Salary
Lawyers in Ohio make a median of $131,020 a year, or about $62.99 an hour. The range runs from $70K at the entry level to $270K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.45), which stretches that salary to about $143,270 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,188/month, or 14.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Ohio. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $131K get you in Ohio?
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What this looks like in Ohio
Pay for lawyers in Ohio runs about 18% below the U.S. median of $160K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,188/month, 14.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.45 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Ohio can be a reasonable trade-off for lawyerss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Ohio
Entry-level lawyers (10th percentile) start around $70K. Mid-career wages sit at $131K. Top earners bring in $270K or more, a $200K spread from bottom to top.
Lawyers salary by metro in Ohio
12 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus | $138K | +5% | 4,960 |
| Cleveland | $135K | +3% | 5,540 |
| Cincinnati | $131K | -0% | 3,870 |
| Akron | $126K | -4% | 1,150 |
| Canton-Massillon | $119K | -9% | 450 |
| Toledo | $114K | -13% | 820 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek | $104K | -20% | 1,040 |
| Sandusky | $101K | -23% | 130 |
| Youngstown-Warren | $101K | -23% | 400 |
| Springfield | $94K | -28% | 70 |
| Lima | $83K | -36% | 90 |
| Mansfield | $80K | -39% | 80 |
Showing 1–10 of 12 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Ohio numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a lawyer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Ohio?
Yes — at the median salary of $131K, rent takes 14.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,188/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for lawyers in Ohio?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new lawyers typically earn — is $70K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,187/month. At HUD’s $1,188/month FMR, rent would take 28% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is lawyer a high-paying job in Ohio?
Local pay runs 18% below the national median — $131K here vs. $160K nationally. Cost of living is 9% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Ohio compare to the national average for lawyers?
Ohio pays $131K median vs. the U.S. average of $160K — that’s -18%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.45), the purchasing-power equivalent is $143K — below the national median.
How much do lawyers make in Ohio?
The median is $131,020 a year, that works out to about $63 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $69,790, and experienced lawyers can clear $269,530. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $131K enough to live in Ohio?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,096/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,188/month, which eats 14.7% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a lawyers salary go in Ohio?
Ohio has a Regional Price Parity of 91.45 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median lawyers salary is worth about $143,270 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do lawyers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.