Political Scientists Salary
The median pay for a political scientists in Ohio is $119,370/year ($57.39/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $64K at the entry level to $142K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.45), which stretches that salary to about $130,530 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,188/month, or 15.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Ohio. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $119K get you in Ohio?
About political scientists
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What this looks like in Ohio
Pay for political scientists in Ohio runs about 16% below the U.S. median of $142K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,188/month, 15.9% 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 political scientistss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Ohio
Entry-level political scientists (10th percentile) start around $64K. Mid-career wages sit at $119K. Top earners bring in $142K or more, a $78K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track political scientists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Ohio numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a political scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Ohio?
Yes — at the median salary of $119K, rent takes 15.9% 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 political scientists in Ohio?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new political scientists typically earn — is $64K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,815/month. At HUD’s $1,188/month FMR, rent would take 31% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is political scientist a high-paying job in Ohio?
Local pay runs 16% below the national median — $119K here vs. $142K 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 political scientists?
Ohio pays $119K median vs. the U.S. average of $142K — that’s -16%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.45), the purchasing-power equivalent is $131K — below the national median.
How much do political scientists make in Ohio?
The median is $119,370 a year, that works out to about $57 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $63,590, and experienced political scientists can clear $142,080. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $119K enough to live in Ohio?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,466/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,188/month, which eats 15.9% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a political scientists 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 political scientists salary is worth about $130,530 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do political scientists 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.