Sociologists Salary
The median pay for a sociologists in Ohio is $78,850/year ($37.91/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $68K at the entry level to $105K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.45), which stretches that salary to about $86,222 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,188/month, or 22.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Ohio. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $79K actually covers in Ohio, month by month
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What this looks like in Ohio
Pay for sociologists in Ohio runs about 26% below the U.S. median of $106K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,188/month, 22.9% 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 sociologistss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Ohio
Entry-level sociologists (10th percentile) start around $68K. Mid-career wages sit at $79K. Top earners bring in $105K or more, a $37K spread from bottom to top.
Sociologists salary by metro in Ohio
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus | $83K | +5% | 100 |
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Ohio numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a sociologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Ohio?
Yes — at the median salary of $79K, rent takes 22.9% 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 sociologists in Ohio?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new sociologists typically earn — is $68K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,590/month. At HUD’s $1,188/month FMR, rent would take 26% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is sociologist a high-paying job in Ohio?
Local pay runs 26% below the national median — $79K here vs. $106K 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 sociologists?
Ohio pays $79K median vs. the U.S. average of $106K — that’s -26%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.45), the purchasing-power equivalent is $86K — below the national median.
How much do sociologists make in Ohio?
The median is $78,850 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $68,040, and experienced sociologists can clear $104,560. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $79K enough to live in Ohio?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,198/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,188/month, which eats 22.9% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a sociologists 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 sociologists salary is worth about $86,222 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do sociologists 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.