Lawyers Salary in Ohio
In Ohio, lawyers earn a median $131,020 a year, well below the national median of $159,670 (−18%); the state ranks 27th of 51 states by median. Lawyers earn 2.7 times the median across all occupations in Ohio ($49,380). Among neighbouring states, Pennsylvania pays more (up to $157,180 in Pennsylvania) and Michigan, Indiana, West Virginia and Kentucky pay less (down to $101,550 in Kentucky). Ohio employs 19,950 lawyers, 3.60 per 1,000 jobs, the 11th largest count of any state. A location quotient of 0.74 means it is less common in Ohio than nationally.
Ohio vs the United States, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Ohio | Hourly | $33.55 | $43.67 | $62.99 | $91.87 | $129.58 | $72.67 | 19,950 | 3.60 | 0.74 |
| Annual | $69,790 | $90,830 | $131,020 | $191,080 | $269,530 | $151,140 | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $37.67 | $49.51 | $76.76 | $106.43 | $169.04 | $89.35 | 754,500 | – | – |
| Annual | $78,360 | $102,990 | $159,670 | $221,370 | $351,600 | $185,840 | ||||
- Rank by median
- 27th of 51 states
- Rank by employment
- 11th of 51 states
- Location quotient
- 0.74
- Jobs per 1,000
- 3.60
Ranks count the 50 states and DC with a published value. The location quotient is the occupation's share of Ohio's employment divided by its national share; 1.00 means the same share as the nation. Take-home pay at these wages: FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Metropolitan areas in Ohio
15 metropolitan areas and 4 nonmetropolitan areas touching Ohio publish a row for lawyers, sorted by median. Areas crossing a state line are listed under every state they touch; a linked metro has its own profile.
| Area | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus, OH | $66.25 | $137,810 | $79,510 | $235,150 | 4,960 | 4.49 | 0.93 |
| Cleveland, OH | $64.75 | $134,680 | $75,740 | $281,770 | 5,540 | 5.38 | 1.11 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $62.97 | $130,980 | $72,660 | $280,430 | 3,870 | 3.52 | 0.72 |
| Akron, OH | $60.71 | $126,270 | $69,470 | $262,410 | 1,150 | 3.61 | 0.74 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | $60.09 | $124,990 | $64,420 | $225,130 | 240 | 4.14 | 0.85 |
| Canton-Massillon, OH | $57.31 | $119,210 | $63,650 | $219,820 | 450 | 2.74 | 0.57 |
| Toledo, OH | $54.77 | $113,920 | $54,400 | $285,180 | 820 | 2.80 | 0.58 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $50.08 | $104,170 | $68,510 | $213,580 | 1,040 | 2.80 | 0.58 |
| Sandusky, OH | $48.69 | $101,270 | $59,100 | $218,540 | 130 | 2.55 | 0.52 |
| Youngstown-Warren, OH | $48.68 | $101,250 | $65,920 | $270,470 | 400 | 2.49 | 0.51 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $47.15 | $98,070 | $57,960 | $192,340 | 390 | 2.76 | 0.57 |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $45.56 | $94,760 | $60,440 | $222,220 | 60 | 1.69 | 0.35 |
| Springfield, OH | $45.42 | $94,470 | $61,160 | $179,510 | 70 | 1.62 | 0.33 |
| Lima, OH | $40.03 | $83,260 | $41,750 | $192,340 | 90 | 1.76 | 0.36 |
| Mansfield, OH | $38.38 | $79,820 | $52,110 | $175,590 | 80 | 1.60 | 0.33 |
| West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $49.90 | $103,790 | $57,650 | $217,710 | 350 | 1.42 | 0.29 |
| North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) | $48.39 | $100,650 | $54,830 | $204,090 | 380 | 1.52 | 0.31 |
| Eastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $48.06 | $99,970 | $59,490 | $200,620 | 230 | 1.66 | 0.34 |
| Southern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $45.83 | $95,330 | $55,290 | $183,770 | 240 | 1.44 | 0.30 |
Neighbouring states
| State | Median hourly | Median annual | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio | $62.99 | $131,020 | 19,950 | 0.74 |
| Indiana | $60.99 | $126,860 | 8,970 | 0.58 |
| Kentucky | $48.82 | $101,550 | 5,770 | 0.59 |
| Michigan | $62.75 | $130,520 | 16,620 | 0.78 |
| Pennsylvania | $75.57 | $157,180 | 27,170 | 0.92 |
| West Virginia | $49.24 | $102,420 | 2,440 | 0.72 |
See the national page for Lawyers (every state ranked) and the Ohio wage profile (every occupation in the state).
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS Ohio estimates.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.