Registered Nurses in Ohio. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
What the numbers say
Ohio's median Registered Nurse earned $81,250 in 2024, about 14% below the US median of $94,511. The gap is real, but it is not the whole story.
The spread between the bottom and top of the pay range is narrower here than in many high-cost states. A nurse at the 10th percentile earned $66,060, while one at the 90th earned $103,650. That is a difference of roughly $37,500 from entry-level to senior, which is tighter than what BLS reports for California or Massachusetts. Nursing in Ohio pays relatively consistently across experience levels.
Cost of living changes the picture further. Ohio's Regional Price Parity index sits at 90.6, meaning goods and services cost about 10% less here than the national average. Adjusting for that, the median Ohio nurse's $81,250 buys closer to $89,700 in national-baseline dollars. The headline gap with the US median shrinks to under 5%.
BLS projects Registered Nurses to grow at an average rate through 2034, with 4.9% growth expected between now and then. That pace is in line with most professional occupations, not a standout on either end. Ohio's total of 138,360 employed nurses makes it one of the larger state markets by headcount, which tends to mean more openings spread across a wider mix of facility types and specialties.
Salary distribution
Where Ohio registered nurses fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $79,200 and $99,030, with a median of $82,510.
Registered Nurses in Ohio: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 82 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $72,103. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 15 | $72,280 |
| Level II — qualified | 4 | $79,966 |
| Level III — experienced | 61 | $71,926 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Registered Nurses in Ohio. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| OhioHealth Corp. | OR Nurse | 56 | $71,926 |
| Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center | Registered Nurse | 12 | $70,720 |
| Kettering Network Services | RN Hospital Float | 7 | $93,600 |
| Bethesda Hospital, Inc. | Registered Staff RN | 1 | $73,840 |
| Conexus Medstaff LLC | Registered Nurse ( Cardiac ICU Nights) | 1 | $80,538 |
| Conexus MedStaff LLC | Registered Nurse (MedSurg) | 1 | $80,538 |
| Northeast Ohio Neighborhood Health Services, Inc. | Registered Nurse | 1 | $102,000 |
| Ohio Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services | Advanced Practice Nurse-Psychiatric-Mental Health | 1 | $118,061 |
| Skilled In Management Co LLC | Registered Nurse | 1 | $72,800 |
| The Cleveland Clinic Foundation | RN Hospital (Neuro Medicine Unit) | 1 | $72,280 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Specialty Resource Unit Registered Nurse - Acute at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center$81,682CincinnatiWage Level IDecided Mar 31, 2026I-200-26084-727397
- Registered Nurse at Northeast Ohio Neighborhood Health Services, Inc.$102,000ClevelandWage Level IDecided Mar 31, 2026I-200-26084-727333
- RN Hospital Float at Kettering Network Services$93,600EatonWage Level IIIDecided Mar 12, 2026I-200-26064-683269
- OR Nurse at OhioHealth Corp.$77,875ColumbusWage Level IIIDecided Mar 2, 2026I-200-26054-657280
- RN Hospital (Neuro Medicine Unit) at The Cleveland Clinic Foundation$72,280ClevelandWage Level IDecided Feb 26, 2026I-200-26050-652521
- Flex Pool RN at OhioHealth Corp.$77,875ColumbusWage Level IIIDecided Feb 9, 2026I-200-26033-613333
- Psychiatric Registered Nurse - Acute Care at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center$70,720CincinnatiWage Level IDecided Feb 3, 2026I-200-26027-594230
- Psychiatric Registered Nurse - Acute Care at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center$70,720CincinnatiWage Level IDecided Feb 2, 2026I-200-26026-590427
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
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Registered Nurses pay by experience level in Ohio
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Registered Nurses specialties in Ohio
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 53 certified offers. The most common variant is OR Nurse at a median of $77,875.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| OR Nurse | OhioHealth Corp. | 15 | $77,875 |
| Registered Nurse | Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center | 12 | $72,800 |
| RN Hospital Float | Kettering Network Services | 7 | $93,600 |
| Flex Pool RN | OhioHealth Corp. | 7 | $77,875 |
| Emergency Department RN | OhioHealth Corp. | 5 | $71,926 |
| Med/Surg RN | OhioHealth Corp. | 4 | $77,875 |
| Neuro Critical Care RN | OhioHealth Corp. | 3 | $71,926 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Registered Nurses in Ohio, by industry
Median offered wage across 82 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Healthcare leads with a median of $71,926.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Healthcare | OhioHealth Corp. | 80 | $71,926 |
| Professional services | Conexus Medstaff LLC | 2 | $80,538 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Ohio over the past 3 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2025 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.6 / 5
Psychology
Knowledge
- 4.4 / 5
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge
- 4.4 / 5
Medicine and Dentistry
Knowledge
- 4.2 / 5
English Language
Knowledge
- 4.1 / 5
Deductive Reasoning
Ability
- 4.1 / 5
Social Perceptiveness
Technical
- 4.1 / 5
Problem Sensitivity
Ability
- 4.0 / 5
Speaking
Basic skill
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Record patients' medical information and vital signs.
- 02
Administer medications to patients and monitor patients for reactions or side effects.
- 03
Maintain accurate, detailed reports and records.
- 04
Monitor, record, and report symptoms or changes in patients' conditions.
- 05
Provide health care, first aid, immunizations, or assistance in convalescence or rehabilitation in locations such as schools, hospitals, or industry.
- 06
Consult and coordinate with healthcare team members to assess, plan, implement, or evaluate patient care plans.
- 07
Direct or supervise less-skilled nursing or healthcare personnel or supervise a particular unit.
- 08
Monitor all aspects of patient care, including diet and physical activity.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+4.9%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Average growth
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Explore coursesTop metros in Ohio
Metro-level salary data for registered nurses in major Ohio metropolitan areas.
- Cleveland$83,940
- Columbus$83,900
- Cincinnati$83,650
Compare Registered Nurses pay across nearby states
Considering a move? Compare Ohio with another state
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Registered Nurses in Ohio?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Registered Nurses in Ohio is $82,510.
- How does Ohio compare to the national median for Registered Nurses?
- The Ohio median is -16.1% versus the BLS national figure of $98,331.
- What is the salary range for Registered Nurses in Ohio?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $66,980 and the 90th-percentile at $105,290, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Registered Nurses a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 4.9% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Registered Nurses?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Bachelor's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.