Is Ohio a good state for your salary to go far?

Ohio ranks #16 of 51 states on the Gera US Real Pay Index, with a mean index of 102.0 across 371 occupations (100 = the average state). Its 2024 BEA cost of living is 92.8 (US = 100), and its 2025 state income tax schedule is applied to each occupation's median wage.

What is the cost of living in Ohio?

Ohio's Regional Price Parity (All Items) for 2024 is 92.8, where the US average is 100. That is at or below the national average, so a dollar buys as much as or more than it does nationally. The Gera US Real Pay Index divides take-home pay by this figure to express salaries in purchasing-power-equivalent dollars.

GeraJobs / US Real Pay Index / Ohio

Where Your Salary Goes Furthest in Ohio

Ohio ranks #16 of 51 states on the Gera US Real Pay Index (mean 102.0, base = 100). Cost of living 92.8 (US = 100); top income tax 3.50%.

Does a salary go further in Ohio? (cost of living + state tax)

In Ohio, the cost of living is 92.8 on the BEA index (US = 100) and the Gera US Real Pay Index averages 102.0 across 371 occupations, ranking it #16 of 51 states for how far pay goes after 2025 state income tax and 2024 BEA cost of living. Real BLS OEWS; re-dated annually.

Source:U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)·As of May 2025 state estimates · updated annually · last refreshed 19 June 2026

Gera US Real Pay Index

Ohio ranks #16 of 51 states. Mean across 371 occupations; 100 = the average state, 102.0 means pay goes 2.0% further after tax and cost of living.

How this is calculated

102.0

Real pay by occupation in Ohio (best first)

Occupation	BLS median	Real pay	Index
Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity	$62,760	$66,631	125.2
Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents	$76,240	$80,762	124.0
Sheet Metal Workers	$74,790	$79,242	123.6
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education	$77,370	$81,946	121.3
Construction Laborers	$56,080	$59,629	121.3
Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education	$72,570	$76,915	120.6
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education	$77,090	$81,653	120.1
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education	$78,800	$83,445	119.6
Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School	$79,230	$83,896	119.3
Financial Specialists, All Other	$90,060	$95,248	119.1
Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers	$61,420	$65,227	117.3
Brickmasons and Blockmasons	$70,950	$75,216	116.7
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School	$73,970	$78,382	116.6
Physical Therapist Aides	$37,220	$39,859	116.6
Waiters and Waitresses	$36,700	$39,314	116.4
Special Education Teachers, Secondary School	$76,180	$80,699	115.9
Special Education Teachers, Middle School	$74,590	$79,032	115.8
Editors	$72,160	$76,485	115.7
Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers	$62,990	$66,872	115.6
Food Batchmakers	$44,590	$47,585	115.6
Public Safety Telecommunicators	$58,100	$61,746	115.2
Environmental Engineers	$113,180	$119,397	115.0
Surveying and Mapping Technicians	$60,330	$64,084	114.8
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products	$73,960	$78,372	114.0
Tire Repairers and Changers	$41,760	$44,618	113.9
Structural Iron and Steel Workers	$74,710	$79,158	113.6
Glaziers	$60,200	$63,948	113.3
Biological Scientists, All Other	$95,560	$101,014	113.2
School Psychologists	$91,010	$96,244	112.5
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General	$53,420	$56,841	112.3
Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars	$71,330	$75,615	112.3
Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians	$79,270	$83,938	112.0
Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other	$98,630	$104,232	112.0
Opticians, Dispensing	$50,500	$53,780	111.7
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers	$77,020	$81,579	111.2
Information and Record Clerks, All Other	$52,120	$55,478	111.1
Network and Computer Systems Administrators	$97,570	$103,121	111.0
Customer Service Representatives	$45,610	$48,654	110.7
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators	$60,280	$64,032	110.5
Packers and Packagers, Hand	$37,000	$39,628	110.4

Showing the 40 highest real-pay occupations of 371 BLS publishes for Ohio. Real pay = BLS median − 2025 state income tax, divided by the 2024 BEA cost of living (92.8, US = 100).

Where does your salary go furthest?

Enter a salary and a state. We adjust for 2025 state income tax and the 2024 BEA cost of living to show your real, purchasing-power-equivalent pay — then rank every state.

Gross annual salary (USD)Compare against state

In Ohio, a $85,000 salary is worth about $88,414 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms.

State income tax $2,975 (≈ top marginal 3.50% (upper bound)) · take-home $82,025 · BEA cost of living 92.8 (US = 100).

The same salary goes furthest in South Dakota — worth $95,952, a $7,538 gain over Ohio.

#	State	Real value	Cost (RPP)
1	South Dakota	$95,952	88.6
2	Arkansas	$93,959	86.9
3	Louisiana	$93,473	88.2
4	Mississippi	$93,453	87.0
5	Iowa	$93,172	87.8
6	North Dakota	$93,161	89.0
7	Tennessee	$92,522	91.9
8	Oklahoma	$92,167	87.8
9	Wyoming	$91,703	92.7
10	Alabama	$90,911	88.8
11	Kentucky	$90,507	90.2
12	West Virginia	$90,397	89.5

Browse US jobs with salaries

Estimate only. State income tax is approximated from each state's 2025 flat rate (or top marginal rate as an upper bound for graduated states) and ignores federal tax, deductions and credits. The pre-published occupation and state pages use exact 2025 bracket math. Cost of living is the 2024 BEA Regional Price Parity (All Items).

Ohio real pay — FAQ

Is Ohio a good state for your salary to go far?: Ohio ranks #16 of 51 states on the Gera US Real Pay Index, with a mean index of 102.0 across 371 occupations (100 = the average state). Its 2024 BEA cost of living is 92.8 (US = 100), and its 2025 state income tax schedule is applied to each occupation's median wage.
What is the cost of living in Ohio?: Ohio's Regional Price Parity (All Items) for 2024 is 92.8, where the US average is 100. That is at or below the national average, so a dollar buys as much as or more than it does nationally. The Gera US Real Pay Index divides take-home pay by this figure to express salaries in purchasing-power-equivalent dollars.

Compare other states

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Related on GeraJobs

Gera US Real Pay Index — all states ranked
Methodology — the exact BLS + BEA + tax computation.
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Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2025 state estimates); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities (All Items), by state (2024 (US = 100)); Tax Foundation — 2025 State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets. The Gera US Real Pay Index for Ohio is computed by GeraJobs from these figures; no figure is modelled or interpolated.