Lawyer salary in Ohio
Lawyers in Ohio earn a median of $131,020 a year ($62.99 an hour), based on BLS data for 19,950 workers.
Pay ranges from $69,790 for the lowest-paid 10% to $269,530 for the top 10%. That is 18% lower than the national median of $159,670. Ohio ranks 27th of 51 states for lawyers pay. There are 3.6 lawyers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.74). The average (mean) salary is $151,140, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for lawyers in Ohio
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $69,790 | $33.55 |
| 25th percentile | $90,830 | $43.67 |
| Median | $131,020 | $62.99 |
| 75th percentile | $191,080 | $91.87 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $269,530 | $129.58 |
| Average (mean) | $151,140 | $72.67 |
Half of lawyers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $10,918.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,459.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,039.23 |
| Weekly | $2,519.62 |
| Hourly | $62.99 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Lawyer salary in cities in Ohio
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Columbus, OH | $137,810 | 4,960 |
| Cleveland, OH | $134,680 | 5,540 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $130,980 | 3,870 |
| Akron, OH | $126,270 | 1,150 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | $124,990 | 240 |
| Canton-Massillon, OH | $119,210 | 450 |
| Toledo, OH | $113,920 | 820 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $104,170 | 1,040 |
| Sandusky, OH | $101,270 | 130 |
| Youngstown-Warren, OH | $101,250 | 400 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $98,070 | 390 |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $94,760 | 60 |
| Springfield, OH | $94,470 | 70 |
| Lima, OH | $83,260 | 90 |
| Mansfield, OH | $79,820 | 80 |
Highest-paying states for lawyers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $207,860 |
| District of Columbia | $195,190 |
| California | $195,080 |
| Massachusetts | $176,680 |
| Delaware | $173,510 |
| Colorado | $168,520 |
| Virginia | $167,210 |
| Connecticut | $163,600 |
| New Jersey | $161,430 |
| Illinois | $160,800 |
Related jobs in Ohio
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates | $95,260 | $45.80 |
| Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers | $79,000 | $37.98 |
| Judicial Law Clerk | $49,840 | $23.96 |
| Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators | $68,790 | $33.07 |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | $60,420 | $29.05 |
| Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers | $56,680 | $27.25 |
| Legal Support Workers, All Other | $67,230 | $32.32 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 23-1011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a lawyer make in Ohio?
The median salary for lawyers in Ohio is $131,020 a year, or $62.99 an hour. Pay ranges from $69,790 for the lowest-paid 10% to $269,530 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid lawyers make in Ohio?
The top 10% of lawyers in Ohio earn at least $269,530 a year. The top 25% earn $191,080 or more.
What is the starting pay for lawyers in Ohio?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $69,790 a year, and a quarter of lawyers earn $90,830 or less.
How many lawyers work in Ohio?
About 19,950 lawyers are employed in Ohio, not counting the self-employed.