The average project manager salary in Ohio is $102,210 per year. The median sits at $95,770, which is the more reliable figure for most hiring decisions because it is less sensitive to a small number of very high earners at the top of the market. Use the median as your anchor when setting an offer for a mid-level hire.
Project manager salary in Ohio (2026)
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The average project manager salary in Ohio is $102,210 per year. A small pool of very high earners pulls that average upward, so the median of $95,770 gives employers a more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. Ohio employs 34,260 project managers, and the $6,440 gap between the mean and median reflects real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Junior project managers in Ohio typically earn around $59,280, while senior specialists reach and exceed the $160,570 level at the 90th percentile. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for a project manager hire in Ohio, and anchor that range to the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
Metric / Value
Metric | Value |
Median Annual Salary | $95,770 |
Average Annual Salary | $102,210 |
vs. National Average | 7.7% below the national mean of $110,740 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 34,260 employed project managers across Ohio.
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Project manager salary percentiles in Ohio
Percentile | Annual Salary |
10th Percentile | $59,280 |
25th Percentile | $74,420 |
75th Percentile | $126,570 |
90th Percentile | $160,570 |
Employers hiring at the entry level should expect offers in the $59,280 to $74,420 range, while experienced hires with specialized backgrounds will push toward $126,570 or beyond. Senior specialists in Ohio reach and exceed $160,570, so budget accordingly if the role demands deep expertise or a track record of managing complex programs.
Project manager salary by city in Ohio
City | Average Annual Salary |
Columbus | $104,990 |
Cincinnati | $100,940 |
Toledo | $93,640 |
Where you hire within Ohio will affect your compensation budget in a meaningful way. Columbus commands the highest average at $104,990, while Toledo sits $11,350 lower at $93,640, giving employers in smaller markets a real cost advantage when recruiting locally. If your team is distributed across multiple Ohio locations, set city-specific salary bands rather than a single statewide figure.
How Ohio compares to other states
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
Ohio | $102,210 | $95,770 |
Illinois | $111,230 | $103,470 |
Pennsylvania | $106,910 | $100,150 |
Michigan | $104,690 | $100,970 |
Indiana | $98,560 | $95,020 |
Kentucky | $89,470 | $81,700 |
Ohio sits in the middle of the regional pack, making it a cost-effective market compared to Illinois and Pennsylvania but more expensive than Indiana and Kentucky. Employers competing for talent across state lines should note that Ohio's mean of $102,210 trails Illinois by $9,020, so candidates with offers from Chicago-area employers may expect a premium. Indiana and Kentucky offer lower prevailing wages, which can be useful context when evaluating candidates who relocate from those markets.
Frequently asked questions about project manager salary in Ohio
What is the average project manager salary in Ohio?
What is the salary range for a project manager in Ohio?
Project manager salaries in Ohio range from $59,280 at the 10th percentile to $160,570 at the 90th percentile. The 25th percentile sits at $74,420 and the 75th percentile at $126,570, giving you a practical mid-range band for most hires. Match your offer to the seniority and complexity of the role rather than defaulting to the midpoint.
What do the top-earning project managers make in Ohio?
Project managers at the 90th percentile in Ohio earn $160,570 per year. Senior specialists with deep expertise or responsibility for large, complex programs are the candidates most likely to command compensation at or above that level. Budget for this range if you are recruiting for a high-stakes program management role.
How does Ohio compare to other states for project manager salary?
Ohio's average project manager salary of $102,210 falls 7.7% below the national mean of $110,740. Among nearby states, Illinois leads at $111,230 and Pennsylvania follows at $106,910, while Indiana at $98,560 and Kentucky at $89,470 sit below Ohio. If you are hiring in a competitive regional market or competing with employers in Illinois or Pennsylvania, plan to benchmark offers against those higher figures.
Project manager salary by state
Data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2025, SOC code 13-1082 (Project Management Specialists).
Disclaimer
Rippling and its affiliates do not provide tax, accounting, or legal advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide or be relied on for tax, accounting, or legal advice. You should consult your own tax, accounting, and legal advisors before engaging in any related activities or transactions.
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