The average salary for a lawyer in Ohio is $151,140 per year. Because a small number of very high earners pull that figure upward, the median of $131,020 is often the more useful anchor when you are setting an offer for a typical hire. Budget toward the mean only when the role calls for senior experience or specialized expertise.
Lawyer salary in Ohio (2026)
The average salary for a lawyer in Ohio is $151,140 per year. A small pool of very high earners pulls that average upward, so the median of $131,020 gives employers a more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. Ohio employs 19,950 lawyers, and the $20,120 gap between the mean and median reflects real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Junior lawyers in Ohio typically earn around $69,790, while senior specialists reach and exceed the $269,530 level at the 90th percentile. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for a lawyer 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 | $131,020 |
Average Annual Salary | $151,140 |
vs. National Average | 18.7% below the national mean of $185,840 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 19,950 employed lawyers across Ohio.
See how Rippling handles payroll, benefits, and onboarding for your next lawyer hire.
Lawyer salary percentiles in Ohio
Percentile | Annual Salary |
10th Percentile | $69,790 |
25th Percentile | $90,830 |
75th Percentile | $191,080 |
90th Percentile | $269,530 |
Employers hiring for senior or specialized lawyer roles in Ohio should budget well above the $131,020 median, since the 75th percentile sits at $191,080 and experienced specialists reach $269,530 at the 90th percentile. Entry-level offers anchored near $69,790 are appropriate for early-career candidates, but any role requiring deep specialization or significant experience will require a materially higher number to remain competitive.
Lawyer salary by city in Ohio
City | Average Annual Salary |
Cincinnati | $154,320 |
Columbus | $154,090 |
Toledo | $141,710 |
Employers hiring lawyers in Ohio can expect meaningful pay differences depending on location, which makes city-level benchmarking worthwhile before setting an offer. Cincinnati and Columbus are closely aligned at $154,320 and $154,090 respectively, while Toledo comes in notably lower at $141,710. A role based in Toledo may allow for a lower compensation anchor than the same role in Cincinnati or Columbus.
How Ohio compares to other states
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
Illinois | $181,240 | $160,800 |
Indiana | $175,850 | $126,860 |
Pennsylvania | $169,170 | $157,180 |
Ohio | $151,140 | $131,020 |
Michigan | $148,820 | $130,520 |
Kentucky | $120,730 | $101,550 |
Ohio is a relatively cost-effective market for lawyer hiring compared to most of its regional peers, which gives employers here a budgeting advantage when competing for talent. Ohio's mean of $151,140 sits below Illinois ($181,240), Indiana ($175,850), and Pennsylvania ($169,170), though it runs close to Michigan at $148,820. Kentucky is the only nearby state where lawyer compensation runs materially lower, with a mean of $120,730.
Frequently asked questions about lawyer salary in Ohio
What is the average salary of a lawyer in Ohio?
What is the salary range for a lawyer in Ohio?
Lawyer salaries in Ohio range from $69,790 at the 10th percentile to $269,530 at the 90th percentile. The middle of the market sits between $90,830 at the 25th percentile and $191,080 at the 75th percentile, which is where most competitive offers will land. Use the seniority and specialization of your specific role to determine where within that range your offer should fall.
How does Ohio compare to other states for lawyer salary?
Ohio's mean lawyer salary of $151,140 is below most of its regional neighbors, making it a relatively cost-effective state for lawyer hiring. Illinois leads the region at $181,240, followed by Indiana at $175,850 and Pennsylvania at $169,170. Michigan is the closest peer at $148,820, while Kentucky sits well below Ohio at $120,730.
What do the top-earning lawyers make in Ohio?
Lawyers at the 90th percentile in Ohio earn $269,530 per year, representing the level that senior specialists in the state typically reach or exceed. The 75th percentile sits at $191,080, so employers competing for experienced talent should expect offers in that range at a minimum. When recruiting for highly specialized or senior roles, plan for compensation well above the $131,020 median to remain competitive.
Lawyer salary by state
Data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2025, SOC code 23-1011 (Lawyers).
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.
Author
The Rippling Team
Global HR, IT, and Finance know-how directly from the Rippling team.
Hubs
Explore more
Jul 20, 2026
|
3 min
Lawyer salary in Indiana (2026)
Indiana lawyer salaries range from $65,750 to $327,960. See median pay, city breakdowns, and how Indiana compares to neighboring states.
Jul 20, 2026
|
3 min
Lawyer salary in Michigan (2026)
Michigan lawyer salaries range from $77,180 to $238,370. Get BLS-sourced data on median pay, city breakdowns, and how Michigan compares to neighboring states.
Jul 20, 2026
|
3 min
Lawyer salary in Illinois (2026)
Lawyer salaries in Illinois range from $82,160 to $330,200. See median pay, city breakdowns, and how Illinois compares to neighboring states.
Jul 20, 2026
|
2 min
Lawyer salary in Massachusetts (2026)
Lawyer salaries in Massachusetts range from $82,100 to $374,410. See median, average, and city-level data to budget your next hire confidently.
Jun 10, 2026
|
3 min
Software engineer salary in Ohio (2026)
Ohio software engineers earn a median $114,090 per year. Compare salaries by city, percentile, and neighboring states to budget your next hire.
Jul 20, 2026
|
3 min
Lawyer salary in New York (2026)
Lawyer salaries in New York average $220,180, with a range from $85,200 to $391,420. Compare pay by city, percentile, and state to budget your next hire.
Jul 20, 2026
|
3 min
Lawyer salary in Georgia (2026)
Georgia lawyer salaries range from $58,750 to $317,820. See median, average, and city-level pay data to budget your next legal hire accurately.
Jul 20, 2026
|
3 min
Lawyer salary in Virginia (2026)
Find 2026 lawyer salary data for Virginia, including a $167,210 median, city breakdowns, and percentile ranges to guide your next hire.
See Rippling in action
Increase savings, automate busy work, and make better decisions by managing HR, IT, and Finance in one place.