Nurse practitioner salary in Ohio (2026)

Author

The Rippling Team

Read time

3 MIN

Published

Jul 7, 2026

In this article

The average nurse practitioner salary in Ohio is $122,910 per year. A small pool of very high earners pulls that average upward, so the median of $124,870 gives employers a more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. Ohio employs 15,400 nurse practitioners, and the $2,040 gap between the mean and median reflects real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Entry-level nurse practitioners in Ohio typically earn around $100,780, while senior specialists commonly reach or exceed the $154,680 threshold at the 90th percentile. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for a nurse practitioner 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	$124,870
Average Annual Salary	$122,910
vs. National Average	10.5% below the national mean of $137,300

Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 15,400 employed nurse practitioners across Ohio.

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Nurse practitioner salary percentiles in Ohio

Percentile	Annual Salary
10th Percentile	$100,780
25th Percentile	$106,670
75th Percentile	$134,750
90th Percentile	$154,680

Employers setting an offer for a nurse practitioner in Ohio should expect a meaningful spread depending on experience and specialty, with the middle of the market sitting between $106,670 and $134,750. Candidates with advanced specialization or significant tenure will push toward or past the $154,680 mark at the 90th percentile, so build flexibility into your compensation structure before extending an offer.

Nurse practitioner salary by city in Ohio

City	Average Annual Salary
Cincinnati	$124,370
Columbus	$121,430
Toledo	$117,770

Location meaningfully affects what you will need to offer a nurse practitioner in Ohio, so budget accordingly when hiring in different metros. Cincinnati leads at $124,370 on average, while Toledo comes in at $117,770, a difference of $6,600 that can shift your total compensation budget if you are hiring across multiple sites. Anchoring your offer to the specific metro rather than the statewide average will keep you competitive in each local market.

How Ohio compares to other states

State	Average Annual Salary	Median Annual Salary
Ohio	$122,910	$124,870
Michigan	$132,790	$131,450
Pennsylvania	$132,070	$130,140
Illinois	$130,940	$130,680
Indiana	$126,600	$128,830
Kentucky	$125,010	$122,870

Ohio is a cost-effective market for nurse practitioner hiring relative to most of its regional peers, which gives employers here a real budgeting advantage when competing for talent. Ohio's average of $122,910 sits below Michigan at $132,790, Pennsylvania at $132,070, Illinois at $130,940, Indiana at $126,600, and Kentucky at $125,010. If you are hiring across state lines or benchmarking against candidates who have offers in neighboring states, factor in these gaps when structuring your compensation package.

Frequently asked questions about nurse practitioner salary in Ohio

How does Ohio compare to other states for nurse practitioner salary?

Ohio's average nurse practitioner salary of $122,910 falls below every neighboring state in the comparison set, including Michigan at $132,790 and Kentucky at $125,010. This means Ohio employers generally face lower baseline compensation expectations, but candidates with offers from out-of-state employers may expect you to close some of that gap. Use the state comparison figures to set a realistic ceiling when a candidate brings a competing offer from a higher-paying market.

What do the top-earning nurse practitioners make in Ohio?

Nurse practitioners at the 90th percentile in Ohio earn $154,680 per year. Senior specialists with advanced credentials or high-demand specialties are the candidates most likely to command offers at or above that level. If you are recruiting for a senior or specialized role, budget above the statewide median of $124,870 and plan for negotiation room up to the 90th percentile threshold.

What is the salary range for a nurse practitioner in Ohio?

The published salary range for nurse practitioners in Ohio runs from $100,780 at the 10th percentile to $154,680 at the 90th percentile. The middle of the market, where most candidates will anchor their expectations, falls between $106,670 at the 25th percentile and $134,750 at the 75th percentile. Use the seniority and specialization of the specific role you are filling to determine where within that range your offer should land.

What is the average nurse practitioner salary in Ohio?

The average nurse practitioner salary in Ohio is $122,910 per year, with a median of $124,870. The median is the more useful figure for most hiring decisions because it is less sensitive to a small number of very high earners at the top of the market. When setting your initial offer, start with the median and adjust up or down based on the candidate's experience level and the specific demands of the role.

Nurse Practitioner salary by state

Data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2025, SOC code 29-1171 (Nurse Practitioners).

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.