Ohio is not only the birthplace of Neil Armstrong and Steven Spielberg but also one of the states with the highest average RN wages in the area. Discover how much RNs make per hour and per year throughout Ohio in the table below.
This resource provides publicly available information from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the MIT Living Wage Calculator about average RN salaries, employment, location quotient, and living wage in Ohio (most recent information as of December 2023). While Nursa currently offers independent contractor RNs in Ohio the opportunity to access per diem jobs that pay on an hourly basis rather than access to salaried or wage-based employment opportunities, this information may be a helpful frame of reference for you as you assess the market landscape both in regard to per diem jobs and employment opportunities.
What's the Average RN Salary in Ohio?
Are you wondering how much nurses can make in Ohio as a whole? The average nurse wage in Ohio is $78,450 annually, and the hourly rate is $37.72. Although Ohio has an RN wage 13 percent lower than the national average, it is one of the highest-paying states in the surrounding area.
The following list shows the percentile difference in pay between Ohio and the surrounding states:
Furthermore, here’s how RN income typically varies within Ohio:
- 10th percentile: $61,860
- 25th percentile: $65,730
- 50th percentile: $76,810
- 75th percentile: $82,420
- 90th percentile: $98,380
Do you need help with the meaning of the percentiles? A percentile represents the RNs that earn less than the amount shown in every case. For example, 10 percent of RNs make less than $61,860, and 90 percent earn more.
Receiving a higher nurse income in Ohio depends on various factors, like the industry you work in and the location or city you live in—another way to earn a higher RN pay per hour is to pick up per diem jobs.
Which Are the Highest-Paying Cities for RNs in Ohio?
The following are the top five highest-paying cities in Ohio, with links to per diem RN jobs in each city:
How Much Do You Need in Ohio to Cover Your Basic Expenses?
Knowing how much you can earn in Ohio may help you choose the best option when considering independent contractor work or applying for salaried or wage-based employment. Furthermore, knowing how much you need to cover your basic expenses in Ohio is essential to see how much you can save or if your earnings are sufficient to live on.
Here are some cost of living considerations for Ohio: You typically need to earn $15,33 per hour working full-time to cover your basic expenses if you are a single adult without dependents. If you live with a partner and only you work, you must earn $25,41 per hour. If both adults work, each needs to make $12,68 per hour. These earnings do not contemplate the added cost of supporting children.
RN Employment by Area
Discover the employment of RNs in Ohio by area and the location quotient (LQ) in those areas.
The LQ shows the concentration of RNs in the area compared with the national average. The national average LQ is one; therefore, a location quotient above or below one indicates that the area has a higher or lower concentration of RNs than the national average.
How to Find Per Diem Independent Contractor RN Jobs in Ohio
Although RNs are generally in high demand, the easiest way to find RN jobs in Ohio is through per diem jobs.
What are per diem jobs?
A per diem job means "as demanded" or a job by the shift. Therefore, your job finishes when the shift ends. With Nursa, access to these jobs is at your fingertips.
Per diem jobs allow RNs, licensed practical nurses (LPNs), and certified nursing assistants (CNAs) to earn higher hourly wages and have greater flexibility than with staff positions. Consequently, this type of work can help you achieve an excellent work-life balance and allow you to spend quality time with your loved ones and still earn more money.
Find per diem jobs in different cities of Ohio in the following list:
- Akron
- Ashley
- Chillicothe
- Clinton
- Conneaut
- Coshocton
- Dublin
- Gahanna
- Lancaster
- Maumee
- North Olmsted
- Washington Court House
- Waverly
How to Become an RN in Ohio
Although exceptions may apply, to acquire an Ohio RN license, you generally must choose one of the state-approved RN programs. There are four main types of RN programs: associate's, diploma, bachelor's, and direct-entry graduate.
After completing your program, you must apply for licensure with the Ohio Board of Nursing and pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). If you are already licensed, you can use an online RN license verification portal like the eLicense Lookup website to check the status of your license.
The following list shows some of the top nursing schools in Ohio:
- The Ohio State University, Columbus
- University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati
- Wright State University, Dayton
- Kent State University, Kent
- Mount Carmel College, Columbus
- Ohio University, Athens
Now that you know how much you can expect to earn in Ohio, continue reading about working in Ohio as a nurse.
