Roman Samborskyi // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Software developers
- Median annual wage: $113,240
- Median hourly wage: $54.44
- Total employment: 9,160 people (8.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Cincinnati
Despite recession fears and falling consumer confidence, the job market in the United States has remained relatively stable in 2025 thus far. According to May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics data, around 177,000 new jobs were added in April, a slight decrease from the 185,000 new jobs added in the month before, but an extension of the country's 52-month streak of job growth. Unemployment rates also held relatively steady between April 2024 and April 2025, coming in at around 4%.
Of course, that doesn't necessarily mean Americans have it easy in the workplace. A December 2024 Payscale report found that nearly half (47%) of business organizations struggle to balance fair pay practices with spend optimization, and 18% plan to reduce pay increases in 2025 as a result.
For context, median weekly earnings across all employees in the U.S. stood at $1,194 in the first quarter of 2025. This represents an increase of 4.8% from a year prior and exceeds the Consumer Price Index's 2.7% increase in the same time period. However, there's one caveat: Earnings go much further in some places than in others.
In fact, the very definition of a "high-paying" job varies by location, as well as other factors such as industry and benefits. Even a six-figure salary may be considered low-income in places with an unusually high cost of living. Meanwhile, technology, finance, and health care jobs lead in terms of salary, but benefits like remote work can make other lower-paying jobs more desirable.
Regardless, anyone seeking a high-paying job should start by looking at the numbers. Stacker used BLS data to find the 50 highest-paying jobs in Cincinnati. Jobs are ranked by their median annual pay as of May 2024, so any jobs without annual compensation figures available were excluded from this analysis.
You may also like: Highest-rated delis in Cincinnati by diners
luchschenF // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Physicists
- Median annual wage: $114,900
- Median hourly wage: $55.24
- Total employment: 80 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Environmental engineers
- Median annual wage: $115,070
- Median hourly wage: $55.32
- Total employment: 200 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
eldar nurkovic // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Chemical engineers
- Median annual wage: $115,970
- Median hourly wage: $55.76
- Total employment: 270 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Training and development managers
- Median annual wage: $117,680
- Median hourly wage: $56.58
- Total employment: 200 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Is it cheaper to buy or rent in Cincinnati in 2026?
Petekub // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Economists
- Median annual wage: $117,750
- Median hourly wage: $56.61
- Total employment: 50 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Skycolors // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Commercial pilots
- Median annual wage: $119,410
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 340 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PIYAWAT WONGOPASS // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Computer programmers
- Median annual wage: $119,900
- Median hourly wage: $57.65
- Total employment: 550 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Sunshine Seeds // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Industrial production managers
- Median annual wage: $121,070
- Median hourly wage: $58.21
- Total employment: 2,780 people (2.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Veterinarians
- Median annual wage: $121,970
- Median hourly wage: $58.64
- Total employment: 580 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Movies and TV shows casting in Cincinnati
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Physical scientists, all other
- Median annual wage: $122,080
- Median hourly wage: $58.69
- Total employment: 100 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Washburn HM // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Transportation inspectors
- Median annual wage: $122,920
- Median hourly wage: $59.10
- Total employment: 120 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Sebastian Duda // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates
- Median annual wage: $123,120
- Median hourly wage: $59.19
- Total employment: 350 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stokkete // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Physician assistants
- Median annual wage: $125,260
- Median hourly wage: $60.22
- Total employment: 880 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Lawyers
- Median annual wage: $126,530
- Median hourly wage: $60.83
- Total employment: 3,890 people (3.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Closest national parks to Cincinnati
Tonhom1009 // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Bioengineers and biomedical engineers
- Median annual wage: $127,490
- Median hourly wage: $61.29
- Total employment: 690 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Compensation and benefits managers
- Median annual wage: $128,300
- Median hourly wage: $61.69
- Total employment: 100 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Computer network architects
- Median annual wage: $128,910
- Median hourly wage: $61.98
- Total employment: 1,240 people (1.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Psychologists, all other
- Median annual wage: $129,460
- Median hourly wage: $62.24
- Total employment: 80 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
dokurose // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Sales managers
- Median annual wage: $129,540
- Median hourly wage: $62.28
- Total employment: 4,810 people (4.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Best public high schools in the Cincinnati metro area
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Nurse practitioners
- Median annual wage: $130,100
- Median hourly wage: $62.55
- Total employment: 2,680 people (2.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Human resources managers
- Median annual wage: $130,380
- Median hourly wage: $62.68
- Total employment: 1,470 people (1.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Database architects
- Median annual wage: $130,400
- Median hourly wage: $62.69
- Total employment: 490 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kzenon // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Optometrists
- Median annual wage: $133,240
- Median hourly wage: $64.06
- Total employment: 310 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SpeedKingz // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Managers, all other
- Median annual wage: $133,760
- Median hourly wage: $64.31
- Total employment: 2,100 people (1.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Best restaurants for 11 cuisines in Cincinnati
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Pharmacists
- Median annual wage: $135,330
- Median hourly wage: $65.06
- Total employment: 2,540 people (2.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Burben // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Air traffic controllers
- Median annual wage: $135,570
- Median hourly wage: $65.18
- Total employment: 60 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
aappp // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Aerospace engineers
- Median annual wage: $137,420
- Median hourly wage: $66.07
- Total employment: 1,340 people (1.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Marketing managers
- Median annual wage: $139,920
- Median hourly wage: $67.27
- Total employment: 1,990 people (1.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kanghophoto // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Financial managers
- Median annual wage: $140,750
- Median hourly wage: $67.67
- Total employment: 6,110 people (5.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: The highest-value homes in Cincinnati
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Purchasing managers
- Median annual wage: $141,620
- Median hourly wage: $68.09
- Total employment: 710 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Elnur // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Podiatrists
- Median annual wage: $146,160
- Median hourly wage: $70.27
- Total employment: 60 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VE.Studio // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Natural sciences managers
- Median annual wage: $164,270
- Median hourly wage: $78.98
- Total employment: 300 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BOY ANTHONY // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Architectural and engineering managers
- Median annual wage: $166,030
- Median hourly wage: $79.82
- Total employment: Not available
Frame Stock Footage // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Computer and information systems managers
- Median annual wage: $166,230
- Median hourly wage: $79.92
- Total employment: 3,160 people (2.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated campgrounds in the Cincinnati area by visitors
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Dentists, general
- Median annual wage: $204,240
- Median hourly wage: $98.19
- Total employment: 640 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Nurse anesthetists
- Median annual wage: $204,400
- Median hourly wage: $98.27
- Total employment: 600 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Obstetricians and gynecologists
- Median annual wage: $209,230
- Median hourly wage: $100.59
- Total employment: 280 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Pediatricians, general
- Median annual wage: $210,910
- Median hourly wage: $101.40
- Total employment: 800 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Chief executives
- Median annual wage: $212,290
- Median hourly wage: $102.06
- Total employment: 1,030 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Best high schools in the Cincinnati metro area
Djols // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Emergency medicine physicians
- Median annual wage: $220,570
- Median hourly wage: $106.04
- Total employment: 350 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Family medicine physicians
- Median annual wage: $235,230
- Median hourly wage: $113.09
- Total employment: 390 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
43 / 50#1. Anesthesiologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 280 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Natee K Jindakum // Shutterstock
44 / 50#1. Physicians, pathologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 110 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock
45 / 50#1. Radiologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 360 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Are home prices going down in Cincinnati in 2026?
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
46 / 50#1. Psychiatrists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 180 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
create jobs 51 // Shutterstock
47 / 50#1. Neurologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 120 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Komsan Loonprom // Shutterstock
48 / 50#1. Cardiologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 250 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlurryMe // Shutterstock
49 / 50#1. General internal medicine physicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 250 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wutzkohphoto // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Physicians, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 3,130 people (2.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Cu Fleshman, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 364 metros.
You may also like: Highest-rated restaurants with outdoor seating in Cincinnati by diners
