Chief Executive Salary in Columbus, OH
Chief Executives in the Columbus, OH metro area earn a median $162,910 a year — 24% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $118,917 take-home, or $9,910 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
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- Federal income tax$27,832
- Social Security (6.2%)$10,100
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,362
- Ohio income tax$3,698
- Take-home pay$118,917
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 2.75% state
Chief Executive pay by experience in Columbus, OH
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $90,330 | $43.43 | $70,675 | $5,890 |
| 25th percentile | $133,540 | $64.20 | $99,651 | $8,304 |
| Median (50th) | $162,910 | $78.32 | $118,917 | $9,910 |
| 75th percentile | $311,080+ | $149.56 | $214,346 | $17,862 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $433,150+ | $208.25 | $287,466 | $23,955 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Ohio resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $162,910 buys in Columbus, OH
Prices in Columbus, OH are 4.5% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 12% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median chief executive's $118,917 take-home pay has the buying power of $124,561 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Chief Executive jobs are less concentrated in Columbus, OH than nationally (location quotient 0.80), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for chief executives, adjusted for cost of living
Columbus, OH ranks #47 of 55 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $239,200+ | $259,032 | $233,083 |
| 2 | Bridgeport, CT | $239,200+ | $247,855 | $231,935 |
| 3 | Charlotte, NC | $239,200+ | $220,744 | $226,758 |
| 4 | Dallas, TX | $239,200+ | $227,744 | $220,918 |
| 5 | Chicago, IL | $239,200+ | $226,413 | $218,556 |
| 6 | Richmond, VA | $239,200+ | $213,626 | $218,302 |
| 7 | Des Moines, IA | $239,200+ | $199,056 | $217,070 |
| 8 | Portland, OR | $239,200+ | $227,767 | $216,055 |
| 47 | Columbus, OH | $162,910 | $118,917 | $124,561 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 55 metros →
Chief Executive salaries elsewhere in Ohio
- Cincinnati, OH — $207,170
- Cleveland, OH — $199,350
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chief executive make in Columbus, OH?
The median chief executive salary in the Columbus, OH metro area is $162,910 a year, or about $78.32 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $133,540 and $239,200+.
What is a chief executive’s take-home pay in Columbus, OH?
On the median $162,910 salary, a single filer living in Ohio takes home about $118,917 a year ($9,910 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,698 in Ohio taxes in 2026.
Is Columbus, OH a good place to work as a chief executive?
Pay here is 24% below the national median of $213,990. Local prices are 4.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $124,561 would in a typical U.S. city. Columbus, OH ranks #47 of 55 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a chief executive afford rent in Columbus, OH?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Columbus, OH is $1,179 a month ($1,416 for two bedrooms) — 12% of a median chief executive’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Columbus, OH
- Computer and Information Systems Manager — $167,630
- Financial Manager — $145,630
- Purchasing Manager — $141,490
- Sales Manager — $138,580
- Marketing Manager — $134,420
- Managers, All Other — $131,580
- Human Resources Manager — $131,100
- Industrial Production Manager — $112,020
- Medical and Health Services Manager — $107,520
- Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers — $105,360
- Construction Manager — $105,200
- Administrative Services Manager — $104,050