Registered Nurse Salary in Cincinnati, OH
Registered Nurses in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area earn a median $83,650 a year — 14% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $66,160 take-home, or $5,513 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median registered nurse salary in Cincinnati, OH. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$9,573
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,186
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,213
- Ohio income tax$1,518
- Take-home pay$66,160
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 2.75% state
The Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro spans Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Registered Nurse pay by experience in Cincinnati, OH
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $67,820 | $32.61 | $55,459 | $4,622 |
| 25th percentile | $80,530 | $38.72 | $64,051 | $5,338 |
| Median (50th) | $83,650 | $40.22 | $66,160 | $5,513 |
| 75th percentile | $102,620 | $49.34 | $78,983 | $6,582 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $107,190 | $51.53 | $82,073 | $6,839 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Ohio resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $83,650 buys in Cincinnati, OH
Prices in Cincinnati, OH are 4.6% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 12% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median registered nurse's $66,160 take-home pay has the buying power of $69,372 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Registered Nurse jobs are about as common in Cincinnati, OH as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.19).
Best-paying cities for registered nurses, adjusted for cost of living
Cincinnati, OH ranks #262 of 370 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $216,740 | $142,511 | $129,059 |
| 2 | Vallejo, CA | $203,290 | $134,031 | $123,555 |
| 3 | Santa Rosa, CA | $174,550 | $116,298 | $107,899 |
| 4 | Sacramento, CA | $171,460 | $114,514 | $107,353 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $186,610 | $123,394 | $106,730 |
| 6 | Santa Cruz, CA | $170,960 | $114,225 | $103,939 |
| 7 | Yuba City, CA | $149,320 | $101,728 | $97,597 |
| 8 | Olympia, WA | $125,020 | $96,717 | $93,293 |
| 262 | Cincinnati, OH | $83,650 | $66,160 | $69,372 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 370 metros →
Registered Nurse salaries elsewhere in Ohio
- Mansfield, OH — $81,300
- Sandusky, OH — $81,310
- Lima, OH — $81,440
- Youngstown, OH — $78,680
- Canton, OH — $79,610
- Cleveland, OH — $83,940
- Dayton, OH — $82,510
- Springfield, OH — $80,060
Frequently asked questions
How much does a registered nurse make in Cincinnati, OH?
The median registered nurse salary in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area is $83,650 a year, or about $40.22 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $80,530 and $102,620.
What is a registered nurse’s take-home pay in Cincinnati, OH?
On the median $83,650 salary, a single filer living in Ohio takes home about $66,160 a year ($5,513 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,518 in Ohio taxes in 2026.
Is Cincinnati, OH a good place to work as a registered nurse?
Pay here is 14% below the national median of $97,550. Local prices are 4.6% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $69,372 would in a typical U.S. city. Cincinnati, OH ranks #262 of 370 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a registered nurse afford rent in Cincinnati, OH?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Cincinnati, OH is $1,043 a month ($1,342 for two bedrooms) — 19% of a median registered nurse’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Cincinnati, OH
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Nurse Anesthetist — $221,170
- Pharmacist — $140,200
- Nurse Practitioner — $128,700
- Physician Assistant — $128,520
- Veterinarian — $127,670
- Dental Hygienist — $102,940
- Physical Therapist — $102,890
- Occupational Therapist — $100,870
- Speech-Language Pathologist — $95,930
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist — $93,600
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer — $84,950