Salary by metro
MBA-Relevant Salaries in Columbus
What the roles MBAs target actually pay in the Columbus metro area — source-labeled BLS wage benchmarks, adjusted for what it costs to live there.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2024 estimates (published April 2025)), Columbus, OH; cost-of-living from U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities by Metropolitan Statistical Area (MARPP) (2024). Occupational wage benchmarks across all workers, not MBA-specific outcomes.
- Roles benchmarked
- 19
- MBA-relevant occupations
- Median wage span
- $77,010–$167,630
- across roles
- Highest median
- $167,630
- Computer and Information Systems Managers
- Cost of living
- 95.5
- price level (U.S. = 100)
What MBA-relevant roles pay in Columbus
Median wage and cost-of-living-adjusted value for each occupation. Open a role for its full percentile range and metro ranking.
| Role (occupation) | Median annual | Cost-of-living adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Systems Managers SOC 11-3021 | $167,630 | $175,586 |
| Chief Executives SOC 11-1011 | $162,910 | $170,642 |
| Financial Managers SOC 11-3031 | $145,630 | $152,542 |
| Sales Managers SOC 11-2022 | $138,580 | $145,157 |
| Marketing Managers SOC 11-2021 | $134,420 | $140,800 |
| Human Resources Managers SOC 11-3121 | $131,100 | $137,322 |
| Industrial Production Managers SOC 11-3051 | $112,020 | $117,337 |
| Data Scientists SOC 15-2051 | $107,950 | $113,073 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers SOC 11-9111 | $107,520 | $112,623 |
| Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers SOC 11-3071 | $105,360 | $110,360 |
| Operations Research Analysts SOC 15-2031 | $104,970 | $109,952 |
| General and Operations Managers SOC 11-1021 | $102,590 | $107,459 |
| Project Management Specialists SOC 13-1082 | $98,660 | $103,342 |
| Financial and Investment Analysts SOC 13-2051 | $97,920 | $102,567 |
| Management Analysts SOC 13-1111 | $90,010 | $94,282 |
| Accountants and Auditors SOC 13-2011 | $81,700 | $85,578 |
| Personal Financial Advisors SOC 13-2052 | $81,600 | $85,473 |
| Logisticians SOC 13-1081 | $80,710 | $84,541 |
| Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists SOC 13-1161 | $77,010 | $80,665 |
Compare other metros
Cost of living and Columbus pay
Nominal wages in the Columbus area reflect its industry mix and cost of living. A higher headline number in an expensive metro does not automatically mean a better financial outcome — housing and everyday costs claim more of it. Each role page shows the cost-of-living-adjusted figure so you can compare purchasing power, not just headline pay.
Frequently asked questions
What do MBA-relevant roles pay in Columbus?
Across the 19 MBA-relevant occupations benchmarked for the Columbus metro area, median annual wages span roughly $77,010 to $167,630. These are BLS OEWS occupational wage benchmarks across all workers, not MBA-graduate-specific outcomes. The highest-median role here is Computer and Information Systems Managers at $167,630.
Is Columbus an expensive place to earn these salaries?
The Columbus area overall price level is 95.5 against a U.S. average of 100 — close to the national average. Each role page shows the cost-of-living-adjusted figure.
Calculate your MBA ROI →
Personalize the numbers with your tuition, salary, and debt.
Submit your MBA outcome →
Private submission; shown only in aggregate after review.
Related searches
Every figure on SalaryMBA is source-labeled. See our methodology for how we source and gate data.