The 7 Best-Paying Tech Jobs in Ohio

Ohio‘s technology industry is booming. Over the past decade, the state has seen an influx of venture capital, spurring growth across various tech sectors. And this shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon.

In 2022 alone, over $3 billion in VC funding poured into Ohio‘s tech scene, a 200% increase from 2020. The low cost of living coupled with access to young talent graduating from schools like Ohio State University, make it very attractive for tech companies. Whether you‘re an aspiring tech professional looking to launch your career or an experienced vet exploring new opportunities, Ohio offers a range of high-paying, future-proof tech jobs.

In this comprehensive guide, we explore the top-paying tech roles available in Ohio along with expected salaries, required skills and how you can get your foot in the door.

Why Ohio is Becoming a Magnet for Tech Talent

Historically Midwest states have been overlooked as destinations for tech professionals compared to coastal tech hubs like Silicon Valley. However, Ohio is fast emerging as a budding epicenter for technology innovation across industries like healthcare, finance, e-commerce and more.

So what‘s driving this rapid growth?

• Low Cost of Living: Ohio‘s cost of living is over 30% lower than other tech hotspots like New York City and San Francisco. This allows salaries to stretch much further when it comes to housing, entertainment and other expenses.

• Access to Top Talent: Home to a number of great schools including Ohio State University, University of Cincinnati and Case Western Reserve University, Ohio has a vast pool of skilled, young tech talent to recruit from every year. Over 70,000 students graduate with tech-related degrees annually.

• Thriving Tech Hubs: Cities like Columbus, home to over 15,000 open tech jobs currently, are undergoing a major tech renaissance. Capital investments, incubators andaccelerators are drawing more tech companies and talent here.

• Growing Industries: From healthcare IT and insurtech to e-commerce and logistics tech, Ohio‘s core industries are rapidly adopting next-gen technologies like AI/ML, IoT and blockchain. And this requires a sustained pipeline of skilled tech workers.

Now that we‘ve seen the key factors making Ohio a rising star for tech professionals, let‘s explore some of the best-paying jobs currently in high demand.

1. Software Architect – $124,306

The highest paid technology role in Ohio currently is Software Architect with an average base pay of $124,306 per year.

As a software architect, you are responsible for designing, planning and overseeing development of complex software systems and applications. Rather than building the software yourself, you operate at a high level to define technical standards and strategy for the developers/engineers to follow and implement.

The day-to-day involves laying out the structural blueprint for software projects and the overall technical vision moving forward. You also coordinate technical teams to bring products to market efficiently. Strong leadership, communication and analytical skills are vital in this role.

Required Skills

• Expertise with programming languages like Java, C#,.NET
• Strong grasp of design patterns, architecture styles and frameworks
• Cloud architecture knowledge (AWS, Azure etc.)
• Understanding of latest technologies like containers, microservices, serverless etc.
• Ability to decompose complex problems and systems

Ohio employs over 5,300 Software Architects across sectors like financial services, healthcare and telecom. And these numbers are projected to grow 17% in the next decade.

Related Role: Solutions Architect – $121,421

2. DevOps Engineer – $113,601

The DevOps Engineer role has rocketed in popularity and salary over the last few years. And Ohio companies currently pay an average of $113,601 per year for skilled DevOps talent.

DevOps Engineers oversee code releases and the entire software development life cycle to accelerate delivery while ensuring reliability and security. They design process/tools to simplify workflows between developers and operations teams – hence the name DevOps.

On a daily basis, you will be automating infrastructure builds, configuring testing frameworks, monitoring systems health, and helping troubleshoot issues across the development pipeline. Expertise with continuous integration/delivery (CI/CD) tools like Jenkins is a must in this role.

Required Skills

• AWS/GCP/Azure administration
• Linux/Unix systems administration
• Scripting languages (Python, Bash etc.)
• CI/CD methodologies
• Container platforms (Docker, Kubernetes)

The increased reliance on cloud platforms and release velocity has made DevOps one of Ohio‘s most in-demand tech jobs with over 4,200 openings currently and rising popularity among startups and enterprise IT departments alike.

Related Role: Site Reliability Engineer – $108,338

3. Full-Stack Developer – $110,916

Full-stack development has also seen astronomical growth in recent years with the average full-stack developer salary in Ohio topping $110,916 per year.

As the name suggests, full-stack developers possess the skillset to work on both the frontend and backend portions of web applications. So you can switch contexts between designing user-facing elements to coding application logic and connecting servers and databases efficiently. This versatility is what makes full-stack skills in such high demand.

On an average week, you will collaborate with designers and product managers to gather requirements, architect the structure of web apps, integrate various APIs and services, and ensure responsiveness and performance across devices. Familiarity with JavaScript frameworks like React is especially valuable currently for front end development.

Required Skills

• JavaScript/TypeScript programming
• Frontend frameworks (React, Angular, Vue.js)
• Backend technologies (Node.js, ASP.NET etc.)
• Cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP)
• SQL and NoSQL databases

With booming sectors like ecommerce, fintech and healthtech needing multi-skilled developers to rapidly build solutions, full-stack development will continue flourishing as organizations shift business online. There are over 8,100 open full stack developer positions throughout Ohio currently.

Related Role: Front End Developer – $91,069

4. Cloud Engineer – $108,819

As cloud adoption speeds up, cloud engineering skills are becoming imperative for most technology teams. And Ohio companies pay premiums for this expertise with average salaries exceeding $108,819/year.

Cloud Engineers are responsible for designing, building, managing and monitoring cloud infrastructure including private, public and hybrid environments. You will work across platforms like AWS, Azure, Google Cloud to architect optimal solutions for hosting applications and workloads.

Day-to-day, cloud engineers spend their time on infrastructure automation, optimizing system reliability/costs, troubleshooting critical issues, and ensuring compliance with organizational policies and industry regulations around security and data governance.

Required Skills

• Administration of public cloud platforms (AWS/Azure/GCP)
• Scripting languages like Python, Go
• Infrastructure-as-code tools (Terraform, Ansible etc.)
• Container technology (Docker, Kubernetes)
• CI/CD pipelines and DevOps processes

With the priority around migrating legacy systems to the cloud picking up urgency, demand for qualified cloud engineers throughout Ohio will continue rising rapidly with over 5,100 open positions currently and projected job growth of over 15% in the next 4 years.

Related Role: Cloud Architect – $125,342

5. Data Scientist/Engineer – $99,748

Data analytics skills also fetch impressive salaries in Ohio‘s job market. For data scientists specifically, expected earnings exceed $99,748/year on average currently.

Data scientists leverage statistical models, machine learning algorithms and programming languages like Python and R to derive actionable insights from vast volumes of structured and unstructured data. You will collaborate with stakeholders across the organization to identify opportunities for leveraging data science to drive strategic business objectives.

Day-to-day work involves pre-processing messy, real-world data, doing exploratory analysis to surface patterns/trends, developing and optimizing machine learning models then translating inferences into executable recommendations for senior leaders. Excellent communication skills are key.

Required Skills

• Statistical analysis and modeling
• Machine learning frameworks (TensorFlow, PyTorch etc.)
• Data pipeline tools (Kafka, Airflow etc.)
• Data visualization (Tableau, Looker etc.)
• Programming languages like Python, R, Scala, SQL

Nearly every modern industry from agriculture and manufacturing to medical technology now relies heavily on deriving value from data to remain competitive. This growth translates to over 4,800 open data analytics/engineering roles across Ohio currently.

Related Role: Business Intelligence Analyst/Engineer – $91,798

6. IT Security Specialist – $96,823

With cyber attacks growing in frequency and severity year over year, qualified IT security talent is indispensable for any mid to large sized company. And Ohio organizations pay top dollar with average salaries for IT security specialists topping $96,823/year currently.

IT security specialists are on the front lines safeguarding critical systems, infrastructure and sensitive business data from internal and external threats. Duties range from designing secure networks, conducting risk assessments to identifying vulnerabilities and responding to incidents. Staying constantly up-to-date with the evolving threat landscape is crucial.

On a daily basis, you will be installing and managing complex security tools, simulating attacks, developing security protocols and best practices for staff, monitoring for unusual access attempts or traffic and potentially collaborating with law enforcement to limit damage from any breaches.

Required Skills

• Risk management and threat modeling concepts
• Cybersecurity frameworks like CISSP and NIST
• Network/host security products (IPS/IDS solutions, firewalls etc.)
• OS fundamentals (Windows, Linux)
• Scripting skills (PowerShell etc.)

With cyber crime damages predicted to exceed $6 trillion globally in 2021, qualified security talent is in severe shortage with over 5,200 open IT security jobs throughout Ohio currently. And this number will likely keep climbing for the foreseeable future.

Related Role: Application Security Engineer – $99,122

7. UX/UI Designer – $93,746

Last on our list of highest paid tech positions in Ohio is the UX Designer role with average base compensation of $93,746/year.

UX Designers specialize in crafting intuitive digital experiences optimized for customer engagement and conversion across websites, mobile apps and other products. You lay out exactly how products should operate, look and feel based on understanding subtleties of human behavior.

Daily responsibilities span conducting user interviews/testing, wireframing application flows, prototyping ideas, designing visual elements as well as collaborating with engineers and stakeholders through every phase of development to ensure designs are implemented correctly. Skills in design software like Figma, Adobe XD and strong visual design chops are key.

Required Skills

• Interaction design principles
• Wireframing and prototyping tools
• Visual design skills
• User research and interviewing

Over 8,700 open UX and UI Design positions exist in Ohio currently spanning tech consulting firms, agencies as well as internal design teams across a diverse mix of industries.

Related Role: Product Designer – $101,914

How To Start Your High-Paying Tech Career in Ohio

If these lucrative tech career opportunities have captured your interest, here are key steps to landing your first role:

Step 1: Choose Your Field & Acquire Relevant Skills

Review the roles above and decide which aligns best to your innate strengths and interests. The first step is developing expertise around specific technologies whether through a tech-focused college degree, coding bootcamp, online courses or certifications.

Many junior developer, engineering and analyst roles only require 1-2 years experience so don‘t feel you need a CS degree before applying. Evaluate your existing skillset and chart a path towards filling knowledge gaps.

Step 2: Build Out Your Portfolio

In addition to a polished resume summarizing your credentials, having real projects to showcase your competencies is invaluable during tech job interviews. Code samples, live apps/websites, analysis reports etc. prove to recruiters you can walk the walk.

GitHub and Kaggle profiles with actual contributions also demonstrate first-hand experience. And this portfolio serves as a baseline you can continue building on.

Step 3: Network & Search For Open Roles

Attending local Meetup events and tech conferences expands your professional network quickly. And fellow technologists can become future teammates, mentors or refer you to openings at their companies.

Also search sites like LinkedIn, Indeed, AngelList, BuiltInOhio and ApplyGig for the latest job listings matching your skillset. Consider startups in addition to large corporations for potentially fast-paced, rewarding environments to develop new skills quickly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are tech jobs concentrated in certain Ohio cities or distributed evenly?

The majority of open high-paying tech positions currently are within major metro areas like Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Toledo closely followed by secondary markets like Dayton and Akron where startup activity is also picks up.

However, location flexibility and full remote roles are becoming more widely available especially for software engineering, data and security related positions. This increases options for experienced candidates open to relocating anywhere in Ohio or even permanently working remote.

Which tech skills are likely to be most in-demand moving forward?

Cloud computing expertise is becoming an imperative skill across virtually all technology teams from developers to analysts. Blockchain development/architecture and cybersecurity specializations will also see massive growth in the coming 5-10 years as more industries pursue digital transformation and respond to increasing threats.

What is the job outlook for these roles over the next decade?

All signs point to Ohio‘s technology sector continuing rapid expansion thanks to ongoing VC investments and growth across core industries. Open computing jobs throughout the state are projected to grow over 13% by 2030 translating to excellent long-term prospects for intermediate to senior practitioners entering these fields.

Are tech salaries rising quickly in Ohio and will they overtake coastal hubs eventually?

While still below coastal titans like Silicon Valley and New York currently, Ohio tech salaries are appreciating at a healthy clip of 5-8% annually on average across jobs. And with substantially lower costs of living compared to traditional tech epicenters, compensation goes much further.

Equipped with in-demand expertise and demonstrated ability, practitioners here can potentially earn Seattle/San Francisco level compensation while enjoying Midwest affordability and quality of living.

Ohio‘s technology landscape is primed for massive growth over the next decade across virtually every specialization from software development to data analytics and cybersecurity. And leading companies as well as promising startups alike need talent.

Equip yourself with the in-demand expertise outlined above and a fulfilling, lucrative tech career awaits in Ohio‘s burgeoning technology industry.