Government Jobs in Ohio: Employers & Pay

3,934

local governments (2022)

counties

2,234

cities, towns and townships

947

special districts

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates; U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments — Government Organization. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Ohio state government pay plan

Ohio Department of Administrative Services (DAS), Classification & Compensation publishes the classification and pay plan for Ohio state employees: 1,527 job classes and 109 pay grades, effective July 1, 2026. Below are the classes that match GovJobsWiki jobs, with annual ranges converted from the plan's published rates.

Job	Classes in the OH plan	Annual range
911 Dispatcher / Public Safety Telecommunicator	Radio Dispatcher 1 class	$44,678 – $49,192
Administrative Law Judge / Hearing Officer	Administrative Law Judge 1 class	$92,310 – $131,893
Bank / Financial Examiner	Financial Institution Examiner Trainee, Financial Institution Examiner 1–5 6 classes	$51,750 – $127,899
Budget Analyst	Budget/Management Analyst 1–5, Budget Analyst, Senior Budget Analyst 7 classes	$57,678 – $131,893
Civil Engineer (DOT / city / county)	Transportation Engineer 1–5 5 classes	$65,458 – $145,475
Correctional Officer (state prison)	Correction Officer 1 class	$51,750 – $68,078
Crime Scene Investigator / Forensic Technician	Forensic Specialist 1 class	$65,458 – $95,846
Custodian (schools & public buildings)	Custodial Worker 1 class	$40,435 – $43,222
Detective / Criminal Investigator	Criminal Investigator 1–2 2 classes	$55,203 – $79,061
DMV Clerk / Driver License Examiner	Driver License Examiner 1, Driver License Examiner 2 (Lead Worker) 2 classes	$49,192 – $65,458
Engineering Technician (DOT)	Transportation Technician 1–2 2 classes	$65,458 – $105,373
Environmental Engineer	Environmental Engineer 2–5 4 classes	$65,458 – $131,893
Environmental Scientist (government)	Environmental Specialist 1–4 4 classes	$59,821 – $116,064
Fire Inspector / Fire Marshal	Fire Safety Inspector Trainee, Fire Safety Inspector 2 classes	$49,192 – $95,846
Fish & Game Warden	Wildlife Officer Cadet, Wildlife Officer 2 classes	$54,496 – $84,885
Fleet Mechanic (city/county)	Automotive Mechanic 1–2, Automotive Technician 3 classes	$44,678 – $65,458
Food Safety Inspector (USDA / state)	Meat Inspector Trainee, Meat Inspector, Food Safety Specialist 1–2 4 classes	$49,192 – $95,846
Forester	Forester 1 class	$55,203 – $71,822
Forestry Technician (USFS)	Forestry Technician 1 class	$49,192 – $59,821
Government Attorney (agency counsel)	Attorney 1–6 6 classes	$59,821 – $145,475
Government Auditor	Internal Auditor 1–3, Senior Internal Auditor, Nonexempt 5 classes	$59,821 – $105,373
Grants Specialist / Manager	Grants Coordinator 1–2, Grants Administrator 3 classes	$49,192 – $108,722
Health Inspector / Environmental Health Specialist	Environmental Health Specialist 1–2 2 classes	$65,458 – $105,373
Heavy Equipment Operator (government)	Equipment Operator 1–4 4 classes	$44,678 – $55,203
Highway / Road Maintenance Worker (DOT)	Highway Maintenance Worker 1–4, Highway Technician 1–6 9 classes	$44,678 – $79,061
IRS Revenue Agent / Tax Examiner	Tax Examiner 1 class	$59,821 – $79,061
IT Specialist (government)	Information Technology Apprentice 1 class	$51,750
Judicial Law Clerk	Law Clerk 1 class	$55,203 – $71,822
Juvenile Corrections / Detention Officer	Juvenile Correctional Officer 1 class	$51,750 – $68,078
Lifeguard (city / state beaches & pools)	Lifeguard 1 class	$30,264 – $34,403
Parole Officer	Parole Officer, Senior Parole Officer 2 classes	$57,158 – $78,520
Policy / Management Analyst	Management Analyst 1 class	$55,203 – $71,822
Public Defender	Public Defender, Assistant Public Defender 2 classes	$73,715 – $248,955
Public Health Nurse	Public Health Nurse Specialist 1 class	$67,995 – $95,098
Public Information Officer	Public Information Specialist, Public Information Officer 1–2 3 classes	$55,203 – $108,722
Social Worker (government)	Social Worker 1–2 2 classes	$57,158 – $78,520
State Trooper / Highway Patrol Officer	Highway Patrol Trooper 1 class	$73,320 – $95,680
Stationary Engineer (public facilities)	Boiler Operator, Stationary Engineer 1–2 3 classes	$46,363 – $65,458
Traffic Signal Technician	Traffic Signal Technician 1–2 2 classes	$50,482 – $71,822
Urban / City Planner	Planner 1–3 3 classes	$49,192 – $95,846
Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor	Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, Senior Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor 2 classes	$62,296 – $95,098
Wildland Firefighter	Fire Fighter 1 class	$48,422 – $55,203
Wildlife / Fisheries Biologist	Fisheries Biologist 1–2, Wildlife Biologist 1–2 4 classes	$55,203 – $79,061

Classes are matched to jobs by title (GovJobsWiki editorial rule).

Source: Ohio Department of Administrative Services (DAS), Classification & Compensation, Ohio State Classification Plan — Pay Range Booklet and Pay Range Schedules (rates effective July 2026). Data captured September 30, 2026.

Public employers in Ohio

Fire departments · 464

Employer	City	Career firefighters	Website
Columbus Division of Fire	Columbus	1,650	Official site
Cincinnati Fire Department	Cincinnati	834	Official site
Cleveland Division of Fire	Cleveland	790	—
Toledo Fire Department	Toledo	575	Official site
Akron Fire Department	Akron	360	Official site
Dayton Fire Department	Dayton	340	Official site
Canton Fire Department	Canton	154	Official site
Springfield City Fire Rescue Division	Springfield	127	Official site
Youngstown Fire Department	Youngstown	117	Official site
Hamilton Fire Department Station 2 Headquarters	Hamilton	113	Official site

All 464 fire departments in Ohio →

Transit agencies · 53

Employer	City	Vehicles operated directly	Website
The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority	Cleveland	314	Official site
Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority	Cincinnati	313	Official site
Central Ohio Transit Authority	Columbus	225	Official site
METRO Regional Transit Authority	Akron	171	Official site
Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority	Dayton	138	Official site
Laketran	Painesville	116	Official site
Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority	Toledo	87	Official site
Stark Area Regional Transit Authority	Canton	66	Official site
Western Reserve Transit Authority	Youngstown	57	Official site
Butler County Regional Transit Authority	Hamilton	47	Official site

All 53 transit agencies in Ohio →

School districts · 619

Employer	City	Teachers (FTE)	Website
Columbus City Schools District	Columbus	2,998	Official site
Cincinnati Public Schools	Cincinnati	2,168	Official site
Cleveland Municipal	Cleveland	1,985	Official site
Akron City	Akron	1,514	Official site
Toledo City	Toledo	1,401	Official site
Olentangy Local	Lewis Center	1,265	Official site
South-Western City	Grove City	1,240	Official site
Hilliard City	Columbus	994	Official site
Dublin City	Dublin	972	Official site
Westerville City	Westerville	855	Official site

All 619 school districts in Ohio →

Police departments · 701

Municipal and county police departments in the FBI's law-enforcement agency list. Staff size is not yet collected for this kind of employer.

All 701 police departments in Ohio →

Sheriff's offices · 88

County sheriff's offices in the FBI's law-enforcement agency list. Staff size is not yet collected for this kind of employer.

All 88 sheriff's offices in Ohio →

Campus police departments · 34

College and university police departments in the FBI's law-enforcement agency list. Staff size is not yet collected for this kind of employer.

All 34 campus police departments in Ohio →

Sources: U.S. Fire Administration (FEMA), National Fire Department Registry; Federal Transit Administration, National Transit Database 2024 — Reporter Agency Information; National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core of Data, 2024–25 local education agency universe (directory and staff); Federal Bureau of Investigation, Crime Data Explorer — law-enforcement agencies by state (API). Data captured September 30, 2026.

Pay for government jobs in Ohio

Median wage in Ohio for each job's occupation (all employers in the state), next to the national median in government. Largest occupations first.

Job	Workers in OH	Median in OH	National, government
City / County Manager SOC 11-1021	153,160	$97,700	$137,300
Correctional Nurse SOC 29-1141	143,730	$82,510	$100,490
Public Health Nurse SOC 29-1141	143,730	$82,510	$100,490
School Nurse SOC 29-1141	143,730	$82,510	$100,490
VA Nurse (Veterans Affairs) SOC 29-1141	143,730	$82,510	$100,490
Office Clerk / Clerk Typist (government) SOC 43-9061	89,310	$43,680	$46,170
IRS Customer Service Representative SOC 43-4051	85,930	$45,610	$45,860
Custodian (schools & public buildings) SOC 37-2011	72,540	$35,900	$39,640
Administrative Assistant (government) SOC 43-6014	54,790	$46,230	$48,290
School Secretary / Office Manager SOC 43-6014	54,790	$46,230	$48,290
Accountant (government) SOC 13-2011	50,440	$79,320	$81,390
Government Auditor SOC 13-2011	50,440	$79,320	$81,390
ESL / ELL Teacher SOC 25-2031	49,540	$78,800	$74,220
High School Teacher SOC 25-2031	49,540	$78,800	$74,220
Elementary School Teacher SOC 25-2021	47,870	$77,370	$65,310
Public School Teacher (hub) SOC 25-2021	47,870	$77,370	$65,310
Paraprofessional / Teacher Aide SOC 25-9045	47,300	$35,920	$36,990
Parks / Grounds Maintenance Worker SOC 37-3011	34,420	$38,220	$40,080
Human Resources Specialist (government) SOC 13-1071	33,500	$70,180	$80,330
Child Support Officer SOC 13-1199	31,690	$79,350	$91,060
Death Investigator / Coroner SOC 13-1199	31,690	$79,350	$91,060
Foreign Service Officer (diplomat) SOC 13-1199	31,690	$79,350	$91,060
Grants Specialist / Manager SOC 13-1199	31,690	$79,350	$91,060
Middle School Teacher SOC 25-2022	30,450	$77,090	$65,300
Policy / Management Analyst SOC 13-1111	25,120	$94,270	$96,570
Program Analyst (federal) SOC 13-1111	25,120	$94,270	$96,570
School Cafeteria / Food Service Worker SOC 35-2012	23,440	$36,720	$36,180
Border Patrol Agent SOC 33-3051	23,430	$77,020	$76,300
Campus / University Police Officer SOC 33-3051	23,430	$77,020	$76,300
CBP Officer (Customs & Border Protection) SOC 33-3051	23,430	$77,020	$76,300

Several jobs can share one occupation code.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Government jobs in Ohio