Entry-level Registered Nurse salary in Cincinnati, OH

Based on 13 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Covington, Blue Ash, Lawrenceburg.

Also listed as: Nurse

Median salary$70,720
Middle 50%$70.7k–$73.8k
vs. all levels here−18%comparison median $85,821
Filings13FY2025–FY2026 · latest two fiscal years

Salary range

Box: middle 50% of filings. Whiskers: 10th–90th percentile. 99% of filings are between $68,524 and $92,841.
PercentileSalary
10th$70,720
25th$70,720
50th (median)$70,720
75th$73,840
90th$86,158

Cost of living

Cincinnati's median entry-level Registered Nurse salary of $70,720 is worth about $74,200 at national average prices.

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Cincinnati = 95.4).

Compared with all workers here

All Registered Nurses in the Cincinnati, OH area earned a median of $83,650 in May 2025 (28,520 employed). The H-1B median here is $70,720, 15% lower.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.

Employers filing at this level

EmployerMedianFilings
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center$70,72012

Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.

By experience level

Wage levelMedianFilings
Entry-level · Level I $70,720 13
Mid-level · Level II $85,821 13
Senior · Level III too few 5
Expert · Level IV – 0

Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.

Minimum H-1B salary by level

Wage levelPrevailing wage (most common)Median offered salaryFilings
Entry-level · Level I$52,853$70,72013
Mid-level · Level II$78,749$85,82113

The prevailing wage is the minimum an employer must pay for this job and area. Amounts vary by county within a metro and by wage source.