Average Annual Household Income in the State of Ohio
Ohioans enjoyed high wages for most of the state's history. This trend reversed in the 1970s with the drop in manufacturing. By 2004, Ohio's per capita income was 5.7 percent below the U.S. average. At the time, only 49 percent of Ohioans had attended college. The Ohio Board of Regents worked hard to change that statistic. College attendance has increased, offering hope for a brighter economic future.
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Household Income by Size
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The U.S. Department of Justice's figures show that for 2008, the average one-person Ohio household earned $40,168. A two-person household income came in at $49,708, while a household with three persons earned $59,786 annually.
In 2009, the figures decreased. The Department of Health and Human Services estimated that a one-person household income dropped to $35,661 per year. Two-person households earned $46,633, while three-person households earned $57,607 per year.
Household Income by Profession
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As in all states, household income varies widely. In Ohio in 2009, the average computer programmer earned $69,420 a year, while a child care worker earned about $22,030 annually. Accountants in that same year typically earned $62,830, and architects averaged $72,270. Elementary school teachers received $51,970 per year, while reporters earned $35,900 on average. Dentists garnered $160,250 in wages, and family physicians earned a similar $163,870 annually. Policemen collected $52,240, while, on the lower end of the scale, food preparers earned $20,130, and bartenders averaged just $18,540.
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Household Income by County
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Some Ohio counties fared better than others in wage potential. The 2008 median income in Vinton County, for example, was $34,306. Warren County, on the other hand, earned a much higher $71,139 annual median income. In the larger cities, Summit County, where Akron is located, had a 2008 median income of $49,528. Cincinnati's Hamilton County averaged $50,285. Cleveland's Cuyahoga County annual median income was $44,324, while Toledo's Lucas County median was just $41,291 annually.
Gender and Race Gaps
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Although the gender wage gap is slightly lower in Ohio than the national average, much work needs to be done. The average white, male, full-time wage earner in 2007 earned $45,478 annually. The average white woman earned just $33,437. Black men who worked full time in 2007 earned $33,546, while their black female counterparts earned $30,800. Hispanic men earned $28,542, while Hispanic women earned $27,560.
Trends
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Ohio holds a great deal of promise. With the number of women obtaining college degrees increasing, households will more easily withstand economic slumps. Statistics show that women who hold a four-year college degree reduce their likelihood of poverty from 12 percent to less than 4 percent.
Ohio gained two points in its economic outlook in 2009, over its dismal 2008 showing, according to the American Legislative Exchange Council. If the flight out of Ohio can be curbed, it may be possible to turn around Ohio's economic downturn.
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References
- Ohio Board of Regents: Personal Income
- Ohio Board of Regents: The Performance Report for Ohio's Colleges and Universities
- Department of Health and Human Services: Estimated State Median Income
- Department of Justice: Census Bureau Median Family Income by Family Size
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: May 2009 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, Ohio
Resources
- Photo Credit ohio flagge symbol image by Marty Kropp from Fotolia.com
