Data Entry Specialist salary in Columbus, OH
No other area in Ohio pays data entry specialists more than Columbus: the median is $43,560 a year1. That is 8.3% above the Ohio statewide median of $40,220, and 5.4% above the US median of $41,340. That is in the top quarter of US areas (#85 of 394). BLS counts about 810 people in this job here, 18% of the Ohio total.
BLS occupation 43-9021, area Columbus, OH. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Columbus against Ohio and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus, OH | $31,960 | $43,560 | $56,980 | |
| Ohio | $29,220 | $40,220 | $54,990 | |
| United States | $31,200 | $41,340 | $58,790 |
The middle half of data entry specialists in Columbus earns $38,030–$48,310. The top tenth earns $56,980 or more, 1.8 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 1.9 times. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $10,280 wide, against $11,210 across Ohio and $12,650 nationally: employers in Columbus pay within a narrower band.
What to budget for a data entry specialist here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $31,960 | $2,663 | $15.37 | $41,239 |
| 25th percentile | $38,030 | $3,169 | $18.28 | $49,071 |
| Median | $43,560 | $3,630 | $20.94 | $56,206 |
| 75th percentile | $48,310 | $4,026 | $23.23 | $62,335 |
| 90th percentile | $56,980 | $4,748 | $27.39 | $73,523 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $5,530 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $4,750, or about $6,129 once benefits are added. These percentiles describe what people in the job earn locally, not experience levels, so place your offer by the tasks and seniority you need.
For scale, the US median of $41,340 falls between the 25th percentile and the median in Columbus, and the Ohio statewide median of $40,220 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Columbus
Pay is only part of it. Benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, which adds about $12,646 to the $43,560 median and brings it to $56,206 a year. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for data entry specialists we answer within one business day whether we can help. Enter the monthly pay you have in mind to compare it with a local hire. The fee field shows our standard fee3; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool4.
Other roles in Columbus
Of the 17 roles we track in Columbus, this one ranks #16 by median pay, between medical administrative assistants ($46,220) and virtual receptionists ($36,910). Project Coordinator is the highest at $98,660.
| Role | Median | vs data entry specialist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| E-commerce Order Specialist | +7.9% | 650 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | +6.4% | 18,550 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +6.1% | 5,490 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | this role | 810 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -15.3% | 5,960 |
Measured against the US median, this job is the best paid of the 17 roles we track in Columbus (+5.4%); sales development representatives come last (-15.1%). The typical role here is at -0.7%, so, measured against the US, data entry specialists cost more in Columbus than the area's general pay level would suggest. Data entry specialists hold 0.8% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Columbus, 0.9% across Ohio and 0.8% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Ohio
Across the 15 areas of Ohio with data for this job, the median runs from $36,300 in Canton-Massillon to $43,560 in Columbus, a gap of $7,260 a year. All 2 areas in Ohio with more data entry specialists than Columbus pay less, among them Cincinnati, OH-KY ($40,820) and Cleveland, OH ($40,990).
| Area | Median | vs Columbus | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus, OH | this area | 810 | |
| Dayton-Kettering, OH | -0.1% | 230 | |
| Mansfield, OH | -0.9% | 40 | |
| Cleveland, OH | -5.9% | 900 | |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY | -6.3% | 950 | |
| Toledo, OH | -9.4% | 220 | |
| Youngstown-Warren, OH | -11.2% | 110 |
Columbus against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Columbus is #30 of 389 US areas for this job. It is one of the larger markets for this job and one of the better-paying ones. Outside Ohio, Louisville and Atlanta-Sandy Springs pay just above Columbus and Fresno and Muskegon-Norton Shores just below. All four are within $110 a year of the median in Columbus. Of the three markets with about as many data entry specialists, none pays as much.
| Metro area | Median | vs Columbus | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs, GA | +0.1% | 1,810 | pay | |
| Louisville, KY-IN | +0.0% | 510 | pay | |
| Columbus, OH | this area | 810 | ||
| Fresno, CA | -0.2% | 270 | pay | |
| Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | -0.3% | 40 | pay | |
| Indianapolis-Carmel, IN | -6.9% | 850 | jobs | |
| Baltimore-Columbia, MD | -12.0% | 860 | jobs | |
| Orlando-Kissimmee, FL | -14.7% | 790 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a data entry specialist in Columbus, OH?
About $56,206 a year at the median, or $4,684 a month: $43,560 in pay plus about $12,646 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for data entry specialists in Columbus?
Pay here is higher than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $43,560 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $31,960, the 90th $56,980, and the middle half earned $38,030 to $48,310.
Is Columbus the most expensive area in Ohio for data entry specialists?
Yes. Its median of $43,560 is the highest of 15 areas in Ohio. Dayton-Kettering comes next at $43,500.
How many data entry specialists work in Columbus?
BLS counts about 810 in the May 2025 survey. That is 18% of the Ohio total of 4,530. Only Cincinnati and Cleveland have more in Ohio.
Does a data entry specialist cost more than a virtual receptionist in Columbus?
Yes: $6,650 a year more at the median. The medians are $43,560 and $36,910.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-9021: bls.gov
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: bls.gov
- Stafka pricing: stafka.com
- Deel pricing, contractor management: deel.com
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.