Marketing Specialist salary in Columbus, OH
Marketing specialists earn more in Columbus than anywhere else in Ohio. Expect a median of $77,010 a year1, 5.8% above the Ohio statewide median of $72,790 and 2.2% below the US median of $78,760. That is in the top quarter of US areas (#52 of 516). About 5,880 marketing specialists work here, 21% of the Ohio total.
BLS occupation 13-1161, 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 | $41,460 | $77,010 | $130,770 | |
| Ohio | $39,860 | $72,790 | $129,270 | |
| United States | $43,390 | $78,760 | $155,480 |
The middle half of marketing specialists in Columbus earns $56,990–$100,990. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $130,770, only 3.2 times the bottom tenth, against 3.6 times across the US, so the going rate is easier to read. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $44,000 wide, against $45,650 across Ohio and $49,960 nationally: employers in Columbus pay within a narrower band.
What to budget for a marketing specialist here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $41,460 | $3,455 | $19.93 | $53,497 |
| 25th percentile | $56,990 | $4,749 | $27.40 | $73,535 |
| Median | $77,010 | $6,418 | $37.02 | $99,368 |
| 75th percentile | $100,990 | $8,416 | $48.55 | $130,310 |
| 90th percentile | $130,770 | $10,898 | $62.87 | $168,735 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $20,020 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $23,980, or about $30,942 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 $78,760 falls between the median and the 75th percentile in Columbus, and the Ohio statewide median of $72,790 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in Columbus
At the $77,010 median, a local hire costs about $99,368 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $22,358 here. 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 marketing 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 #3 by median pay, between accountants ($81,700) and executive assistants ($75,880). Project Coordinator is the highest at $98,660.
| Role | Median | vs marketing specialist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +28.1% | 7,680 | |
| Accountant | +6.1% | 11,410 | |
| Marketing Specialist | this role | 5,880 | |
| Executive Assistant | -1.5% | 3,250 | |
| Recruiter | -2.0% | 7,740 |
Measured against the US median, marketing specialists rank #11 of the 17 roles we track in Columbus (-2.2%), between executive assistants (-0.9%) and accountants (-2.4%). The typical role here is at -0.7%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Marketing specialists hold 5.5% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Columbus, 5.3% across Ohio and 5.7% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Ohio
Across the 16 areas of Ohio with data for this job, the median runs from $56,550 in Mansfield to $77,010 in Columbus, a gap of $20,460 a year. The one area in Ohio with more marketing specialists, Cincinnati, OH-KY ($75,750), pays less: a bigger pool at a lower median.
| Area | Median | vs Columbus | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus, OH | this area | 5,880 | |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY | -1.6% | 7,080 | |
| Cleveland, OH | -7.3% | 5,440 | |
| Akron, OH | -14.3% | 1,480 | |
| Dayton-Kettering, OH | -16.8% | 1,420 | |
| West Northwestern Ohio (Nonmetro) | -18.0% | 640 | |
| Toledo, OH | -18.3% | 1,080 |
Columbus against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Columbus is #29 of 514 US areas for this job. It is one of the larger markets for this job and one of the better-paying ones. Outside Ohio, Detroit-Warren and Syracuse pay just above Columbus and Jacksonville and Lakeland-Winter Haven just below. All four are within $380 a year of the median in Columbus. Of the three markets with about as many marketing specialists, one pays more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Columbus | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Murfreesboro, TN | +0.3% | 5,510 | jobs | |
| Syracuse, NY | +0.1% | 1,180 | pay | |
| Detroit-Warren, MI | +0.1% | 11,710 | pay | |
| Columbus, OH | this area | 5,880 | ||
| Jacksonville, FL | -0.4% | 4,380 | pay | |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | -0.5% | 1,050 | pay | |
| Baltimore-Columbia, MD | -3.1% | 5,920 | jobs | |
| Indianapolis-Carmel, IN | -15.3% | 6,330 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a marketing specialist in Columbus, OH?
About $99,368 a year at the median, or $8,281 a month: $77,010 in pay plus about $22,358 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for marketing specialists in Columbus?
Pay here is higher than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $77,010 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $41,460, the 90th $130,770, and the middle half earned $56,990 to $100,990.
Is Columbus the most expensive area in Ohio for marketing specialists?
Yes. Its median of $77,010 is the highest of 16 areas in Ohio. Cincinnati comes next at $75,750.
How many marketing specialists work in Columbus?
BLS counts about 5,880 in the May 2025 survey. That is 21% of the Ohio total of 27,370. Only Cincinnati has more in Ohio.
Does a marketing specialist cost more than an executive assistant in Columbus?
Yes: $1,130 a year more at the median. The medians are $77,010 and $75,880.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 13-1161: 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.