Venture funding flowing into Ohio technology companies has exploded 2000% over the past 8 years. From healthcare innovators to cutting-edge manufacturing applications, the Buckeye State has cultivated a thriving hub for high-growth tech.
And where there‘s rapid expansion, there‘s major opportunity – including highly lucrative careers.
In this comprehensive guide, you‘ll discover the top 7 best-paying technology jobs currently in demand across Ohio. I‘ll break down exactly how much these roles earn, responsibilities they entail day-to-day, critical skills required, plus tips to start down each career path.
Whether you‘re mulling over where to take your career next or just entering Ohio‘s job market, you‘ll have full insight into landing a top tech job. Let‘s dive in!
The Tech Occupations That Deliver Ohio‘s Biggest Paychecks
I‘ve ranked the highest paying Ohio technology jobs by average salary. But it‘s not just about the compensation (as enticing as that may be!)
You‘ll gain complete perspective into each role‘s:
- Key day-to-day activities
- Vital technical capabilities needed
- Work environments and perks
- Education and experience prerequisites
- Company examples hiring actively
- Job satisfaction and career growth potential
Equipped with those insights, you can discover the technology career that aligns with your skills and interests. Now let‘s explore the top 7:
1. Software Architect – $124,306 Average Base Salary
In the #1 spot for highest tech salaries in Ohio is the software architect role. These architects earn well above six figures, designing structural foundations that transform product concepts into reality.
Day-to-Day Work:
- Collaborating with engineering, product and program management to map pragmatic software plans
- Performing coding tasks when needed but more focused on system design & planning
- Determining optimal software infrastructure patterns and data structures
- Overseeing development teams adhering to architectural blueprints
Critical Skills:
- Mastery translating business needs into comprehensive software architectures
- Debugging complex codebases and performance bottlenecks
- Cloud native development patterns and distributed system design
- Microservices, event streaming, and API best practices
Companies Hiring Software Architects in Ohio:
- Root Insurance - $152,000 avg base salary
- Peloton Technology - $150,000 avg base
- OhioHealth - $140,000 avg base"I really enjoy creatively solving architectural challenges and pioneering innovative software foundations." – Priya M., Principal Architect @ OliveAI
If analyzing complex code and envisioning future-forward tech infrastructure excites you, software architecture delivers both fulfilling work and Ohio‘s top tech compensation.
Next up…
2. DevOps Engineer – $113,601 Average Base Salary
DevOps engineers seamlessly blend software engineering, infrastructure ops, and organizational collaboration to accelerate delivery from code to customer. They build the CI/CD pipelines that make agility possible.
Day-to-Day Work:
- Automating builds, tests, infrastructure provisioning & software deployments
- Monitoring site reliability metrics like uptime, latency & system health
- Analyzing bottlenecks in developer workflows and production environments
- Providing tools, best practice guidance & troubleshooting for engineers
Critical Skills:
- Cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, and GCP)
- Infrastructure as code tools like Terraform, Ansible, Chef
- Container orchestration with Kubernetes and Docker
- CI/CD software like Jenkins, CircleCI and TravisCI
- Networking, observability and organizational change management
Companies Hiring DevOps Engineers in Ohio:
- ODS Health - $128,000 avg base salary
- Root Insurance - $125,000 avg base
- Neudesic - $115,000 avg base "I learn something new from our talented engineers daily. Continuously improving our Docker and Kubernetes workflow is extremely fulfilling." – Omar K., Lead DevOps @ Numer8
If you geek out over bulletproof infrastructure, automation, and cross-team collaboration – then DevOps pays off with both game-changing impact and earnings over $113k on average.
Now let‘s level up full-stack skills…
3. Full-Stack Developer – $110,916 Average Base Salary
Full-stack developers design, code, and maintain web or mobile apps holistically – from visual front-end interfaces to back-end data and infrastructure. They avoid tossing issues "over the wall" by owning code end-to-end.
Day-to-Day Work:
- Building clean, maintainable front-end app logic with React, Angular, Vue and other JavaScript frameworks
- Developing secure, scalable back-end systems with Node.js, C#, Ruby on Rails or similar languages
- Architecting database schemas and infrastructure for performance and reliability
- Testing thoroughly across browsers, devices and endpoints
- Launching new features and improvements per development roadmaps
Critical Skills:
- JavaScript/TypeScript mastery plus frameworks like React, Vue, and Angular
- Full-stack languages like Python, C#, and Ruby
- Cloud databases and infrastructure (AWS, GCP, Azure)
- RESTful APIs, authentication patterns, caching strategies, and testing fluency
Companies Hiring Full-Stack Developers in Ohio:
- OhioHealth - $128,000 avg base salary
- Root Insurance - $125,000 avg base
- Peloton Technology - $115,000 avg base"I really enjoy the mix of front-end and back-end coding. Bringing full app features live for users is tremendously rewarding." – Wei L., Senior Full-Stack Developer @ CrossChx
If doing it all from visual design to database architecture excites you, full stack development brings home over $110k average pay.
What about engineering the cloud itself? Onwards…
4. Cloud Engineer – $108,819 Average Base Salary
Cloud engineers design, deploy, manage and monitor foundational cloud infrastructure for companies. This allows innovative products and services launching faster than ever.
Day-to-Day Work:
- Building efficient cloud network architectures for security, reliability and compliance
- Automating infrastructure provisioning and configuration using code
- Analyzing usage metrics and spend across cloud resources
- Providing tools, utilities and technical guidance for development teams
- Cost optimizing existing cloud deployments
Critical Skills:
- Administration across AWS, Azure, Google Cloud and hybrid setups
- Infrastructure scripting tools like Terraform, Ansible, Pulumi
- Container orchestrators like Kubernetes and Docker
- CI/CD pipeline integration and DevOps collaboration
- Monitoring, logging and cloud security fluency
Companies Hiring Cloud Engineers in Ohio:
- Root Insurance - $125,000 avg base salary
- OliveAI - $120,000 avg base
- CrossChx - $110,000 avg base"Designing robust infrastructure solutions on cloud platforms like AWS gets me excited daily. I‘m also getting hands-on Kubernetes experience setting up our clusters." – Samir S., Cloud Engineer @ Numer8
If stretching your infrastructure across on-prem and the cloud sounds fun rather than daunting – cloud engineering brings in over $108k on average to start.
What about tapping data for strategic insights? Read on…
5. Data Scientist – $99,748 Avg. Base Salary
Data scientists utilize statistical modeling, machine learning and analytics to unlock game-changing business insights from complex data. Their expertise informs decisions at the highest levels.
Day-to-Day Work:
- Building models predicting customer churn likelihood, healthcare outcomes, mechanical failures, and more using Python and R
- Performing A/B testing for products, running simulations and scenario analysis
- Crafting data pipelines and architectures for model deployment at scale
- Interpreting model outputs and communicating data-supported recommendations to leadership
- Keeping updated on state-of-the-art techniques and testing new approaches
Critical Skills:
- Statistical modeling & machine learning algorithms (Regression, Random Forest, Boosted Trees etc.)
- Python and R fluency for manipulation, analysis and modeling
- SQL and NoSQL data querying languages
- Experiment design principles and model evaluation rigor
Companies Hiring Data Scientists in Ohio:
- OliveAI - $120,000 avg base salary
- Root Insurance - $110,000 avg base
- Peloton Technology - $105,000 avg base "Seeing my predictive models enhance patient care at our hospital network is incredibly meaningful. My team‘s analysis guides life-changing decisions daily." – Dr. Amit S., Chief Data Scientist @ OhioHealth
If discovering breakthrough innovations buried in datasets gets you pumped up – data science unlocks 6-figure earning potential in Ohio.
But sometimes, the most cutting-edge data science can‘t beat cold hard experience…
6. Information Security Specialist – $96,823 Avg. Base Salary
Information security specialists shield companies from increasingly sophisticated cyber attacks by fortifying defenses and responding to threats. They bring both strategic and technical expertise to lock down critical systems and data.
Day-to-Day Work:
- Performing infrastructure vulnerability testing, risk assessments and attack simulations to surface gaps
- Researching new exploit techniques, tools and emerging cybercriminal tactics
- Developing security policies balancing protection and productivity
- Monitoring networks and systems for anomalies indicating threats
- Leading responses to attempted or successful security incidents
Critical Skills:
- In-depth knowledge of tools like SIEMs, firewalls, and intrusion detection
- Cyberattack and malware analysis methodologies
- Cloud and container security best practices
- Regulatory compliance expertise around privacy and healthcare data
- Ethical hacking and penetration testing techniques
Companies Hiring Information Security Roles in Ohio:
- OliveAI - $105,000 avg base salary
- Root Insurance - $100,000 avg base
- CrossChx - $95,000 avg base"I love the challenges of InfoSec – adapting defenses as fast as threats evolve. Safeguarding patient health records is incredibly meaningful work." – Allegra S., Chief Information Security Officer @ OhioHealth
If you obsess over cyberattack tactics and relish pitting your brains against malicious actors online – information security pays a strong $96,823 average salary in Ohio to start.
But software still needs a human touch…
7. UX Designer – $93,746 Average Base Salary
UX designers deeply understand user motivations and needs to craft intuitive digital experiences. They conduct research, map journeys, and test prototypes ensuring products delight customers.
Day-to-Day Work:
- Interviewing users about frustrations and desires around products or features
- Wireframing and prototyping innovative interaction flows addressing pain points
- Visual design including layout, typography, color schemes and branding
- Planning and facilitating usability studies to pinpoint issues
- Collaborating closely with developers and product leaders on build plans
Critical Skills:
- User research skills from interviews to jobs-to-be-done analysis
- Information architecture principles and interaction design patterns
- Strong working knowledge of design tools like Figma, Sketch and InVision
- Intuition interpreting qualitative user feedback
- Understanding technical constraints and consulting developers
Companies Hiring UX Designers in Ohio:
- Root Insurance - $105,000 avg base salary
- Peloton Technology - $95,000 avg base
- OliveAI - $90,000 avg base"I absolutely love when a user smiles or thanks me seeing a design solution for the first time. It makes every late night and iteration worth it." – Shreya V., Lead UX Designer @ CrossChx
If you obsess over each tap, swipe and click when using apps yourself – UX design allows improving experiences for others while earning you over $93,000 on average to start.
Launching Your Ohio Tech Career
Hopefully you‘ve unlocked clarity on Ohio‘s highest paid and most promising technology career paths fitting your talents and interests!
I recommend 3 actionable steps if you‘re inspired to level up into a top tech job here:
1. Pick Up Crucial Skills
Start mastering in-demand skills for your tech occupation of choice through courses, bootcamps, hands-on home labs and side projects. Build an impressive portfolio.
2. Network With Ohio Tech Insiders
Attend local tech events, seek out informational interviews, and connect with professionals already thriving in your target role. They have indispensable insights!
3. Showcase Your Value Confidently
As you interview, focus less on achievements you don‘t have versus unique strengths you do possess. Highlight skills complementing the team and fast learning ability. Show grit solving complex puzzles.
Still Deciding Between Ohio‘s Best Tech Jobs?
Choosing a technology career path involves many considerations around compensation, responsibilities, skill development path and more.
I‘ve condensed key dimensions into this quick comparison table highlighting differences between high-paying Ohio tech jobs:
| Role | Salary | Day-to-Day | Critical Skills | Environment | Growth Trajectory |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Software Architect | $124k | Solution design, Planning, Light coding | System design, Complex debugging, Cloud architecture | Relaxed, Remote-friendly, Strategic thinking | Principal Architect or CTO |
| DevOps Engineer | $113k | Automation, Monitoring, Collaboration | Cloud platforms, Infrastructure-as-Code, CI/CD tools | Fast-paced, Agency-like, Cross-functional | DevOps leader or SRE manager |
| Full-stack Developer | $110K | Feature building, Coding, Testing | JavaScript, Node.js, React, REST APIs + Testing | Team-oriented, Startup culture, Launching frequently | Staff-plus engineer or Architect |
| Cloud Engineer | $108K | Infrastructure design, Scripting, Cost optimization | Terraform, Ansible, Kubernetes, GCP/AWS/Azure | Remote-friendly, Consultative, Client-facing | Principal engineer or cloud architect |
| Data Scientist | $99K | Modeling, Statistical analysis, Insight reporting | Python, R, SQL, Experiment design | Research-like, Frequent learning, Business alignment | Principal scientist or machine learning engineer |
| Information Security | $96K | Assessing, Monitoring, Incident response | Tools fluency, Ethical hacking, Compliance | Changing priorities, Health data focus, On-call | Senior security architect or CISO |
| UX Designer | $93K | User studies, Wireframing, Visual design | User research skills, IA patterns, Hi-fi prototyping | Creative, Agency-like, Design actively | Lead designer or director of experience |
I hope mapping out Ohio‘s top-paying and fastest-growing technology careers provided helpful direction assessing what‘s best for you in this thriving job market!
By identifying the right technology role then relentlessly developing sought-after expertise – you‘ll thrive in Ohio‘s booming innovation economy while commanding top-tier compensation.
Onwards!
