Dayton Hourly Wage & Salary 2026
Dayton, OH: $24.03/hr median hourly wage, $49,980 median annual salary, cost of living index 82, and $10.65/hr minimum wage. Calculate take-home pay with federal and Ohio taxes.
Dayton Hourly Wage Quick Answer
The median hourly wage in Dayton, OH is $24.03/hr,and the median annual wage is $49,980. Entry-level pay estimates around $14.90/hr, senior-level pay estimates around $34.12/hr, and the local minimum wage is $10.65/hr.
Median figures: BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH metropolitan statistical area (372,660 jobs). BLS publishes wages by metro area, not by city, so Dayton shares this figure with the rest of its metro. Entry and senior levels are Salario estimates.
Median Salary
$49,980
$24.03/hr
Cost of Living
82
US avg = 100
Minimum Wage
$10.65
per hour
Unemployment
4.5%
rate
Dayton, OH Overview
Population
137,644
Median Salary
$49,980
Average Salary
$65,730
Avg Commute
22 min
Median Home Price
$110,000
Median Rent
$800/mo
Job Growth
+0.8%
Sales Tax
7.5%
Dayton is located in Ohio with a population of 137,644. The median annual wage across all occupations is $49,980 ($24.03/hour, BLS OEWS May 2025, Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH metro), which is $1,000 below the national median of $50,980. The national median is the BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations median annual wage. The average commute time is 22 minutes, and the city has a job growth rate of +0.8%.
Dayton Salary by Experience Level (2026)
Wage distribution in Dayton, OH built around the $49,980 median salary (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH metro). Entry-level represents 10th–25th percentile; mid-level is the median; senior-level represents 75th–90th percentile. The non-median rows are Salario estimates.
| Experience Level | Annual Salary | Hourly Wage | Years Exp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level | $30,988 | $14.90/hr | 0–2 years |
| Mid-Level (Median) | $49,980 | $24.03/hr | 3–7 years |
| Senior-Level | $70,972 | $34.12/hr | 8–15 years |
| Top 10% (90th Percentile) | $88,964 | $42.77/hr | 15+ years / leadership |
Percentile multipliers (62%, 100%, 142%, 178%) are Salario approximations of the typical all-occupations wage spread in BLS OEWS metro tables; only the median row is a published BLS value. Specific roles vary; see jobs by city for role-specific data.
Dayton Paycheck Calculator
Enter your annual salary to see your estimated take-home pay in Dayton, OH, after federal, state, and local taxes.
Estimated Annual Take-Home Pay
$40,556
$3,379.69/month · $1,559.86/biweekly · Effective Rate: 18.9%
Biweekly paycheck estimate: this salary equals about $1,559.86 take-home per paycheck after estimated Ohio and federal taxes. For the 26-paycheck formula, three-paycheck months, and withholding examples, see the Biweekly Paycheck Calculator.
Gross Pay
$49,980
Federal Tax
-$3,818
State Tax
-$658
Local Tax
-$1,125
FICA
-$3,823
Net Pay
$40,556
Pay Breakdown
| Item | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | $4,165.00 | $49,980.00 |
| Federal Income Tax | -$318.13 | -$3,817.60 |
| Ohio State Tax (1.32% eff.) | -$54.84 | -$658.08 |
| Local Tax (2.25%) | -$93.71 | -$1,124.55 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | -$258.23 | -$3,098.76 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | -$60.39 | -$724.71 |
| Net Take-Home Pay | $3,379.69 | $40,556.30 |
Salary Comparison: Dayton vs Other Cities
See how Dayton's median salary and cost of living compare to the national average and similar cities.
| City | Median Salary | COL Index | Adj. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dayton, OH | $49,980 | 82 | $60,951 |
| National Average | $50,980 | 100 | $50,980 |
| Kettering, OH | $49,980 | 84.8 | $58,939 |
| Beavercreek, OH | $49,980 | 84 | $59,500 |
| Huber Heights, OH | $49,980 | 89.3 | $55,969 |
| Fairborn, OH | $49,980 | 88.5 | $56,475 |
Adjusted salary reflects purchasing power when cost of living is factored in. A higher adjusted salary means your money goes further.
Cost of Living in Dayton
Dayton's cost of living index is 82 (national average = 100). Living in Dayton is 18% less expensive than the national average.
Median Home Price
$110,000
Median Monthly Rent
$800
Annual Rent Cost
$9,600
Your Salary's Purchasing Power
Your $40,556 annual take-home pay in Dayton has the purchasing power of approximately $49,459 in an average-cost US area. Your $49,980 salary stretches further here than in most US cities.
Top Industries in Dayton
Dayton's economy is driven by these key industries. Workers in top industries often earn significantly above the median salary of $49,980.
Salary Tips for Dayton Workers
- Your salary goes further here. Dayton has a cost of living 18% below the national average. A salary of $49,980 here has the purchasing power of about $60,951 in an average-cost area.
- Research top industries. Dayton's top industries include Aerospace, Healthcare, Manufacturing. Targeting roles in these sectors can help you earn above the $49,980 median salary.
- Review your W-4 withholding. If you regularly receive large tax refunds, adjust your W-4 to increase your per-paycheck take-home pay instead of giving the government an interest-free loan.
Methodology & Local Economy Data Sources
How we calculate Dayton salary data: The median annual wage, median hourly wage and mean wage are the official BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations values for the Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH metropolitan statistical area, retrieved from the BLS Public Data API on September 17, 2026. BLS does not publish city-level wages, so every city inside that metro shows the same figure. The entry/senior/top-10% rows, the paycheck estimate and the purchasing-power conversion are Salario calculations built on that median. Cost-of-living adjustments use the C2ER Cost of Living Index baseline of 100 (national average), with Dayton indexed at 82.
- Median salary: $49,980 annual, $24.03 hourly, BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH MSA (372,660 jobs surveyed). Mean wage $65,730 (BLS). Salario's previous modeled median for Dayton was $48,500.
- Tax burden reflects Ohio 2026 state income tax brackets and standard deduction (top rate 2.75%), plus Dayton local tax of 2.25%, sales tax (7.5%), and federal taxes per IRS 2026 brackets.
- Unemployment rate for Dayton: 4.5%, sourced from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS).
- Top industries: Aerospace, Healthcare, Manufacturing, based on QCEW employment concentration data.
- Job growth: 0.8% projected through 2034, derived from BLS Employment Projections program for Ohio.
- Housing context: median home price $110,000, median rent $800/mo, sourced from Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
Authoritative US data sources for Dayton, OH:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), metropolitan area salary data
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, Dayton unemployment rate
- U.S. Census Bureau, Dayton QuickFacts, population, housing, demographics
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), county-level industry employment
- BLS Economy at a Glance, Ohio, state economic indicators
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), local GDP and personal income data
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U), regional inflation tracking
Disclaimer: Salary and cost data are estimates for general guidance. Individual compensation varies by employer, experience, education, negotiation, and skills. Dayton's rapidly changing economy can shift these baselines, always verify with current job listings, employer offers, and recent Ohio labor market reports for the most current figures.
Reviewed by Harlan Voss · Last updated September 17, 2026 · Wage figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 release (published May 2026) · Census data current as of latest releases
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly wage in Dayton, OH?
The median hourly wage in Dayton, OH is $24.03 per hour, the BLS OEWS May 2025 median for all occupations in the Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH metropolitan area, and the BLS median annual wage is $49,980. Entry-level workers are estimated around $14.90/hr, while senior-level workers are estimated around $34.12/hr before overtime, bonuses, or benefits (Salario estimates, not BLS percentiles).
What is the median salary in Dayton, OH?
The median salary in Dayton, OH is $49,980 per year, or $24.03 per hour (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH metro area). The BLS mean salary is $65,730. This is $1,000 below the BLS national median of $50,980.
What is the cost of living in Dayton, OH?
Dayton's cost of living index is 82 (national average = 100), meaning it is 18% less expensive compared to the national average. The median home price is $110,000 and the median monthly rent is $800.
What are the best industries in Dayton?
The top industries in Dayton, OH include Aerospace, Healthcare, Manufacturing. The city has a job growth rate of 0.8% and an unemployment rate of 4.5%. Workers in these industries often earn above the city's median salary of $49,980.
How does Dayton's salary compare to other cities?
Dayton's median salary of $49,980 is 2.0% below the national median of $50,980. However, when adjusted for cost of living (index: 82), the real purchasing power is approximately $60,951.
What is the minimum wage in Dayton, OH?
The minimum wage in Dayton, OH is $10.65 per hour. This equals approximately $22,152 per year for a full-time worker (40 hours/week). This is $3.40 above the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hour.