2026 Salary Data · Columbus, OH

Product Owner Salary in Columbus

How much does a Product Owner make in Columbus? Salary data, top employers, and career insights for Product Owners in the Columbus area.

$148K
Median Total Comp
-13%
vs National Avg
moderate
Cost of Living
350+
Product Roles

How Much Does a Product Owner Make in Columbus?

Product Owners in Columbus earn a median total compensation of $148K, 13% below the national average. Columbus offers a balance of competitive salaries and manageable cost of living (index: 95). The moderate job market features approximately 350+ open product roles, with strength in Fintech and Healthcare / Healthtech.

Columbus's cost-of-living index is 95 (vs 100 national average), making it one of the more affordable metros. A $148K salary here has the purchasing power of roughly $156K in an average-cost city. This strong purchasing power is a key reason PMs relocate from higher-cost markets.

$108K$200K
P25-P75 Median

AI Specialization Premium in Columbus

Standard PO
$148K
$124K - $184K
AI-Specialized PO
$175K
$146K - $217K

Product Owners with AI/ML experience earn a 18% premium in Columbus. While Columbus's AI ecosystem is still growing, companies here pay the premium to attract AI-experienced PMs.

Product Owner Salary by Company Type in Columbus

FAANG / Big Tech
$192K
+30%
Pre-IPO Unicorn
$170K
+15%
Growth Startup (B/C)
$148K
Baseline
Enterprise / Fortune 500
$155K
+5%
Early Startup (Seed/A)
$126K
-15%
Agency / Consulting
$118K
-20%

Top Employers for Product Owners in Columbus

JPMorgan ChaseNationwideRoot InsuranceCoverMyMedsUpstartOlive AI

Columbus is emerging as a Midwest tech hub with strength in insurtech (Root, Nationwide) and healthtech. Ohio State University provides a talent pipeline. Intel's planned $20B chip fab will transform the market.

FintechHealthcare / HealthtechB2B SaaS (General)

Other Product Roles in Columbus

Chief Product Officer
15+ years
$418K
+182%
VP of Product
12+ years
$352K
+138%
Director of Product
10-15 years
$322K
+118%
Staff Product Manager
8-12 years
$274K
+85%
AI Product Manager
3-7 years
$265K
+79%
Platform Product Manager
5-9 years
$239K
+61%

Product Owner Salary in Other Cities

Pittsburgh, PA
moderate cost of living
$150K
+1%
Indianapolis, IN
low cost of living
$145K
-2%
Detroit, MI
moderate cost of living
$148K
Same
Cincinnati, OH
low cost of living
$146K
-1%
San Francisco, CA
very-high cost of living
$204K
+38%
San Jose, CA
very-high cost of living
$201K
+36%
New York City, NY
very-high cost of living
$195K
+32%

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a Product Owner make in Columbus?+
The median total compensation for a Product Owner in Columbus is $148K, with the 25th to 75th percentile range spanning $124K to $184K. This is 13% below the national average of $170K.
What companies hire Product Owners in Columbus?+
Top employers for Product Owners in Columbus include JPMorgan Chase, Nationwide, Root Insurance, CoverMyMeds, Upstart. Columbus is emerging as a Midwest tech hub with strength in insurtech (Root, Nationwide) and healthtech.
Is Columbus a good city for Product Owners?+
Columbus has a moderate product job market with approximately 350+ open product roles. The cost of living is moderate. Strong industries include Fintech, Healthcare / Healthtech, B2B SaaS (General).
How does Product Owner salary in Columbus compare to other cities?+
Columbus pays 13% below the national average for Product Owners. For comparison, San Francisco pays +20%, New York pays +12%, and Austin is the baseline. Similar markets include Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, Detroit, Cincinnati.
Do Product Owners in Columbus earn more with AI experience?+
Yes. The AI specialization premium for Product Owners in Columbus is 18%, bringing the median from $148K to $175K. While Columbus's AI ecosystem is still developing, companies here still pay the premium for AI-experienced PMs.
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