Academic Advisor.
Cincinnati.
$44,000
median salary, 8% below the national average
$35,000 to $58,000. Last updated April 2026.
Get the job.
Data points to own the conversation.
Cincinnati is 10% cheaper than the national average. For Academic Advisors, that shakes out to a median of $44,000, with the full range spanning $35,000 to $58,000. Institution type, caseload size, and specialization in areas like pre-medical advising or student-athlete support drive pay differences. Know the range before you walk in.
Salary range
Where do you fall?
Salary by experience
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $39,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$29,000
to $35,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$37,000
to $46,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$48,000
to $57,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$55,000
to $68,000
Salary trend
+5% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $11,000 to the total package.
Base
$44,000
Equity
$6,000
Bonus
$4,000
Signing
$1,000
Estimated total: $55,000
How Cincinnati compares
Cincinnati, OH
$44,000
Cost of living: 10% below average
National Average
$48,000
Cincinnati is $4,000 below
Academic Advisor salary by city
Salary by role in Cincinnati
What you should know
The Academic Advisor landscape in Cincinnati is not what most salary sites will tell you. Cincinnati is home to Procter and Gamble, Kroger, and a growing fintech scene. The city's extremely affordable cost of living and strong corporate base create excellent purchasing power. The University of Cincinnati feeds a steady pipeline of engineering and business talent. Institution type, caseload size, and specialization in areas like pre-medical advising or student-athlete support drive pay differences. Advisors at large research universities and well-funded private institutions earn 15 to 25% more than those at community colleges or small colleges.
Entry-level Academic Advisors earn $38,000 to $44,000. Experienced advisors with specialized caseloads reach $46,000 to $56,000. Senior Advisors and Assistant Directors command $55,000 to $70,000, while Directors of Academic Advising at large universities earn $72,000 to $95,000. In Cincinnati, cost of living sits near the national average, so the numbers you see are roughly what you keep.
Base salary is not the full picture. University employment typically includes tuition remission worth $5,000 to $20,000 annually, pension contributions, and generous PTO. Health insurance benefits at universities are often stronger than private sector equivalents. Summer schedules may be lighter but not eliminated. And on the tax side: ohio's income tax tops out around 3.5%. Cincinnati adds an earnings tax of 1.8%. The combined rate is moderate and the very low cost of living offsets it significantly. When someone quotes you $44,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Leverage P&G and Kroger benchmarks. These Fortune 500 companies set salary floors that ripple across all professional roles in the Cincinnati metro. The range for Academic Advisors in Cincinnati runs from $35,000 to $58,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: SEC filings, H-1B LCA (DOL), BLS OES, 50+ job posting platforms. COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified April 8, 2026. Full methodology
Considering a related role?
- A Automotive Technician in Cincinnati earns $43,000 (2% less)
- The highest-paying role in Cincinnati is Distinguished Engineer at $300,000
Common questions.
Academic Advisor salary in other cities
Other salaries in Cincinnati
Related
Cite this data
Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.
Want this data on your site? Embed the salary widget — one script tag, free forever.