Average Salaries in Oregon
Explore salaries across 746 occupations in Oregon. The average median wage across all tracked occupations is $69.9K, +13.5% vs the national average. See the highest-paying roles, where the jobs are, and how local wages compare to the rest of the country.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2024 estimates. Coverage: 746 occupations and 1,949,230 total jobs in Oregon.
How the state compares
Oregon pays modestly above the national average. Most occupations here earn more than their national equivalents, but the gap is smaller than in top-tier markets.
Oregon has a mid-sized labor market, with strong representation in some occupations but thinner coverage in niche roles.
The highest-paid occupation tracked here is Airline Pilots, Copilots, And Flight Engineers. Drill into any occupation below to see its local pay distribution, employment, and how it compares to the national market.
Top-paying and largest occupations in Oregon
Two different lenses on the local labor market: which occupations pay the most, and which employ the most workers. The highest-paid list tends to favor specialized professional and technical roles. The largest list reflects where the everyday jobs actually are.
Top wages
Highest-paid occupations in Oregon
| Occupation | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, And Flight Engineers | $214.5K | 740 |
| Sociologists | $211.6K | N/A |
| Dentists, General | $185.8K | 1,180 |
| Physicists | $183.9K | 120 |
| Pediatricians, General | $182.0K | 800 |
| Computer And Information Research Scientists | $180.0K | 660 |
| Computer And Information Systems Managers | $178.2K | 8,190 |
| Judges, Magistrate Judges, And Magistrates | $174.1K | 320 |
| Medical Dosimetrists | $170.2K | 50 |
| Architectural And Engineering Managers | $166.9K | N/A |
Most jobs
Largest occupations in Oregon
| Occupation | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food And Counter Workers | 58,150 | $34.4K |
| Retail Salespersons | 47,930 | $36.1K |
| Stockers And Order Fillers | 44,740 | $41.4K |
| General And Operations Managers | 42,140 | $98.6K |
| Registered Nurses | 39,900 | $124.0K |
| Home Health And Personal Care Aides | 38,890 | $41.5K |
| Cashiers | 36,960 | $34.2K |
| Office Clerks, General | 28,240 | $48.4K |
| Laborers And Freight, Stock, And Material Movers, Hand | 26,520 | $43.1K |
| Heavy And Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 24,720 | $61.2K |
What Oregon specializes in
The location quotient measures how concentrated an occupation is here compared to the national average. A value above 1.00 means the occupation is more common in Oregon than in the country as a whole, which signals what this state is known for.
Location quotient
Most concentrated occupations in Oregon
| Occupation | Location quotient | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Personal Care And Service Workers, All Other | 28.44 | $37.9K |
| Logging Workers, All Other | 25.31 | $59.1K |
| Semiconductor Processing Technicians | 17.27 | $61.5K |
| Woodworkers, All Other | 9.29 | $45.6K |
| Directors, Religious Activities And Education | 7.94 | $46.8K |
| Forestry And Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 7.29 | $98.9K |
| Forest And Conservation Technicians | 6.94 | $55.8K |
| Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators And Tenders | 6.48 | $48.7K |
| Logging Equipment Operators | 6.10 | $58.9K |
| Acupuncturists | 5.99 | $63.6K |
Peer markets
Comparable states
| State | Average median | Highest-paid occupation |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $86.2K | Obstetricians And Gynecologists |
| California | $77.6K | Chief Executives |
| Washington | $77.0K | Podiatrists |
| New York | $76.7K | Physicians, All Other |
| Massachusetts | $75.6K | Dentists, All Other Specialists |
| New Jersey | $73.7K | Physicians, All Other |
| Alaska | $73.0K | Dentists, General |
| Connecticut | $72.7K | Nurse Anesthetists |
Metros inside Oregon
Salaries can vary a lot within a single state. Urban metro areas typically pay more than rural regions, and specific industries cluster in particular cities. Drill into any metro below for its own full salary breakdown.
Inside this state
Major metros in Oregon
| Metro | Average median | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $73.4K | 1,185,520 |
| Salem, OR | $68.3K | 179,940 |
| Eugene-Springfield, OR | $65.4K | 150,870 |
| Bend, OR | $66.3K | 101,840 |
| Medford, OR | $63.0K | 82,890 |
| Albany, OR | $62.3K | 40,190 |
| Corvallis, OR | $67.3K | 31,170 |
| Grants Pass, OR | $59.2K | 25,980 |
Common salary questions for Oregon
What does "average median" mean? +
It is the average of all occupation-level medians in this area. It gives a rough sense of the overall wage level here compared to other states or metros, but it is not the same as a household income figure or a single blended salary.
What is a location quotient? +
A location quotient (LQ) compares how concentrated an occupation is in this area versus the national average. An LQ of 2.0 means the occupation is twice as concentrated here as it is nationally. High-LQ occupations are what this area specializes in.
How are comparable areas selected? +
Peer areas are other states with a similar overall wage level and employment size. They give you a quick sense of how this area ranks among places with a comparable labor market.