Average Salaries in Oregon
Explore salaries across 742 occupations in Oregon. The average median wage across all tracked occupations is $75.9K, +15.4% 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 2025 estimates. Coverage: 742 occupations and 1,951,300 total jobs in Oregon.
How the state compares
Oregon is one of the higher-paying states in the country. Average wages here run meaningfully above the national level, though local cost of living often offsets some of that premium.
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 Obstetricians And Gynecologists. 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.
Highest-paid occupations in Oregon
| Occupation | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Obstetricians And Gynecologists | $395.3K | 270 |
| Physicians, All Other | $347.2K | 4,130 |
| Chief Executives | $341.6K | 910 |
| Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric | $334.5K | 210 |
| Psychiatrists | $314.9K | 430 |
| Family Medicine Physicians | $293.2K | 1,490 |
| Nurse Anesthetists | $272.3K | 370 |
| General Internal Medicine Physicians | $268.6K | 230 |
| Dentists, All Other Specialists | $256.5K | N/A |
| Pediatricians, General | $224.7K | 620 |
Largest occupations in Oregon
| Occupation | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food And Counter Workers | 59,920 | $35.1K |
| Retail Salespersons | 48,090 | $36.8K |
| Stockers And Order Fillers | 42,690 | $43.5K |
| Home Health And Personal Care Aides | 42,330 | $44.4K |
| Registered Nurses | 39,730 | $129K |
| Cashiers | 37,660 | $35.3K |
| General And Operations Managers | 36,190 | $103.5K |
| Office Clerks, General | 27,980 | $49.9K |
| Laborers And Freight, Stock, And Material Movers, Hand | 27,720 | $44.8K |
| Janitors And Cleaners, Except Maids And Housekeeping Cleaners | 25,890 | $39.3K |
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.
Most concentrated occupations in Oregon
| Occupation | Location quotient | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Personal Care And Service Workers, All Other | 29.99 | $41.6K |
| Logging Workers, All Other | 27.21 | $57.9K |
| Semiconductor Processing Technicians | 16.63 | $63.3K |
| Forestry And Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 10.76 | $126.9K |
| Woodworkers, All Other | 9.21 | $45.6K |
| Logging Equipment Operators | 6.98 | $58.7K |
| Directors, Religious Activities And Education | 6.65 | $45.4K |
| Forest And Conservation Technicians | 6.58 | $55.9K |
| Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators And Tenders | 6.20 | $50.1K |
| Tool Grinders, Filers, And Sharpeners | 6.13 | $60.8K |
Comparable states
| State | Average median | Highest-paid occupation |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $89.7K | Neurologists |
| Washington | $86.5K | Cardiologists |
| New York | $83.2K | Cardiologists |
| California | $83.2K | Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric |
| Massachusetts | $81.2K | Radiologists |
| New Jersey | $80.4K | Radiologists |
| Minnesota | $79.9K | Radiologists |
| Alaska | $79.6K | Emergency Medicine Physicians |
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.
Major metros in Oregon
| Metro | Average median | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $79.6K | 1,184,590 |
| Salem, OR | $73.2K | 180,040 |
| Eugene-Springfield, OR | $70.2K | 150,820 |
| Bend, OR | $69.8K | 102,770 |
| Medford, OR | $67.6K | 83,610 |
| Albany, OR | $67.9K | 42,410 |
| Corvallis, OR | $70.3K | 31,250 |
| Grants Pass, OR | $65.2K | 25,420 |
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.