Portland Hourly Wage & Salary 2026
Portland, OR: $29.18/hr median hourly wage, $60,690 median annual salary, cost of living index 130, and $14.70/hr minimum wage. Calculate take-home pay with federal and Oregon taxes.
Portland Hourly Wage Quick Answer
The median hourly wage in Portland, OR is $29.18/hr,and the median annual wage is $60,690. Entry-level pay estimates around $18.09/hr, senior-level pay estimates around $41.44/hr, and the local minimum wage is $14.70/hr.
Median figures: BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metropolitan statistical area (1,208,410 jobs). BLS publishes wages by metro area, not by city, so Portland shares this figure with the rest of its metro. Entry and senior levels are Salario estimates.
Median Salary
$60,690
$29.18/hr
Cost of Living
130
US avg = 100
Minimum Wage
$14.70
per hour
Unemployment
3.5%
rate
Portland, OR Overview
Population
652,503
Median Salary
$60,690
Average Salary
$78,430
Avg Commute
27 min
Median Home Price
$480,000
Median Rent
$1,700/mo
Job Growth
+2%
Sales Tax
0%
Portland is located in Oregon with a population of 652,503. The median annual wage across all occupations is $60,690 ($29.18/hour, BLS OEWS May 2025, Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro), which is $9,710 above 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 27 minutes, and the city has a job growth rate of +2%.
Portland Salary by Experience Level (2026)
Wage distribution in Portland, OR built around the $60,690 median salary (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA 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 | $37,628 | $18.09/hr | 0–2 years |
| Mid-Level (Median) | $60,690 | $29.18/hr | 3–7 years |
| Senior-Level | $86,180 | $41.44/hr | 8–15 years |
| Top 10% (90th Percentile) | $108,028 | $51.94/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.
Portland Paycheck Calculator
Enter your annual salary to see your estimated take-home pay in Portland, OR, after federal, state, and local taxes.
Estimated Annual Take-Home Pay
$46,208
$3,850.64/month · $1,777.22/biweekly · Effective Rate: 23.9%
Biweekly paycheck estimate: this salary equals about $1,777.22 take-home per paycheck after estimated Oregon and federal taxes. For the 26-paycheck formula, three-paycheck months, and withholding examples, see the Biweekly Paycheck Calculator.
Gross Pay
$60,690
Federal Tax
-$5,103
State Tax
-$4,737
Local Tax
$0
FICA
-$4,643
Net Pay
$46,208
Pay Breakdown
| Item | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | $5,057.50 | $60,690.00 |
| Federal Income Tax | -$425.23 | -$5,102.80 |
| Oregon State Tax (7.80% eff.) | -$394.73 | -$4,736.75 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | -$313.57 | -$3,762.78 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | -$73.33 | -$880.01 |
| Net Take-Home Pay | $3,850.64 | $46,207.67 |
Salary Comparison: Portland vs Other Cities
See how Portland's median salary and cost of living compare to the national average and similar cities.
| City | Median Salary | COL Index | Adj. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland, OR | $60,690 | 130 | $46,685 |
| National Average | $50,980 | 100 | $50,980 |
| Gresham, OR | $60,690 | 110 | $55,173 |
| Hillsboro, OR | $60,690 | 125 | $48,552 |
| Vancouver, WA | $60,690 | 105 | $57,800 |
| Beaverton, OR | $60,690 | 105.9 | $57,309 |
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 Portland
Portland's cost of living index is 130 (national average = 100). Living in Portland is 30% more expensive than the national average.
Median Home Price
$480,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,700
Annual Rent Cost
$20,400
Your Salary's Purchasing Power
Your $46,208 annual take-home pay in Portland has the purchasing power of approximately $35,544 in an average-cost US area. You would need to earn $78,897 in Portland to match a $60,690 salary in an average-cost city.
Top Industries in Portland
Portland's economy is driven by these key industries. Workers in top industries often earn significantly above the median salary of $60,690.
Salary Tips for Portland Workers
- Negotiate for cost of living. Portland has a cost of living 30% above the national average. When negotiating salary, factor in the higher housing and living costs to ensure your real purchasing power stays competitive.
- Maximize pre-tax deductions. With a top 9.9% state income tax rate, maximizing 401(k) contributions (up to $24,500 in 2026) and HSA contributions can significantly reduce both your federal and state tax burden.
- Research top industries. Portland's top industries include Technology, Healthcare, Manufacturing. Targeting roles in these sectors can help you earn above the $60,690 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.
Job Salaries in Portland, OR
Browse occupation-specific salaries for Portland. Figures marked BLS are the BLS OEWS May 2025 median annual wage for that occupation in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area (73 of 338); the rest are Salario estimates adjusted for Portland's cost of living. Each page connects the benchmark with local take-home pay and market context.
Other Cities in Oregon
Redmond
Salem
Springfield
Tigard
Tualatin
Albany
Aloha
Beaverton
Bend
Corvallis
Eugene
Grants Pass
Methodology & Local Economy Data Sources
How we calculate Portland salary data: The median annual wage, median hourly wage and mean wage are the official BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations values for the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA 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 Portland indexed at 130.
- Median salary: $60,690 annual, $29.18 hourly, BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA MSA (1,208,410 jobs surveyed). Mean wage $78,430 (BLS). Salario's previous modeled median for Portland was $72,000.
- Tax burden reflects Oregon 2026 state income tax brackets and standard deduction (top rate 9.9%) (no local income tax), sales tax (0%), and federal taxes per IRS 2026 brackets.
- Unemployment rate for Portland: 3.5%, sourced from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS).
- Top industries: Technology, Healthcare, Manufacturing, based on QCEW employment concentration data.
- Job growth: 2% projected through 2034, derived from BLS Employment Projections program for Oregon.
- Housing context: median home price $480,000, median rent $1,700/mo, sourced from Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
Authoritative US data sources for Portland, OR:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), metropolitan area salary data
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, Portland unemployment rate
- U.S. Census Bureau, Portland QuickFacts, population, housing, demographics
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), county-level industry employment
- BLS Economy at a Glance, Oregon, 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. Portland's rapidly changing economy can shift these baselines, always verify with current job listings, employer offers, and recent Oregon 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 Portland, OR?
The median hourly wage in Portland, OR is $29.18 per hour, the BLS OEWS May 2025 median for all occupations in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metropolitan area, and the BLS median annual wage is $60,690. Entry-level workers are estimated around $18.09/hr, while senior-level workers are estimated around $41.44/hr before overtime, bonuses, or benefits (Salario estimates, not BLS percentiles).
What is the median salary in Portland, OR?
The median salary in Portland, OR is $60,690 per year, or $29.18 per hour (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area). The BLS mean salary is $78,430. This is $9,710 above the BLS national median of $50,980.
What is the cost of living in Portland, OR?
Portland's cost of living index is 130 (national average = 100), meaning it is 30% more expensive compared to the national average. The median home price is $480,000 and the median monthly rent is $1,700.
What are the best industries in Portland?
The top industries in Portland, OR include Technology, Healthcare, Manufacturing. The city has a job growth rate of 2% and an unemployment rate of 3.5%. Workers in these industries often earn above the city's median salary of $60,690.
How does Portland's salary compare to other cities?
Portland's median salary of $60,690 is 19.0% above the national median of $50,980. However, when adjusted for cost of living (index: 130), the real purchasing power is approximately $46,685.
What is the minimum wage in Portland, OR?
The minimum wage in Portland, OR is $14.70 per hour. This equals approximately $30,576 per year for a full-time worker (40 hours/week). This is $7.45 above the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hour.