High paying entry level jobs in Oregon

These occupations in Oregon ask for no prior experience in a related job and no on-the-job training period: you are expected to be productive on arrival. That is precisely why most of them want a specific qualification instead — the credential does the work the experience would have. Read the line under each title for what that qualification is; several here are doctorates. If you need something you can start without one, use the no-experience list.

Cost of living: prices in Oregon run 3.4% above the national average (2024), so a Oregon salary is worth about 0.97× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order. To see where a job pays a real premium, use jobs that pay more in Oregon.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in Oregon

OccupationMedian, Oregon · Employed

1Dentists, General$211,690
Doctoral or professional degree
$143,990 – $353,3101,660
2Computer and Information Research Scientists$206,220
Master's degree
$117,570 – $351,690730
3Pharmacists$165,960
Doctoral or professional degree
$126,040 – $193,8603,250
4Physician Assistants$155,780
Master's degree
$123,100 – $198,4902,250
5Nurse Practitioners$155,680
Master's degree
$124,660 – $194,0702,820
6Software Developers$142,720
Bachelor's degree
$83,070 – $213,54021,830
7Lawyers$138,210
Doctoral or professional degree
$73,610 – $263,7907,150
8Registered Nurses$129,010
Bachelor's degree
$95,280 – $155,01039,730
9Veterinarians$128,880
Doctoral or professional degree
$78,420 – $205,8501,660
10Industrial Engineers$128,290
Bachelor's degree
$82,170 – $198,9605,810
11Environmental Engineers$127,100
Bachelor's degree
$80,720 – $181,280650
12Data Scientists$125,990
Bachelor's degree
$78,110 – $206,5502,140
13Electrical Engineers$125,160
Bachelor's degree
$83,500 – $166,2402,540
14Electronics Engineers, Except Computer$124,400
Bachelor's degree
$80,600 – $215,2101,730
15Engineers, All Other$123,220
Bachelor's degree
$77,380 – $184,9202,030
16Dental Hygienists$122,080
Associate's degree
$104,530 – $134,1203,600
17Computer Systems Analysts$121,620
Bachelor's degree
$79,530 – $168,3805,640
18Financial and Investment Analysts$120,590
Bachelor's degree
$77,150 – $203,5502,820
19Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$120,220
Associate's degree
$91,960 – $135,1501,210
20Occupational Therapists$112,310
Master's degree
$78,500 – $131,3401,170
21Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$111,030
Doctoral or professional degree
$69,720 – $205,8701,030
22Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$108,440
Bachelor's degree
$57,640 – $184,0601,840
23Project Management Specialists$105,480
Bachelor's degree
$65,310 – $168,48019,380
24Civil Engineers$105,250
Bachelor's degree
$77,560 – $166,0604,890
25Chemists$104,590
Bachelor's degree
$70,320 – $157,700730
26Physical Therapists$103,510
Doctoral or professional degree
$79,440 – $133,9503,210
27Mechanical Engineers$103,470
Bachelor's degree
$78,100 – $162,5502,920
28Urban and Regional Planners$103,070
Master's degree
$68,630 – $132,2901,010
29Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$102,290
Associate's degree
$70,760 – $124,8102,700
30Web and Digital Interface Designers$102,220
Bachelor's degree
$65,260 – $180,5801,230
31Operations Research Analysts$102,170
Bachelor's degree
$65,600 – $145,7102,710
32Network and Computer Systems Administrators$102,000
Bachelor's degree
$72,790 – $138,2104,880
33Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary$100,820
Doctoral or professional degree
$61,270 – $165,440800
34Respiratory Therapists$100,560
Associate's degree
$81,490 – $120,0601,340
35Database Administrators$100,260
Bachelor's degree
$61,000 – $140,1701,060
36Business Teachers, Postsecondary$100,180
Doctoral or professional degree
$52,100 – $171,370940
37Computer Programmers$99,540
Bachelor's degree
$77,080 – $143,4501,370
38Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health$97,440
Bachelor's degree
$62,200 – $132,1901,370
39Computer Occupations, All Other$97,350
Bachelor's degree
$61,290 – $159,1402,450
40Budget Analysts$95,250
Bachelor's degree
$64,360 – $124,9001,090
41Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$95,240
Bachelor's degree
$61,500 – $125,1901,820
42English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary$91,870
Doctoral or professional degree
$52,060 – $162,800960
43Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary$91,770
Doctoral or professional degree
$59,000 – $138,260820
44Cartographers and Photogrammetrists$88,240
Bachelor's degree
$61,460 – $121,560640
45Massage Therapists$86,970
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,270 – $103,6302,250
46Biological Scientists, All Other$86,260
Bachelor's degree
$60,380 – $120,950700
47Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars$86,230
Associate's degree
$54,860 – $129,010660
48Accountants and Auditors$85,800
Bachelor's degree
$62,590 – $130,65014,920
49Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$85,390
Associate's degree
$62,300 – $103,200970
50Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists$85,150
Bachelor's degree
$54,640 – $113,3501,010

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianOregon	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$211,690	$143,990 – $353,310	1,660
2	Computer and Information Research ScientistsMaster's degree	$206,220	$117,570 – $351,690	730
3	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$165,960	$126,040 – $193,860	3,250
4	Physician AssistantsMaster's degree	$155,780	$123,100 – $198,490	2,250
5	Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree	$155,680	$124,660 – $194,070	2,820
6	Software DevelopersBachelor's degree	$142,720	$83,070 – $213,540	21,830
7	LawyersDoctoral or professional degree	$138,210	$73,610 – $263,790	7,150
8	Registered NursesBachelor's degree	$129,010	$95,280 – $155,010	39,730
9	VeterinariansDoctoral or professional degree	$128,880	$78,420 – $205,850	1,660
10	Industrial EngineersBachelor's degree	$128,290	$82,170 – $198,960	5,810
11	Environmental EngineersBachelor's degree	$127,100	$80,720 – $181,280	650
12	Data ScientistsBachelor's degree	$125,990	$78,110 – $206,550	2,140
13	Electrical EngineersBachelor's degree	$125,160	$83,500 – $166,240	2,540
14	Electronics Engineers, Except ComputerBachelor's degree	$124,400	$80,600 – $215,210	1,730
15	Engineers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$123,220	$77,380 – $184,920	2,030
16	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$122,080	$104,530 – $134,120	3,600
17	Computer Systems AnalystsBachelor's degree	$121,620	$79,530 – $168,380	5,640
18	Financial and Investment AnalystsBachelor's degree	$120,590	$77,150 – $203,550	2,820
19	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$120,220	$91,960 – $135,150	1,210
20	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$112,310	$78,500 – $131,340	1,170
21	Medical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$111,030	$69,720 – $205,870	1,030
22	Software Quality Assurance Analysts and TestersBachelor's degree	$108,440	$57,640 – $184,060	1,840
23	Project Management SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$105,480	$65,310 – $168,480	19,380
24	Civil EngineersBachelor's degree	$105,250	$77,560 – $166,060	4,890
25	ChemistsBachelor's degree	$104,590	$70,320 – $157,700	730
26	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$103,510	$79,440 – $133,950	3,210
27	Mechanical EngineersBachelor's degree	$103,470	$78,100 – $162,550	2,920
28	Urban and Regional PlannersMaster's degree	$103,070	$68,630 – $132,290	1,010
29	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$102,290	$70,760 – $124,810	2,700
30	Web and Digital Interface DesignersBachelor's degree	$102,220	$65,260 – $180,580	1,230
31	Operations Research AnalystsBachelor's degree	$102,170	$65,600 – $145,710	2,710
32	Network and Computer Systems AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$102,000	$72,790 – $138,210	4,880
33	Biological Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$100,820	$61,270 – $165,440	800
34	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$100,560	$81,490 – $120,060	1,340
35	Database AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$100,260	$61,000 – $140,170	1,060
36	Business Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$100,180	$52,100 – $171,370	940
37	Computer ProgrammersBachelor's degree	$99,540	$77,080 – $143,450	1,370
38	Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including HealthBachelor's degree	$97,440	$62,200 – $132,190	1,370
39	Computer Occupations, All OtherBachelor's degree	$97,350	$61,290 – $159,140	2,450
40	Budget AnalystsBachelor's degree	$95,250	$64,360 – $124,900	1,090
41	Occupational Health and Safety SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$95,240	$61,500 – $125,190	1,820
42	English Language and Literature Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$91,870	$52,060 – $162,800	960
43	Mathematical Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$91,770	$59,000 – $138,260	820
44	Cartographers and PhotogrammetristsBachelor's degree	$88,240	$61,460 – $121,560	640
45	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$86,970	$47,270 – $103,630	2,250
46	Biological Scientists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$86,260	$60,380 – $120,950	700
47	Health Information Technologists and Medical RegistrarsAssociate's degree	$86,230	$54,860 – $129,010	660
48	Accountants and AuditorsBachelor's degree	$85,800	$62,590 – $130,650	14,920
49	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$85,390	$62,300 – $103,200	970
50	Zoologists and Wildlife BiologistsBachelor's degree	$85,150	$54,640 – $113,350	1,010

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Oregon. The rarer ones are real jobs — but a 1,190-person occupation at the top of a list answers a different question than the one most readers are asking.

More for Oregon

Metro areas in Oregon

Pay varies more between metros than between states — the spread inside one state is often wider than the gap between two.

By field in Oregon

Without a degree

The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Oregon to rank honestly.

High paying entry level jobs in Oregon

More for Oregon

Metro areas in Oregon

By field in Oregon

Without a degree

High paying entry level jobs in each state