High paying entry level jobs in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA

These occupations in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA 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 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA run 5.4% above the national average (2024), so a Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA salary is worth about 0.95× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order.

Local wage estimates are suppressed more often than state ones — BLS withholds any figure too few local employers report — so an occupation missing here simply has no published local estimate.

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

Find high paying jobs in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA

OccupationMedian, Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA · Employed

1Dentists, General$209,440
Doctoral or professional degree
$140,300 – $373,870990
2Computer and Information Research Scientists$206,220
Master's degree
$131,020 – $351,690660
3Pharmacists$168,830
Doctoral or professional degree
$127,100 – $196,5002,070
4Physician Assistants$163,810
Master's degree
$105,180 – $216,9601,110
5Nurse Practitioners$158,890
Master's degree
$130,270 – $200,7201,390
6Software Developers$156,000
Bachelor's degree
$94,040 – $213,54018,260
7Lawyers$155,330
Doctoral or professional degree
$75,000 – $285,8005,170
8Veterinarians$131,720
Doctoral or professional degree
$83,670 – $218,9001,010
9Registered Nurses$130,310
Bachelor's degree
$97,180 – $155,65024,220
10Industrial Engineers$129,890
Bachelor's degree
$85,020 – $205,2705,230
11Data Scientists$129,600
Bachelor's degree
$78,110 – $208,1101,700
12Electronics Engineers, Except Computer$129,330
Bachelor's degree
$86,030 – $216,4601,450
13Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$128,420
Associate's degree
$98,230 – $136,190690
14Electrical Engineers$128,080
Bachelor's degree
$84,250 – $164,7202,320
15Computer Systems Analysts$127,360
Bachelor's degree
$83,560 – $176,1504,020
16Environmental Engineers$127,080
Bachelor's degree
$79,640 – $165,040500
17Engineers, All Other$126,380
Bachelor's degree
$80,810 – $183,1901,850
18Dental Hygienists$123,100
Associate's degree
$107,650 – $147,4702,380
19Web and Digital Interface Designers$120,640
Bachelor's degree
$62,180 – $187,920880
20Financial and Investment Analysts$117,280
Bachelor's degree
$76,800 – $214,6102,590
21Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$112,640
Doctoral or professional degree
$64,600 – $192,230820
22Occupational Therapists$112,100
Master's degree
$85,490 – $131,710730
23Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$109,760
Bachelor's degree
$56,760 – $195,9101,550
24Project Management Specialists$108,340
Bachelor's degree
$67,370 – $177,09014,440
25Civil Engineers$106,280
Bachelor's degree
$78,860 – $166,0604,180
26Physical Therapists$106,250
Doctoral or professional degree
$82,270 – $134,6101,810
27Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary$106,190
Doctoral or professional degree
$66,900 – $162,750450
28Mechanical Engineers$105,020
Bachelor's degree
$78,210 – $165,0402,520
29Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$104,810
Associate's degree
$71,070 – $125,8501,520
30Computer Occupations, All Other$103,990
Bachelor's degree
$61,290 – $163,3202,360
31Business Teachers, Postsecondary$103,130
Doctoral or professional degree
$52,400 – $192,830580
32Database Administrators$103,110
Bachelor's degree
$62,400 – $140,810730
33Urban and Regional Planners$103,070
Master's degree
$82,550 – $132,570620
34Network and Computer Systems Administrators$102,950
Bachelor's degree
$73,380 – $138,5002,820
35Operations Research Analysts$102,480
Bachelor's degree
$70,680 – $155,3902,100
36Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary$100,800
Doctoral or professional degree
$61,170 – $170,400510
37Respiratory Therapists$100,030
Associate's degree
$82,330 – $116,410760
38Computer Programmers$99,150
Bachelor's degree
$77,080 – $143,450820
39Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health$98,050
Bachelor's degree
$64,050 – $135,1301,040
40Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$97,410
Bachelor's degree
$64,560 – $129,0501,050
41Budget Analysts$96,430
Bachelor's degree
$70,620 – $127,340520
42Chemists$94,990
Bachelor's degree
$61,950 – $162,930430
43Statisticians$93,620
Master's degree
$54,580 – $167,380390
44Cartographers and Photogrammetrists$93,430
Bachelor's degree
$67,720 – $123,720380
45Accountants and Auditors$92,200
Bachelor's degree
$64,680 – $136,73010,100
46English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary$91,870
Doctoral or professional degree
$57,740 – $162,310640
47Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary$91,480
Doctoral or professional degree
$61,900 – $153,500550
48Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary$90,160
Doctoral or professional degree
$70,660 – $153,400400
49Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$89,590
Bachelor's degree
$58,270 – $108,6103,540
50Financial Specialists, All Other$88,380
Bachelor's degree
$58,030 – $164,120700

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

#	Occupation	MedianPortland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$209,440	$140,300 – $373,870	990
2	Computer and Information Research ScientistsMaster's degree	$206,220	$131,020 – $351,690	660
3	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$168,830	$127,100 – $196,500	2,070
4	Physician AssistantsMaster's degree	$163,810	$105,180 – $216,960	1,110
5	Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree	$158,890	$130,270 – $200,720	1,390
6	Software DevelopersBachelor's degree	$156,000	$94,040 – $213,540	18,260
7	LawyersDoctoral or professional degree	$155,330	$75,000 – $285,800	5,170
8	VeterinariansDoctoral or professional degree	$131,720	$83,670 – $218,900	1,010
9	Registered NursesBachelor's degree	$130,310	$97,180 – $155,650	24,220
10	Industrial EngineersBachelor's degree	$129,890	$85,020 – $205,270	5,230
11	Data ScientistsBachelor's degree	$129,600	$78,110 – $208,110	1,700
12	Electronics Engineers, Except ComputerBachelor's degree	$129,330	$86,030 – $216,460	1,450
13	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$128,420	$98,230 – $136,190	690
14	Electrical EngineersBachelor's degree	$128,080	$84,250 – $164,720	2,320
15	Computer Systems AnalystsBachelor's degree	$127,360	$83,560 – $176,150	4,020
16	Environmental EngineersBachelor's degree	$127,080	$79,640 – $165,040	500
17	Engineers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$126,380	$80,810 – $183,190	1,850
18	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$123,100	$107,650 – $147,470	2,380
19	Web and Digital Interface DesignersBachelor's degree	$120,640	$62,180 – $187,920	880
20	Financial and Investment AnalystsBachelor's degree	$117,280	$76,800 – $214,610	2,590
21	Medical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$112,640	$64,600 – $192,230	820
22	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$112,100	$85,490 – $131,710	730
23	Software Quality Assurance Analysts and TestersBachelor's degree	$109,760	$56,760 – $195,910	1,550
24	Project Management SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$108,340	$67,370 – $177,090	14,440
25	Civil EngineersBachelor's degree	$106,280	$78,860 – $166,060	4,180
26	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$106,250	$82,270 – $134,610	1,810
27	Engineering Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$106,190	$66,900 – $162,750	450
28	Mechanical EngineersBachelor's degree	$105,020	$78,210 – $165,040	2,520
29	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$104,810	$71,070 – $125,850	1,520
30	Computer Occupations, All OtherBachelor's degree	$103,990	$61,290 – $163,320	2,360
31	Business Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$103,130	$52,400 – $192,830	580
32	Database AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$103,110	$62,400 – $140,810	730
33	Urban and Regional PlannersMaster's degree	$103,070	$82,550 – $132,570	620
34	Network and Computer Systems AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$102,950	$73,380 – $138,500	2,820
35	Operations Research AnalystsBachelor's degree	$102,480	$70,680 – $155,390	2,100
36	Biological Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$100,800	$61,170 – $170,400	510
37	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$100,030	$82,330 – $116,410	760
38	Computer ProgrammersBachelor's degree	$99,150	$77,080 – $143,450	820
39	Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including HealthBachelor's degree	$98,050	$64,050 – $135,130	1,040
40	Occupational Health and Safety SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$97,410	$64,560 – $129,050	1,050
41	Budget AnalystsBachelor's degree	$96,430	$70,620 – $127,340	520
42	ChemistsBachelor's degree	$94,990	$61,950 – $162,930	430
43	StatisticiansMaster's degree	$93,620	$54,580 – $167,380	390
44	Cartographers and PhotogrammetristsBachelor's degree	$93,430	$67,720 – $123,720	380
45	Accountants and AuditorsBachelor's degree	$92,200	$64,680 – $136,730	10,100
46	English Language and Literature Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$91,870	$57,740 – $162,310	640
47	Mathematical Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$91,480	$61,900 – $153,500	550
48	Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$90,160	$70,660 – $153,400	400
49	Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$89,590	$58,270 – $108,610	3,540
50	Financial Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$88,380	$58,030 – $164,120	700

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA. 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.

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Without a degree

The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA to rank honestly.

High paying entry level jobs in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA

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