Jobs that actually got a raise in Oregon

Consumer prices rose about 26% between May 2019 and May 2025, so a wage that grew less than that lost ground while appearing to rise. The column on the right is the inflation-adjusted change; the nominal figure beneath it is what a paycheck comparison would have shown. Limited to occupations employing at least 50,000 people, so the ranking is not dominated by tiny, noisy ones.

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 · Real change since 2019

1Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists$57,580
Postsecondary nondegree award
$34,880 – $76,810+76.3%+122.0% nominal
2Waiters and Waitresses$48,410
No formal educational credential
$31,200 – $77,620+51.2%+90.4% nominal
3Computer and Information Research Scientists$206,220
Master's degree
$117,570 – $351,690+43.2%+80.3% nominal
4Grounds Maintenance Workers, All Other$48,890
No formal educational credential
$33,130 – $63,470+36.8%+72.2% nominal
5Commercial Pilots$120,760
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,960 – $307,900+36.3%+71.6% nominal
6Tree Trimmers and Pruners$75,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,220 – $94,470+35.8%+71.0% nominal
7Marriage and Family Therapists$91,520
Master's degree
$60,060 – $165,190+34.7%+69.6% nominal
8Semiconductor Processing Technicians$63,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,720 – $80,510+31.1%+65.1% nominal
9Chief Executives$341,630
Bachelor's degree
$179,550 – $772,840+31.1%+65.1% nominal
10Floral Designers$44,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,590 – $49,620+29.1%+62.6% nominal
11Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary$49,550
Bachelor's degree
$38,970 – $80,570+28.3%+61.6% nominal
12Real Estate Sales Agents$61,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,100 – $105,020+26.9%+59.8% nominal
13Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$78,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,220 – $139,690+26.9%+59.8% nominal
14Manicurists and Pedicurists$46,080
Postsecondary nondegree award
$35,230 – $77,420+26.7%+59.6% nominal
15Veterinary Technologists and Technicians$55,810
Associate's degree
$39,920 – $77,710+26.0%+58.6% nominal
16Home Health and Personal Care Aides$44,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,650 – $53,120+25.8%+58.4% nominal
17Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop$40,720
No formal educational credential
$30,850 – $62,030+25.7%+58.3% nominal
18Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents$76,710
Bachelor's degree
$49,700 – $170,640+24.7%+57.0% nominal
19Security Guards$45,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,500 – $58,510+24.6%+57.0% nominal
20Automotive Body and Related Repairers$60,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,920 – $92,700+23.2%+55.2% nominal
21Advertising Sales Agents$62,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,820 – $106,330+22.8%+54.7% nominal
22Bartenders$38,900
No formal educational credential
$31,200 – $68,980+21.4%+52.9% nominal
23Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School$78,380
Bachelor's degree
$49,720 – $96,870+20.5%+51.7% nominal
24Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$111,030
Doctoral or professional degree
$69,720 – $205,870+20.0%+51.2% nominal
25Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education$45,140
Associate's degree
$35,680 – $63,550+19.7%+50.7% nominal
26Health Education Specialists$75,500
Bachelor's degree
$54,430 – $111,860+19.3%+50.2% nominal
27Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$47,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,280 – $63,670+19.3%+50.3% nominal
28Producers and Directors$87,460
Bachelor's degree
$49,350 – $143,490+19.1%+50.0% nominal
29Crossing Guards and Flaggers$47,110
No formal educational credential
$37,940 – $80,040+18.8%+49.7% nominal
30Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$51,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,880 – $63,140+18.5%+49.2% nominal
31Chemists$104,590
Bachelor's degree
$70,320 – $157,700+18.4%+49.1% nominal
32Childcare Workers$38,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,580 – $46,450+18.4%+49.1% nominal
33Personal Financial Advisors$122,830
Bachelor's degree
$54,940 – $459,050+17.9%+48.5% nominal
34Order Clerks$50,260
Some college, no degree
$39,960 – $72,040+17.8%+48.3% nominal
35Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$91,910
Postsecondary nondegree award
$63,580 – $111,530+16.8%+47.1% nominal
36Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$63,210
No formal educational credential
$53,270 – $72,440+16.8%+47.1% nominal
37Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers$36,800
No formal educational credential
$31,200 – $45,810+16.2%+46.3% nominal
38Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$80,470
Postsecondary nondegree award
$64,000 – $98,990+15.9%+45.9% nominal
39Nursing Assistants$49,830
Postsecondary nondegree award
$43,210 – $61,310+15.7%+45.7% nominal
40Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare$60,250
Bachelor's degree
$43,680 – $87,800+15.6%+45.5% nominal
41Roofers$58,970
No formal educational credential
$45,880 – $95,700+15.2%+45.1% nominal
42Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping$54,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,160 – $60,040+14.8%+44.6% nominal
43Massage Therapists$86,970
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,270 – $103,630+14.4%+44.1% nominal
44Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers$36,060
No formal educational credential
$35,640 – $45,360+14.1%+43.7% nominal
45Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$45,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,730 – $59,740+14.0%+43.6% nominal
46Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall$60,210
No formal educational credential
$35,660 – $80,140+14.0%+43.6% nominal
47Counter and Rental Clerks$43,820
No formal educational credential
$34,860 – $78,070+13.9%+43.4% nominal
48Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers$43,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,220 – $59,530+13.9%+43.5% nominal
49Cooks, Restaurant$43,100
No formal educational credential
$36,080 – $58,280+13.9%+43.4% nominal
50Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers$68,210
Master's degree
$50,280 – $100,680+13.9%+43.5% nominal

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	Real change since 2019
1	Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and CosmetologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$57,580	$34,880 – $76,810	+76.3%+122.0% nominal
2	Waiters and WaitressesNo formal educational credential	$48,410	$31,200 – $77,620	+51.2%+90.4% nominal
3	Computer and Information Research ScientistsMaster's degree	$206,220	$117,570 – $351,690	+43.2%+80.3% nominal
4	Grounds Maintenance Workers, All OtherNo formal educational credential	$48,890	$33,130 – $63,470	+36.8%+72.2% nominal
5	Commercial PilotsPostsecondary nondegree award	$120,760	$50,960 – $307,900	+36.3%+71.6% nominal
6	Tree Trimmers and PrunersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,440	$51,220 – $94,470	+35.8%+71.0% nominal
7	Marriage and Family TherapistsMaster's degree	$91,520	$60,060 – $165,190	+34.7%+69.6% nominal
8	Semiconductor Processing TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,330	$48,720 – $80,510	+31.1%+65.1% nominal
9	Chief ExecutivesBachelor's degree	$341,630	$179,550 – $772,840	+31.1%+65.1% nominal
10	Floral DesignersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,730	$36,590 – $49,620	+29.1%+62.6% nominal
11	Teaching Assistants, PostsecondaryBachelor's degree	$49,550	$38,970 – $80,570	+28.3%+61.6% nominal
12	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,610	$37,100 – $105,020	+26.9%+59.8% nominal
13	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,060	$59,220 – $139,690	+26.9%+59.8% nominal
14	Manicurists and PedicuristsPostsecondary nondegree award	$46,080	$35,230 – $77,420	+26.7%+59.6% nominal
15	Veterinary Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$55,810	$39,920 – $77,710	+26.0%+58.6% nominal
16	Home Health and Personal Care AidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,410	$37,650 – $53,120	+25.8%+58.4% nominal
17	Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee ShopNo formal educational credential	$40,720	$30,850 – $62,030	+25.7%+58.3% nominal
18	Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales AgentsBachelor's degree	$76,710	$49,700 – $170,640	+24.7%+57.0% nominal
19	Security GuardsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,500	$36,500 – $58,510	+24.6%+57.0% nominal
20	Automotive Body and Related RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,000	$40,920 – $92,700	+23.2%+55.2% nominal
21	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,810	$35,820 – $106,330	+22.8%+54.7% nominal
22	BartendersNo formal educational credential	$38,900	$31,200 – $68,980	+21.4%+52.9% nominal
23	Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$78,380	$49,720 – $96,870	+20.5%+51.7% nominal
24	Medical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$111,030	$69,720 – $205,870	+20.0%+51.2% nominal
25	Preschool Teachers, Except Special EducationAssociate's degree	$45,140	$35,680 – $63,550	+19.7%+50.7% nominal
26	Health Education SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$75,500	$54,430 – $111,860	+19.3%+50.2% nominal
27	Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,470	$42,280 – $63,670	+19.3%+50.3% nominal
28	Producers and DirectorsBachelor's degree	$87,460	$49,350 – $143,490	+19.1%+50.0% nominal
29	Crossing Guards and FlaggersNo formal educational credential	$47,110	$37,940 – $80,040	+18.8%+49.7% nominal
30	Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,180	$45,880 – $63,140	+18.5%+49.2% nominal
31	ChemistsBachelor's degree	$104,590	$70,320 – $157,700	+18.4%+49.1% nominal
32	Childcare WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,650	$32,580 – $46,450	+18.4%+49.1% nominal
33	Personal Financial AdvisorsBachelor's degree	$122,830	$54,940 – $459,050	+17.9%+48.5% nominal
34	Order ClerksSome college, no degree	$50,260	$39,960 – $72,040	+17.8%+48.3% nominal
35	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$91,910	$63,580 – $111,530	+16.8%+47.1% nominal
36	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$63,210	$53,270 – $72,440	+16.8%+47.1% nominal
37	Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender HelpersNo formal educational credential	$36,800	$31,200 – $45,810	+16.2%+46.3% nominal
38	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$80,470	$64,000 – $98,990	+15.9%+45.9% nominal
39	Nursing AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$49,830	$43,210 – $61,310	+15.7%+45.7% nominal
40	Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and DaycareBachelor's degree	$60,250	$43,680 – $87,800	+15.6%+45.5% nominal
41	RoofersNo formal educational credential	$58,970	$45,880 – $95,700	+15.2%+45.1% nominal
42	Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, RecordkeepingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,500	$39,160 – $60,040	+14.8%+44.6% nominal
43	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$86,970	$47,270 – $103,630	+14.4%+44.1% nominal
44	Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and TrimmersNo formal educational credential	$36,060	$35,640 – $45,360	+14.1%+43.7% nominal
45	Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,180	$35,730 – $59,740	+14.0%+43.6% nominal
46	Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and WallNo formal educational credential	$60,210	$35,660 – $80,140	+14.0%+43.6% nominal
47	Counter and Rental ClerksNo formal educational credential	$43,820	$34,860 – $78,070	+13.9%+43.4% nominal
48	Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,300	$31,220 – $59,530	+13.9%+43.5% nominal
49	Cooks, RestaurantNo formal educational credential	$43,100	$36,080 – $58,280	+13.9%+43.4% nominal
50	Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social WorkersMaster's degree	$68,210	$50,280 – $100,680	+13.9%+43.5% nominal

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.

Jobs that actually got a raise in Oregon

More for Oregon

Metro areas in Oregon

By field in Oregon

Without a degree

Jobs that actually got a raise in each state