Jobs that lost the most to inflation in Oregon

Every occupation here is paid more in dollars than it was in 2019 and less in what those dollars buy. Prices rose about 26% over the period; these wages did not keep up. Limited to occupations employing at least 50,000 people.

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

1Property Appraisers and Assessors$54,460
Bachelor's degree
$33,650 – $102,960-40.7%-25.3% nominal
2Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary$103,180
Doctoral or professional degree
$41,380 – $211,940-36.0%-19.4% nominal
3Postsecondary Teachers, All Other$72,440
Doctoral or professional degree
$47,460 – $165,000-31.6%-13.9% nominal
4Labor Relations Specialists$80,490
Bachelor's degree
$51,360 – $152,320-28.8%-10.4% nominal
5Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education$68,580
Bachelor's degree
$49,190 – $98,100-28.0%-9.4% nominal
6Cargo and Freight Agents$49,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,730 – $74,560-22.2%-2.0% nominal
7Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$56,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,300 – $83,640-21.9%-1.6% nominal
8Surveying and Mapping Technicians$55,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,330 – $78,960-21.5%-1.2% nominal
9Special Education Teachers, Secondary School$77,400
Bachelor's degree
$49,810 – $98,920-20.3%+0.3% nominal
10Firefighters$70,900
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,800 – $104,070-19.9%+0.9% nominal
11Special Education Teachers, All Other$82,240
Bachelor's degree
$58,820 – $136,490-19.9%+0.8% nominal
12Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$77,700
Bachelor's degree
$58,620 – $105,820-19.2%+1.8% nominal
13Instructional Coordinators$84,620
Master's degree
$58,550 – $130,890-18.5%+2.6% nominal
14Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks$40,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,360 – $71,180-16.3%+5.4% nominal
15Drafters, All Other$58,790
Associate's degree
$46,070 – $93,910-15.9%+5.9% nominal
16Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary$100,820
Doctoral or professional degree
$61,270 – $165,440-14.7%+7.4% nominal
17Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary$65,430
Bachelor's degree
$45,260 – $132,100-13.9%+8.4% nominal
18Real Estate Brokers$63,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,980 – $96,980-13.5%+8.9% nominal
19First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$100,260
Postsecondary nondegree award
$75,350 – $127,660-12.9%+9.7% nominal
20Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary$91,770
Doctoral or professional degree
$59,000 – $138,260-12.7%+9.9% nominal
21Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$78,350
Bachelor's degree
$49,360 – $100,250-12.2%+10.6% nominal
22Forest and Conservation Technicians$55,910
Associate's degree
$43,660 – $82,990-11.9%+11.0% nominal
23Paralegals and Legal Assistants$61,490
Associate's degree
$48,250 – $98,640-11.7%+11.2% nominal
24Credit Analysts$80,380
Bachelor's degree
$62,310 – $129,830-11.6%+11.3% nominal
25Healthcare Support Workers, All Other$47,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,340 – $63,960-11.4%+11.6% nominal
26Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary$76,770
Master's degree
$48,580 – $206,120-11.3%+11.7% nominal
27Conservation Scientists$80,790
Bachelor's degree
$61,110 – $130,400-11.0%+12.1% nominal
28Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$79,570
Bachelor's degree
$49,640 – $101,310-10.9%+12.2% nominal
29Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$77,130
Bachelor's degree
$48,500 – $103,540-10.2%+13.1% nominal
30Library Assistants, Clerical$42,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,160 – $50,560-10.1%+13.2% nominal
31Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary$80,060
Doctoral or professional degree
$46,350 – $146,700-10.0%+13.4% nominal
32Audio and Video Technicians$52,000
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,550 – $80,340-9.9%+13.4% nominal
33Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors$66,690
Master's degree
$50,190 – $119,780-9.7%+13.7% nominal
34Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other$34,870
No formal educational credential
$31,310 – $57,390-9.6%+13.8% nominal
35Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$60,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,900 – $83,370-9.6%+13.8% nominal
36Dentists, General$211,690
Doctoral or professional degree
$143,990 – $353,310-9.4%+14.1% nominal
37First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers$57,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,290 – $88,920-9.3%+14.2% nominal
38Construction and Building Inspectors$84,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,970 – $115,910-9.1%+14.4% nominal
39Pest Control Workers$46,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,890 – $59,270-8.9%+14.8% nominal
40Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks$50,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,600 – $65,790-8.9%+14.7% nominal
41Insurance Sales Agents$61,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,660 – $123,800-8.8%+14.8% nominal
42First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$61,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,060 – $92,390-8.4%+15.4% nominal
43Healthcare Social Workers$84,350
Master's degree
$60,480 – $111,720-8.0%+15.9% nominal
44Computer User Support Specialists$62,840
Some college, no degree
$47,930 – $94,310-7.1%+16.9% nominal
45Mechanical Engineers$103,470
Bachelor's degree
$78,100 – $162,550-6.8%+17.4% nominal
46Pharmacists$165,960
Doctoral or professional degree
$126,040 – $193,860-6.7%+17.5% nominal
47Foresters$81,450
Bachelor's degree
$60,600 – $107,170-6.7%+17.5% nominal
48Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$88,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$66,380 – $109,350-6.5%+17.7% nominal
49First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$122,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$96,670 – $151,920-6.5%+17.7% nominal
50Logisticians$83,180
Bachelor's degree
$52,610 – $133,840-6.2%+18.2% 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	Property Appraisers and AssessorsBachelor's degree	$54,460	$33,650 – $102,960	-40.7%-25.3% nominal
2	Health Specialties Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$103,180	$41,380 – $211,940	-36.0%-19.4% nominal
3	Postsecondary Teachers, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$72,440	$47,460 – $165,000	-31.6%-13.9% nominal
4	Labor Relations SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$80,490	$51,360 – $152,320	-28.8%-10.4% nominal
5	Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$68,580	$49,190 – $98,100	-28.0%-9.4% nominal
6	Cargo and Freight AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,420	$43,730 – $74,560	-22.2%-2.0% nominal
7	Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,810	$46,300 – $83,640	-21.9%-1.6% nominal
8	Surveying and Mapping TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,790	$44,330 – $78,960	-21.5%-1.2% nominal
9	Special Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$77,400	$49,810 – $98,920	-20.3%+0.3% nominal
10	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$70,900	$38,800 – $104,070	-19.9%+0.9% nominal
11	Special Education Teachers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$82,240	$58,820 – $136,490	-19.9%+0.8% nominal
12	Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary SchoolBachelor's degree	$77,700	$58,620 – $105,820	-19.2%+1.8% nominal
13	Instructional CoordinatorsMaster's degree	$84,620	$58,550 – $130,890	-18.5%+2.6% nominal
14	Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$40,570	$35,360 – $71,180	-16.3%+5.4% nominal
15	Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$58,790	$46,070 – $93,910	-15.9%+5.9% nominal
16	Biological Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$100,820	$61,270 – $165,440	-14.7%+7.4% nominal
17	Career/Technical Education Teachers, PostsecondaryBachelor's degree	$65,430	$45,260 – $132,100	-13.9%+8.4% nominal
18	Real Estate BrokersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,070	$44,980 – $96,980	-13.5%+8.9% nominal
19	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$100,260	$75,350 – $127,660	-12.9%+9.7% nominal
20	Mathematical Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$91,770	$59,000 – $138,260	-12.7%+9.9% nominal
21	Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$78,350	$49,360 – $100,250	-12.2%+10.6% nominal
22	Forest and Conservation TechniciansAssociate's degree	$55,910	$43,660 – $82,990	-11.9%+11.0% nominal
23	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$61,490	$48,250 – $98,640	-11.7%+11.2% nominal
24	Credit AnalystsBachelor's degree	$80,380	$62,310 – $129,830	-11.6%+11.3% nominal
25	Healthcare Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,510	$40,340 – $63,960	-11.4%+11.6% nominal
26	Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$76,770	$48,580 – $206,120	-11.3%+11.7% nominal
27	Conservation ScientistsBachelor's degree	$80,790	$61,110 – $130,400	-11.0%+12.1% nominal
28	Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$79,570	$49,640 – $101,310	-10.9%+12.2% nominal
29	Elementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$77,130	$48,500 – $103,540	-10.2%+13.1% nominal
30	Library Assistants, ClericalHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42,270	$33,160 – $50,560	-10.1%+13.2% nominal
31	Psychology Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$80,060	$46,350 – $146,700	-10.0%+13.4% nominal
32	Audio and Video TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$52,000	$36,550 – $80,340	-9.9%+13.4% nominal
33	Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and AdvisorsMaster's degree	$66,690	$50,190 – $119,780	-9.7%+13.7% nominal
34	Motor Vehicle Operators, All OtherNo formal educational credential	$34,870	$31,310 – $57,390	-9.6%+13.8% nominal
35	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,330	$44,900 – $83,370	-9.6%+13.8% nominal
36	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$211,690	$143,990 – $353,310	-9.4%+14.1% nominal
37	First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,940	$39,290 – $88,920	-9.3%+14.2% nominal
38	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$84,510	$60,970 – $115,910	-9.1%+14.4% nominal
39	Pest Control WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,570	$39,890 – $59,270	-8.9%+14.8% nominal
40	Insurance Claims and Policy Processing ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,890	$39,600 – $65,790	-8.9%+14.7% nominal
41	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,680	$44,660 – $123,800	-8.8%+14.8% nominal
42	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,540	$46,060 – $92,390	-8.4%+15.4% nominal
43	Healthcare Social WorkersMaster's degree	$84,350	$60,480 – $111,720	-8.0%+15.9% nominal
44	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$62,840	$47,930 – $94,310	-7.1%+16.9% nominal
45	Mechanical EngineersBachelor's degree	$103,470	$78,100 – $162,550	-6.8%+17.4% nominal
46	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$165,960	$126,040 – $193,860	-6.7%+17.5% nominal
47	ForestersBachelor's degree	$81,450	$60,600 – $107,170	-6.7%+17.5% nominal
48	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$88,140	$66,380 – $109,350	-6.5%+17.7% nominal
49	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$122,130	$96,670 – $151,920	-6.5%+17.7% nominal
50	LogisticiansBachelor's degree	$83,180	$52,610 – $133,840	-6.2%+18.2% 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 lost the most to inflation in Oregon

More for Oregon

Metro areas in Oregon

By field in Oregon

Without a degree

Jobs that lost the most to inflation in each state