Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Albany, OR

Each occupation's median wage in Albany, OR compared against the national median for the same occupation. Unlike a cost-of-living adjustment — which scales every job in a state by the same constant and so cannot change their order — this genuinely re-ranks, and it shows where Albany, OR pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

Cost of living: prices in Albany, OR run 2.1% above the national average (2024), so a Albany, OR salary is worth about 0.98× 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 Albany, OR

OccupationMedian, Albany, OR · vs. national

1Protective Service Workers, All Other$70,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,820 – $73,530+65.0%
2Electricians$100,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,370 – $123,500+58.6%
3Coaches and Scouts$66,520
Bachelor's degree
$34,630 – $106,710+40.6%
4Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$81,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,210 – $81,190+39.9%
5Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other$68,700
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,730 – $88,730+36.6%
6Highway Maintenance Workers$68,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,430 – $74,840+36.5%
7Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$128,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$69,550 – $154,170+35.0%
8Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians$84,850
Bachelor's degree
$59,220 – $109,260+34.8%
9Waiters and Waitresses$47,440
No formal educational credential
$30,470 – $74,280+34.7%
10Helpers--Production Workers$52,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,900 – $67,550+33.8%
11Substitute Teachers, Short-Term$55,740
Bachelor's degree
$41,600 – $75,130+33.8%
12Self-Enrichment Teachers$62,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,090 – $92,520+33.3%
13Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors$78,910
Master's degree
$50,240 – $122,510+33.0%
14Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$84,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,790 – $103,730+32.6%
15Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$64,210
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,930 – $81,990+31.7%
16Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing$56,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,550 – $61,800+29.5%
17Public Safety Telecommunicators$68,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,560 – $76,940+28.7%
18Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$62,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,900 – $82,280+28.6%
19Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters$65,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,670 – $96,230+27.4%
20Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$63,210
No formal educational credential
$53,910 – $70,500+27.2%
21Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$63,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,590 – $98,580+26.9%
22Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$64,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,630 – $87,050+26.6%
23Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers$74,980
Master's degree
$54,740 – $96,910+24.4%
24Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$91,910
Postsecondary nondegree award
$63,300 – $103,370+24.1%
25Physicians, All Other$329,720
Doctoral or professional degree
$218,760 – $362,650+24.0%
26Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$79,610
Postsecondary nondegree award
$61,300 – $94,170+23.6%
27Industrial Machinery Mechanics$79,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,370 – $97,830+23.6%
28Production Workers, All Other$49,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,450 – $56,660+23.4%
29Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$98,660
Associate's degree
$69,470 – $123,960+23.2%
30Court, Municipal, and License Clerks$59,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,510 – $64,130+21.9%
31Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$56,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,430 – $84,290+21.8%
32Machinists$71,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,170 – $91,930+21.4%
33Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators$64,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,650 – $74,070+21.3%
34Tire Repairers and Changers$45,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,060 – $51,360+20.1%
35Dentists, General$204,310
Doctoral or professional degree
$137,750 – $309,920+19.5%
36Dental Assistants$57,180
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,350 – $62,340+19.0%
37Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary$125,910
Master's degree
$76,530 – $155,070+18.9%
38First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Workers$57,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,800 – $60,950+18.5%
39Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents$93,070
Bachelor's degree
$49,140 – $164,820+18.3%
40Social and Community Service Managers$95,120
Bachelor's degree
$61,940 – $136,990+18.3%
41Butchers and Meat Cutters$47,430
No formal educational credential
$35,010 – $57,760+18.2%
42Real Estate Sales Agents$62,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,330 – $78,420+17.8%
43Home Health and Personal Care Aides$42,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,890 – $48,720+17.7%
44Metal Workers and Plastic Workers, All Other$54,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,720 – $79,630+17.6%
45Loan Officers$90,030
Bachelor's degree
$46,190 – $156,920+17.4%
46Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$47,150
No formal educational credential
$35,570 – $56,480+17.2%
47Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$62,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,980 – $78,310+16.8%
48Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop$36,320
No formal educational credential
$30,430 – $58,760+16.4%
49First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$92,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,890 – $138,600+16.2%
50Logging Equipment Operators$57,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,460 – $75,990+16.0%

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

#	Occupation	MedianAlbany, OR	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Protective Service Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,180	$51,820 – $73,530	+65.0%
2	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$100,230	$61,370 – $123,500	+58.6%
3	Coaches and ScoutsBachelor's degree	$66,520	$34,630 – $106,710	+40.6%
4	Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,190	$47,210 – $81,190	+39.9%
5	Health Technologists and Technicians, All OtherPostsecondary nondegree award	$68,700	$46,730 – $88,730	+36.6%
6	Highway Maintenance WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,600	$59,430 – $74,840	+36.5%
7	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$128,690	$69,550 – $154,170	+35.0%
8	Clinical Laboratory Technologists and TechniciansBachelor's degree	$84,850	$59,220 – $109,260	+34.8%
9	Waiters and WaitressesNo formal educational credential	$47,440	$30,470 – $74,280	+34.7%
10	Helpers--Production WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,290	$38,900 – $67,550	+33.8%
11	Substitute Teachers, Short-TermBachelor's degree	$55,740	$41,600 – $75,130	+33.8%
12	Self-Enrichment TeachersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,400	$33,090 – $92,520	+33.3%
13	Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health CounselorsMaster's degree	$78,910	$50,240 – $122,510	+33.0%
14	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$84,620	$46,790 – $103,730	+32.6%
15	Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,210	$43,930 – $81,990	+31.7%
16	Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except SawingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,180	$38,550 – $61,800	+29.5%
17	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,280	$55,560 – $76,940	+28.7%
18	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,460	$44,900 – $82,280	+28.6%
19	Structural Metal Fabricators and FittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,420	$48,670 – $96,230	+27.4%
20	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$63,210	$53,910 – $70,500	+27.2%
21	Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,800	$47,590 – $98,580	+26.9%
22	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,170	$44,630 – $87,050	+26.6%
23	Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social WorkersMaster's degree	$74,980	$54,740 – $96,910	+24.4%
24	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$91,910	$63,300 – $103,370	+24.1%
25	Physicians, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$329,720	$218,760 – $362,650	+24.0%
26	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$79,610	$61,300 – $94,170	+23.6%
27	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,730	$54,370 – $97,830	+23.6%
28	Production Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,480	$36,450 – $56,660	+23.4%
29	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$98,660	$69,470 – $123,960	+23.2%
30	Court, Municipal, and License ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,370	$44,510 – $64,130	+21.9%
31	Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,410	$45,430 – $84,290	+21.8%
32	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,300	$46,170 – $91,930	+21.4%
33	Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,690	$59,650 – $74,070	+21.3%
34	Tire Repairers and ChangersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,280	$37,060 – $51,360	+20.1%
35	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$204,310	$137,750 – $309,920	+19.5%
36	Dental AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$57,180	$48,350 – $62,340	+19.0%
37	Education Administrators, Kindergarten through SecondaryMaster's degree	$125,910	$76,530 – $155,070	+18.9%
38	First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,570	$39,800 – $60,950	+18.5%
39	Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales AgentsBachelor's degree	$93,070	$49,140 – $164,820	+18.3%
40	Social and Community Service ManagersBachelor's degree	$95,120	$61,940 – $136,990	+18.3%
41	Butchers and Meat CuttersNo formal educational credential	$47,430	$35,010 – $57,760	+18.2%
42	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,220	$33,330 – $78,420	+17.8%
43	Home Health and Personal Care AidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42,120	$36,890 – $48,720	+17.7%
44	Metal Workers and Plastic Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,020	$35,720 – $79,630	+17.6%
45	Loan OfficersBachelor's degree	$90,030	$46,190 – $156,920	+17.4%
46	Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, HandNo formal educational credential	$47,150	$35,570 – $56,480	+17.2%
47	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,790	$46,980 – $78,310	+16.8%
48	Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee ShopNo formal educational credential	$36,320	$30,430 – $58,760	+16.4%
49	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$92,810	$59,890 – $138,600	+16.2%
50	Logging Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,700	$48,460 – $75,990	+16.0%

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

Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Albany, OR

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