Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Bend, OR

Each occupation's median wage in Bend, 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 Bend, OR pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

Cost of living: prices in Bend, OR run 3.6% above the national average (2024), so a Bend, OR 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.

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 Bend, OR

OccupationMedian, Bend, OR · vs. national

1Massage Therapists$94,580
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,380 – $108,390+61.8%
2Electricians$99,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,920 – $123,270+57.0%
3Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$92,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,370 – $113,030+44.7%
4Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists$51,640
Postsecondary nondegree award
$31,930 – $73,640+44.3%
5Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians$90,270
Bachelor's degree
$52,280 – $112,200+43.4%
6Waiters and Waitresses$50,480
No formal educational credential
$31,500 – $76,310+43.3%
7Marriage and Family Therapists$94,140
Master's degree
$60,060 – $165,190+40.6%
8Correctional Officers and Jailers$81,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$68,990 – $96,160+38.7%
9Sewing Machine Operators$50,830
No formal educational credential
$37,520 – $51,260+38.6%
10Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$132,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$65,620 – $159,820+38.5%
11Registered Nurses$135,010
Bachelor's degree
$93,660 – $158,530+38.4%
12Tree Trimmers and Pruners$70,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,250 – $89,950+37.9%
13Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$89,010
Associate's degree
$68,640 – $108,940+37.0%
14Substitute Teachers, Short-Term$56,600
Bachelor's degree
$56,600 – $62,490+35.8%
15Computer Programmers$132,280
Bachelor's degree
$94,590 – $148,680+31.8%
16Ophthalmic Medical Technicians$59,990
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,150 – $74,250+31.6%
17Dentists, General$224,990
Doctoral or professional degree
$142,600 – $340,430+31.6%
18Tire Repairers and Changers$48,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,530 – $54,990+29.5%
19Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$83,260
Postsecondary nondegree award
$60,520 – $97,610+29.3%
20Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$60,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,460 – $65,830+29.3%
21Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$103,350
Associate's degree
$76,450 – $125,520+29.0%
22Butchers and Meat Cutters$51,690
No formal educational credential
$36,700 – $60,150+28.8%
23Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors$60,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,580 – $117,890+28.6%
24Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop$40,090
No formal educational credential
$31,780 – $61,240+28.5%
25Rehabilitation Counselors$60,170
Master's degree
$42,080 – $86,460+28.4%
26Highway Maintenance Workers$64,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,680 – $70,320+28.2%
27Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists$84,930
Bachelor's degree
$61,730 – $100,500+28.2%
28Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing$55,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,660 – $59,440+27.7%
29Surveyors$96,240
Bachelor's degree
$67,890 – $130,490+27.6%
30Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$97,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$76,550 – $112,530+27.6%
31Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors$82,020
Master's degree
$60,620 – $128,010+27.5%
32Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors$75,470
Master's degree
$48,550 – $104,320+27.2%
33Court, Municipal, and License Clerks$61,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,070 – $78,790+26.7%
34Personal Financial Advisors$133,080
Bachelor's degree
$63,820 – $498,940+26.7%
35Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service$48,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,480 – $62,060+26.5%
36Recreation Workers$46,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,170 – $58,360+26.4%
37Manicurists and Pedicurists$45,130
Postsecondary nondegree award
$34,810 – $75,600+26.2%
38Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners$62,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,880 – $75,730+26.0%
39Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$62,330
No formal educational credential
$52,850 – $70,350+25.4%
40Public Safety Telecommunicators$66,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,800 – $83,190+24.5%
41Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$81,050
Bachelor's degree
$59,850 – $94,330+24.5%
42Pharmacy Technicians$56,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,320 – $62,200+24.5%
43Special Education Teachers, Middle School$83,110
Bachelor's degree
$47,320 – $94,330+24.4%
44Floral Designers$46,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,350 – $52,720+24.3%
45Surveying and Mapping Technicians$67,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,530 – $85,830+24.3%
46Bartenders$42,670
No formal educational credential
$31,720 – $66,340+24.3%
47Protective Service Workers, All Other$52,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,600 – $71,870+24.3%
48Dental Assistants$59,590
Postsecondary nondegree award
$43,900 – $73,030+24.0%
49Bus Drivers, School$59,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,030 – $62,320+23.8%
50Medical Records Specialists$62,980
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,730 – $76,800+23.2%

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

#	Occupation	MedianBend, OR	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$94,580	$47,380 – $108,390	+61.8%
2	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$99,200	$57,920 – $123,270	+57.0%
3	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$92,330	$59,370 – $113,030	+44.7%
4	Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and CosmetologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$51,640	$31,930 – $73,640	+44.3%
5	Clinical Laboratory Technologists and TechniciansBachelor's degree	$90,270	$52,280 – $112,200	+43.4%
6	Waiters and WaitressesNo formal educational credential	$50,480	$31,500 – $76,310	+43.3%
7	Marriage and Family TherapistsMaster's degree	$94,140	$60,060 – $165,190	+40.6%
8	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,770	$68,990 – $96,160	+38.7%
9	Sewing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$50,830	$37,520 – $51,260	+38.6%
10	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$132,010	$65,620 – $159,820	+38.5%
11	Registered NursesBachelor's degree	$135,010	$93,660 – $158,530	+38.4%
12	Tree Trimmers and PrunersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,250	$49,250 – $89,950	+37.9%
13	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$89,010	$68,640 – $108,940	+37.0%
14	Substitute Teachers, Short-TermBachelor's degree	$56,600	$56,600 – $62,490	+35.8%
15	Computer ProgrammersBachelor's degree	$132,280	$94,590 – $148,680	+31.8%
16	Ophthalmic Medical TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,990	$46,150 – $74,250	+31.6%
17	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$224,990	$142,600 – $340,430	+31.6%
18	Tire Repairers and ChangersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,820	$38,530 – $54,990	+29.5%
19	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$83,260	$60,520 – $97,610	+29.3%
20	Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,180	$45,460 – $65,830	+29.3%
21	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$103,350	$76,450 – $125,520	+29.0%
22	Butchers and Meat CuttersNo formal educational credential	$51,690	$36,700 – $60,150	+28.8%
23	Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness InstructorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,670	$33,580 – $117,890	+28.6%
24	Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee ShopNo formal educational credential	$40,090	$31,780 – $61,240	+28.5%
25	Rehabilitation CounselorsMaster's degree	$60,170	$42,080 – $86,460	+28.4%
26	Highway Maintenance WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,420	$43,680 – $70,320	+28.2%
27	Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$84,930	$61,730 – $100,500	+28.2%
28	Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except SawingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,400	$47,660 – $59,440	+27.7%
29	SurveyorsBachelor's degree	$96,240	$67,890 – $130,490	+27.6%
30	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$97,230	$76,550 – $112,530	+27.6%
31	Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and AdvisorsMaster's degree	$82,020	$60,620 – $128,010	+27.5%
32	Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health CounselorsMaster's degree	$75,470	$48,550 – $104,320	+27.2%
33	Court, Municipal, and License ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,690	$51,070 – $78,790	+26.7%
34	Personal Financial AdvisorsBachelor's degree	$133,080	$63,820 – $498,940	+26.7%
35	Switchboard Operators, Including Answering ServiceHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,880	$40,480 – $62,060	+26.5%
36	Recreation WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,230	$37,170 – $58,360	+26.4%
37	Manicurists and PedicuristsPostsecondary nondegree award	$45,130	$34,810 – $75,600	+26.2%
38	Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe CleanersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,840	$43,880 – $75,730	+26.0%
39	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$62,330	$52,850 – $70,350	+25.4%
40	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,040	$58,800 – $83,190	+24.5%
41	Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary SchoolBachelor's degree	$81,050	$59,850 – $94,330	+24.5%
42	Pharmacy TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,950	$49,320 – $62,200	+24.5%
43	Special Education Teachers, Middle SchoolBachelor's degree	$83,110	$47,320 – $94,330	+24.4%
44	Floral DesignersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,450	$33,350 – $52,720	+24.3%
45	Surveying and Mapping TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,410	$48,530 – $85,830	+24.3%
46	BartendersNo formal educational credential	$42,670	$31,720 – $66,340	+24.3%
47	Protective Service Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,870	$38,600 – $71,870	+24.3%
48	Dental AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,590	$43,900 – $73,030	+24.0%
49	Bus Drivers, SchoolHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,330	$46,030 – $62,320	+23.8%
50	Medical Records SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,980	$44,730 – $76,800	+23.2%

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

Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Bend, OR

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