Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Medford, OR

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

Cost of living: prices in Medford, OR run 1.4% above the national average (2024), so a Medford, OR salary is worth about 0.99× 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 Medford, OR

OccupationMedian, Medford, OR · vs. national

1Chief Executives$615,500
Bachelor's degree
$179,550 – $711,640+187.6%
2Public Safety Telecommunicators$80,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,000 – $95,860+52.0%
3Protective Service Workers, All Other$62,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,300 – $68,590+46.7%
4Electricians$92,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,460 – $119,390+46.2%
5Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall$71,470
No formal educational credential
$40,870 – $129,260+45.5%
6Waiters and Waitresses$50,440
No formal educational credential
$30,640 – $72,790+43.2%
7Massage Therapists$82,370
Postsecondary nondegree award
$58,180 – $95,720+40.9%
8Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists$49,480
Postsecondary nondegree award
$31,580 – $70,440+38.3%
9Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$128,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,320 – $148,420+34.3%
10Substitute Teachers, Short-Term$55,580
Bachelor's degree
$54,680 – $77,740+33.4%
11Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists$87,780
Bachelor's degree
$63,720 – $87,780+32.5%
12Registered Nurses$127,030
Bachelor's degree
$98,520 – $149,370+30.2%
13Manicurists and Pedicurists$46,390
Postsecondary nondegree award
$34,170 – $56,700+29.7%
14Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians$81,370
Bachelor's degree
$44,520 – $114,090+29.3%
15Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers$75,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,440 – $101,490+28.8%
16Production Workers, All Other$51,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,370 – $55,370+28.3%
17Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$61,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,580 – $74,340+27.4%
18Pipelayers$62,370
No formal educational credential
$52,260 – $68,070+27.3%
19Chiropractors$100,170
Doctoral or professional degree
$61,310 – $155,540+26.5%
20Tire Repairers and Changers$47,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,140 – $48,860+26.4%
21Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$82,050
Associate's degree
$66,790 – $99,790+26.3%
22Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$62,730
No formal educational credential
$57,110 – $63,390+26.2%
23Home Health and Personal Care Aides$44,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,800 – $50,460+25.6%
24First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$117,270
Postsecondary nondegree award
$58,160 – $117,270+25.4%
25Respiratory Therapists$102,780
Associate's degree
$80,960 – $120,060+24.9%
26Bus Drivers, School$59,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,970 – $75,370+24.9%
27Highway Maintenance Workers$62,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,060 – $70,320+24.2%
28Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$78,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,880 – $105,110+22.9%
29Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$79,160
Postsecondary nondegree award
$62,260 – $94,200+22.9%
30Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$98,380
Associate's degree
$74,830 – $119,410+22.8%
31Butchers and Meat Cutters$49,210
No formal educational credential
$37,220 – $56,070+22.6%
32Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$78,190
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,410 – $101,080+22.4%
33Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary$78,010
Bachelor's degree
$38,510 – $133,710+22.2%
34Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$73,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,010 – $78,920+22.1%
35Medical and Health Services Managers$151,250
Bachelor's degree
$86,200 – $258,040+22.1%
36First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers$71,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,640 – $94,010+21.7%
37File Clerks$52,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,940 – $64,370+21.1%
38Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing$52,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,080 – $59,910+20.8%
39Court, Municipal, and License Clerks$58,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,860 – $70,320+20.7%
40Dentists, General$206,260
Doctoral or professional degree
$101,840 – $337,330+20.7%
41Pharmacy Technicians$54,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,530 – $65,300+20.0%
42Dental Assistants$57,300
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,120 – $61,640+19.2%
43Insurance Sales Agents$74,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,510 – $150,940+19.1%
44Parts Salespersons$45,930
No formal educational credential
$35,480 – $61,530+18.9%
45Healthcare Social Workers$80,590
Master's degree
$60,660 – $106,150+18.7%
46Surgical Technologists$76,720
Postsecondary nondegree award
$59,930 – $96,160+18.7%
47Loan Officers$90,850
Bachelor's degree
$51,290 – $167,260+18.5%
48First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$94,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,690 – $132,470+18.2%
49Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders$54,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,770 – $60,820+18.1%
50Nurse Practitioners$155,580
Master's degree
$124,470 – $179,420+17.6%

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

#	Occupation	MedianMedford, OR	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Chief ExecutivesBachelor's degree	$615,500	$179,550 – $711,640	+187.6%
2	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,620	$53,000 – $95,860	+52.0%
3	Protective Service Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,400	$45,300 – $68,590	+46.7%
4	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$92,410	$53,460 – $119,390	+46.2%
5	Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and WallNo formal educational credential	$71,470	$40,870 – $129,260	+45.5%
6	Waiters and WaitressesNo formal educational credential	$50,440	$30,640 – $72,790	+43.2%
7	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$82,370	$58,180 – $95,720	+40.9%
8	Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and CosmetologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$49,480	$31,580 – $70,440	+38.3%
9	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$128,030	$60,320 – $148,420	+34.3%
10	Substitute Teachers, Short-TermBachelor's degree	$55,580	$54,680 – $77,740	+33.4%
11	Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$87,780	$63,720 – $87,780	+32.5%
12	Registered NursesBachelor's degree	$127,030	$98,520 – $149,370	+30.2%
13	Manicurists and PedicuristsPostsecondary nondegree award	$46,390	$34,170 – $56,700	+29.7%
14	Clinical Laboratory Technologists and TechniciansBachelor's degree	$81,370	$44,520 – $114,090	+29.3%
15	Title Examiners, Abstractors, and SearchersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,560	$59,440 – $101,490	+28.8%
16	Production Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,460	$39,370 – $55,370	+28.3%
17	Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,830	$48,580 – $74,340	+27.4%
18	PipelayersNo formal educational credential	$62,370	$52,260 – $68,070	+27.3%
19	ChiropractorsDoctoral or professional degree	$100,170	$61,310 – $155,540	+26.5%
20	Tire Repairers and ChangersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,670	$37,140 – $48,860	+26.4%
21	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$82,050	$66,790 – $99,790	+26.3%
22	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$62,730	$57,110 – $63,390	+26.2%
23	Home Health and Personal Care AidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,950	$37,800 – $50,460	+25.6%
24	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$117,270	$58,160 – $117,270	+25.4%
25	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$102,780	$80,960 – $120,060	+24.9%
26	Bus Drivers, SchoolHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,850	$45,970 – $75,370	+24.9%
27	Highway Maintenance WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,430	$41,060 – $70,320	+24.2%
28	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,440	$45,880 – $105,110	+22.9%
29	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$79,160	$62,260 – $94,200	+22.9%
30	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$98,380	$74,830 – $119,410	+22.8%
31	Butchers and Meat CuttersNo formal educational credential	$49,210	$37,220 – $56,070	+22.6%
32	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$78,190	$49,410 – $101,080	+22.4%
33	Career/Technical Education Teachers, PostsecondaryBachelor's degree	$78,010	$38,510 – $133,710	+22.2%
34	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,270	$58,010 – $78,920	+22.1%
35	Medical and Health Services ManagersBachelor's degree	$151,250	$86,200 – $258,040	+22.1%
36	First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,130	$34,640 – $94,010	+21.7%
37	File ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,780	$41,940 – $64,370	+21.1%
38	Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except SawingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,390	$43,080 – $59,910	+20.8%
39	Court, Municipal, and License ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,790	$49,860 – $70,320	+20.7%
40	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$206,260	$101,840 – $337,330	+20.7%
41	Pharmacy TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,900	$44,530 – $65,300	+20.0%
42	Dental AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$57,300	$48,120 – $61,640	+19.2%
43	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,190	$47,510 – $150,940	+19.1%
44	Parts SalespersonsNo formal educational credential	$45,930	$35,480 – $61,530	+18.9%
45	Healthcare Social WorkersMaster's degree	$80,590	$60,660 – $106,150	+18.7%
46	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$76,720	$59,930 – $96,160	+18.7%
47	Loan OfficersBachelor's degree	$90,850	$51,290 – $167,260	+18.5%
48	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$94,440	$62,690 – $132,470	+18.2%
49	Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,850	$47,770 – $60,820	+18.1%
50	Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree	$155,580	$124,470 – $179,420	+17.6%

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

Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Medford, OR

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