Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Oregon

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

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 · vs. national

1Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists$57,580
Postsecondary nondegree award
$34,880 – $76,810+60.9%
2Electricians$101,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,550 – $131,530+60.3%
3Chief Executives$341,630
Bachelor's degree
$179,550 – $772,840+59.6%
4Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$97,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,230 – $147,100+52.1%
5Massage Therapists$86,970
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,270 – $103,630+48.8%
6Tree Trimmers and Pruners$75,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,220 – $94,470+48.0%
7Computer and Information Research Scientists$206,220
Master's degree
$117,570 – $351,690+47.0%
8Correctional Officers and Jailers$83,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$64,200 – $95,820+42.0%
9Substitute Teachers, Short-Term$58,280
Bachelor's degree
$54,870 – $74,290+39.9%
10Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$131,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$77,330 – $153,860+37.5%
11Waiters and Waitresses$48,410
No formal educational credential
$31,200 – $77,620+37.4%
12Marriage and Family Therapists$91,520
Master's degree
$60,060 – $165,190+36.7%
13Public Safety Telecommunicators$71,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,750 – $96,530+35.7%
14Psychiatric Technicians$59,820
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,570 – $73,530+32.6%
15Registered Nurses$129,010
Bachelor's degree
$95,280 – $155,010+32.3%
16Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians$83,010
Bachelor's degree
$49,260 – $117,640+31.9%
17Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$85,390
Associate's degree
$62,300 – $103,200+31.5%
18Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers$76,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,940 – $110,660+31.2%
19Physicians, All Other$347,180
Doctoral or professional degree
$110,120 – $441,530+30.6%
20Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop$40,720
No formal educational credential
$30,850 – $62,030+30.5%
21Highway Maintenance Workers$65,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,810 – $70,320+30.0%
22First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$103,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$64,450 – $154,170+29.0%
23Manicurists and Pedicurists$46,080
Postsecondary nondegree award
$35,230 – $77,420+28.9%
24Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists$84,920
Bachelor's degree
$62,960 – $107,400+28.1%
25Brickmasons and Blockmasons$79,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,550 – $102,400+27.9%
26Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$102,290
Associate's degree
$70,760 – $124,810+27.7%
27Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$63,210
No formal educational credential
$53,270 – $72,440+27.2%
28Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars$86,230
Associate's degree
$54,860 – $129,010+26.8%
29Tire Repairers and Changers$47,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,260 – $54,580+26.4%
30Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$75,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,580 – $101,280+26.0%
31Surgical Technologists$81,390
Postsecondary nondegree award
$59,930 – $97,330+25.9%
32Court, Municipal, and License Clerks$61,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,520 – $78,790+25.9%
33Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors$74,590
Master's degree
$49,860 – $102,830+25.7%
34Industrial Engineers$128,290
Bachelor's degree
$82,170 – $198,960+25.2%
35Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$80,470
Postsecondary nondegree award
$64,000 – $98,990+25.0%
36Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers$73,530
No formal educational credential
$36,460 – $114,670+24.8%
37Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$120,220
Associate's degree
$91,960 – $135,150+24.5%
38Dental Hygienists$122,080
Associate's degree
$104,530 – $134,120+24.4%
39Healthcare Social Workers$84,350
Master's degree
$60,480 – $111,720+24.3%
40Glaziers$70,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,760 – $109,740+24.2%
41Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors$58,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,390 – $101,380+24.1%
42Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$91,910
Postsecondary nondegree award
$63,580 – $111,530+24.1%
43Home Health and Personal Care Aides$44,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,650 – $53,120+24.1%
44Dentists, General$211,690
Doctoral or professional degree
$143,990 – $353,310+23.8%
45Dental Assistants$59,490
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,010 – $75,570+23.8%
46Crossing Guards and Flaggers$47,110
No formal educational credential
$37,940 – $80,040+23.6%
47Paramedics$74,840
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,850 – $95,900+23.5%
48Semiconductor Processing Technicians$63,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,720 – $80,510+23.1%
49Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$57,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,330 – $75,290+23.1%
50Loan Officers$94,440
Bachelor's degree
$48,240 – $161,250+23.1%

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	vs. national
1	Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and CosmetologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$57,580	$34,880 – $76,810	+60.9%
2	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$101,310	$59,550 – $131,530	+60.3%
3	Chief ExecutivesBachelor's degree	$341,630	$179,550 – $772,840	+59.6%
4	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$97,050	$58,230 – $147,100	+52.1%
5	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$86,970	$47,270 – $103,630	+48.8%
6	Tree Trimmers and PrunersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,440	$51,220 – $94,470	+48.0%
7	Computer and Information Research ScientistsMaster's degree	$206,220	$117,570 – $351,690	+47.0%
8	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,690	$64,200 – $95,820	+42.0%
9	Substitute Teachers, Short-TermBachelor's degree	$58,280	$54,870 – $74,290	+39.9%
10	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$131,090	$77,330 – $153,860	+37.5%
11	Waiters and WaitressesNo formal educational credential	$48,410	$31,200 – $77,620	+37.4%
12	Marriage and Family TherapistsMaster's degree	$91,520	$60,060 – $165,190	+36.7%
13	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,980	$53,750 – $96,530	+35.7%
14	Psychiatric TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,820	$44,570 – $73,530	+32.6%
15	Registered NursesBachelor's degree	$129,010	$95,280 – $155,010	+32.3%
16	Clinical Laboratory Technologists and TechniciansBachelor's degree	$83,010	$49,260 – $117,640	+31.9%
17	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$85,390	$62,300 – $103,200	+31.5%
18	Title Examiners, Abstractors, and SearchersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,930	$60,940 – $110,660	+31.2%
19	Physicians, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$347,180	$110,120 – $441,530	+30.6%
20	Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee ShopNo formal educational credential	$40,720	$30,850 – $62,030	+30.5%
21	Highway Maintenance WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,330	$50,810 – $70,320	+30.0%
22	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$103,070	$64,450 – $154,170	+29.0%
23	Manicurists and PedicuristsPostsecondary nondegree award	$46,080	$35,230 – $77,420	+28.9%
24	Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$84,920	$62,960 – $107,400	+28.1%
25	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,450	$52,550 – $102,400	+27.9%
26	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$102,290	$70,760 – $124,810	+27.7%
27	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$63,210	$53,270 – $72,440	+27.2%
28	Health Information Technologists and Medical RegistrarsAssociate's degree	$86,230	$54,860 – $129,010	+26.8%
29	Tire Repairers and ChangersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,650	$37,260 – $54,580	+26.4%
30	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,710	$48,580 – $101,280	+26.0%
31	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$81,390	$59,930 – $97,330	+25.9%
32	Court, Municipal, and License ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,300	$47,520 – $78,790	+25.9%
33	Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health CounselorsMaster's degree	$74,590	$49,860 – $102,830	+25.7%
34	Industrial EngineersBachelor's degree	$128,290	$82,170 – $198,960	+25.2%
35	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$80,470	$64,000 – $98,990	+25.0%
36	Drywall and Ceiling Tile InstallersNo formal educational credential	$73,530	$36,460 – $114,670	+24.8%
37	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$120,220	$91,960 – $135,150	+24.5%
38	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$122,080	$104,530 – $134,120	+24.4%
39	Healthcare Social WorkersMaster's degree	$84,350	$60,480 – $111,720	+24.3%
40	GlaziersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,890	$46,760 – $109,740	+24.2%
41	Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness InstructorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,510	$35,390 – $101,380	+24.1%
42	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$91,910	$63,580 – $111,530	+24.1%
43	Home Health and Personal Care AidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,410	$37,650 – $53,120	+24.1%
44	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$211,690	$143,990 – $353,310	+23.8%
45	Dental AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,490	$49,010 – $75,570	+23.8%
46	Crossing Guards and FlaggersNo formal educational credential	$47,110	$37,940 – $80,040	+23.6%
47	ParamedicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$74,840	$51,850 – $95,900	+23.5%
48	Semiconductor Processing TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,330	$48,720 – $80,510	+23.1%
49	Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,290	$41,330 – $75,290	+23.1%
50	Loan OfficersBachelor's degree	$94,440	$48,240 – $161,250	+23.1%

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 pay the biggest premium in Oregon

More for Oregon

Metro areas in Oregon

By field in Oregon

Without a degree

Jobs that pay the biggest premium in each state