Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA

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

Cost of living: prices in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA run 5.4% above the national average (2024), so a Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA salary is worth about 0.95× 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 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA

OccupationMedian, Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA · vs. national

1Chief Executives$375,810
Bachelor's degree
$191,880 – $772,850+75.6%
2Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists$59,610
Postsecondary nondegree award
$35,350 – $77,620+66.6%
3Electricians$105,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,360 – $134,380+66.3%
4Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$101,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,640 – $147,100+58.3%
5Structural Iron and Steel Workers$98,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,310 – $123,710+56.3%
6Waiters and Waitresses$54,780
No formal educational credential
$33,980 – $81,630+55.5%
7Public Safety Telecommunicators$81,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,140 – $99,490+53.0%
8Tree Trimmers and Pruners$75,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,220 – $90,830+48.3%
9Computer and Information Research Scientists$206,220
Master's degree
$131,020 – $351,690+47.0%
10Substitute Teachers, Short-Term$61,190
Bachelor's degree
$50,120 – $74,720+46.8%
11Massage Therapists$84,730
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,710 – $103,650+45.0%
12Firefighters$85,170
Postsecondary nondegree award
$58,250 – $110,570+43.7%
13Correctional Officers and Jailers$84,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$64,510 – $95,820+43.6%
14Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$135,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$79,650 – $161,180+41.9%
15First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$112,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$71,750 – $159,920+40.7%
16Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$83,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,690 – $101,290+39.7%
17Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$89,590
Bachelor's degree
$58,270 – $108,610+39.2%
18Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop$43,410
No formal educational credential
$33,180 – $63,690+39.1%
19Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers$81,100
No formal educational credential
$39,010 – $119,250+37.6%
20Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity$80,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,600 – $81,110+35.8%
21Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary$143,170
Master's degree
$74,850 – $180,540+35.2%
22Registered Nurses$130,310
Bachelor's degree
$97,180 – $155,650+33.6%
23Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$128,420
Associate's degree
$98,230 – $136,190+33.0%
24Bartenders$45,590
No formal educational credential
$33,470 – $73,600+32.8%
25Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$65,920
No formal educational credential
$60,830 – $76,310+32.7%
26Manicurists and Pedicurists$47,280
Postsecondary nondegree award
$35,860 – $77,110+32.2%
27Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$79,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,520 – $123,290+32.1%
28Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians$83,010
Bachelor's degree
$49,660 – $116,990+31.9%
29Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$75,090
No formal educational credential
$49,550 – $99,430+31.7%
30First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers$76,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,220 – $98,270+31.6%
31Brickmasons and Blockmasons$81,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,740 – $102,760+31.5%
32Library Assistants, Clerical$48,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,290 – $59,080+31.3%
33Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$104,810
Associate's degree
$71,070 – $125,850+30.8%
34Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$84,930
Associate's degree
$64,060 – $103,200+30.8%
35Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School$86,420
Bachelor's degree
$66,240 – $105,510+30.4%
36Highway Maintenance Workers$65,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,420 – $75,100+29.9%
37Bus Drivers, School$62,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,140 – $71,470+29.8%
38Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$83,510
Postsecondary nondegree award
$65,060 – $102,780+29.7%
39Tire Repairers and Changers$48,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,130 – $59,990+29.6%
40Butchers and Meat Cutters$51,980
No formal educational credential
$38,860 – $61,420+29.5%
41Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education$81,090
Bachelor's degree
$56,050 – $106,990+29.4%
42Glaziers$73,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,430 – $108,550+29.4%
43Sheet Metal Workers$79,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,980 – $127,450+28.8%
44Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$95,360
Postsecondary nondegree award
$73,480 – $123,300+28.7%
45Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$82,330
Bachelor's degree
$50,270 – $107,650+28.7%
46Pharmacy Technicians$58,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,620 – $71,370+28.1%
47Library Technicians$57,050
Postsecondary nondegree award
$41,660 – $64,260+28.0%
48Court, Municipal, and License Clerks$62,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,220 – $79,990+28.0%
49Skincare Specialists$57,930
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,420 – $106,190+27.8%
50Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$83,140
Bachelor's degree
$63,280 – $107,430+27.7%

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

#	Occupation	MedianPortland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Chief ExecutivesBachelor's degree	$375,810	$191,880 – $772,850	+75.6%
2	Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and CosmetologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,610	$35,350 – $77,620	+66.6%
3	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$105,090	$60,360 – $134,380	+66.3%
4	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$101,010	$57,640 – $147,100	+58.3%
5	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$98,120	$62,310 – $123,710	+56.3%
6	Waiters and WaitressesNo formal educational credential	$54,780	$33,980 – $81,630	+55.5%
7	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,160	$61,140 – $99,490	+53.0%
8	Tree Trimmers and PrunersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,570	$51,220 – $90,830	+48.3%
9	Computer and Information Research ScientistsMaster's degree	$206,220	$131,020 – $351,690	+47.0%
10	Substitute Teachers, Short-TermBachelor's degree	$61,190	$50,120 – $74,720	+46.8%
11	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$84,730	$50,710 – $103,650	+45.0%
12	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$85,170	$58,250 – $110,570	+43.7%
13	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$84,640	$64,510 – $95,820	+43.6%
14	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$135,300	$79,650 – $161,180	+41.9%
15	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$112,480	$71,750 – $159,920	+40.7%
16	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,860	$53,690 – $101,290	+39.7%
17	Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$89,590	$58,270 – $108,610	+39.2%
18	Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee ShopNo formal educational credential	$43,410	$33,180 – $63,690	+39.1%
19	Drywall and Ceiling Tile InstallersNo formal educational credential	$81,100	$39,010 – $119,250	+37.6%
20	Bus Drivers, Transit and IntercityHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,170	$57,600 – $81,110	+35.8%
21	Education Administrators, Kindergarten through SecondaryMaster's degree	$143,170	$74,850 – $180,540	+35.2%
22	Registered NursesBachelor's degree	$130,310	$97,180 – $155,650	+33.6%
23	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$128,420	$98,230 – $136,190	+33.0%
24	BartendersNo formal educational credential	$45,590	$33,470 – $73,600	+32.8%
25	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$65,920	$60,830 – $76,310	+32.7%
26	Manicurists and PedicuristsPostsecondary nondegree award	$47,280	$35,860 – $77,110	+32.2%
27	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,040	$59,520 – $123,290	+32.1%
28	Clinical Laboratory Technologists and TechniciansBachelor's degree	$83,010	$49,660 – $116,990	+31.9%
29	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$75,090	$49,550 – $99,430	+31.7%
30	First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,910	$55,220 – $98,270	+31.6%
31	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,700	$55,740 – $102,760	+31.5%
32	Library Assistants, ClericalHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,470	$37,290 – $59,080	+31.3%
33	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$104,810	$71,070 – $125,850	+30.8%
34	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$84,930	$64,060 – $103,200	+30.8%
35	Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$86,420	$66,240 – $105,510	+30.4%
36	Highway Maintenance WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,300	$54,420 – $75,100	+29.9%
37	Bus Drivers, SchoolHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,190	$50,140 – $71,470	+29.8%
38	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$83,510	$65,060 – $102,780	+29.7%
39	Tire Repairers and ChangersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,880	$38,130 – $59,990	+29.6%
40	Butchers and Meat CuttersNo formal educational credential	$51,980	$38,860 – $61,420	+29.5%
41	Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$81,090	$56,050 – $106,990	+29.4%
42	GlaziersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,860	$47,430 – $108,550	+29.4%
43	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,570	$49,980 – $127,450	+28.8%
44	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$95,360	$73,480 – $123,300	+28.7%
45	Elementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$82,330	$50,270 – $107,650	+28.7%
46	Pharmacy TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,590	$46,620 – $71,370	+28.1%
47	Library TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$57,050	$41,660 – $64,260	+28.0%
48	Court, Municipal, and License ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,350	$51,220 – $79,990	+28.0%
49	Skincare SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$57,930	$38,420 – $106,190	+27.8%
50	Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary SchoolBachelor's degree	$83,140	$63,280 – $107,430	+27.7%

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Without a degree

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

Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA

More for Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA

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