Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Salem, OR

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

Cost of living: prices in Salem, OR run 3.6% above the national average (2024), so a Salem, OR salary is worth about 0.96× 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 Salem, OR

OccupationMedian, Salem, OR · vs. national

1Crossing Guards and Flaggers$62,990
No formal educational credential
$38,890 – $82,470+65.3%
2Massage Therapists$96,080
Postsecondary nondegree award
$62,670 – $117,490+64.4%
3Private Detectives and Investigators$81,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,170 – $93,620+58.3%
4Electricians$98,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,630 – $129,010+56.4%
5Public Safety Telecommunicators$78,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,490 – $95,860+48.8%
6Brickmasons and Blockmasons$92,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$64,400 – $99,070+48.3%
7Clinical and Counseling Psychologists$143,980
Doctoral or professional degree
$113,350 – $163,340+43.1%
8Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists$50,960
Postsecondary nondegree award
$33,780 – $69,960+42.4%
9Correctional Officers and Jailers$83,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$64,100 – $91,470+42.0%
10Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$134,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,750 – $157,200+41.1%
11Physicians, All Other$373,970
Doctoral or professional degree
$179,780 – $484,020+40.6%
12Tree Trimmers and Pruners$71,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,490 – $97,130+39.7%
13Waiters and Waitresses$48,720
No formal educational credential
$31,300 – $74,850+38.3%
14Glaziers$78,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,760 – $110,040+37.4%
15Social and Community Service Managers$110,210
Bachelor's degree
$64,990 – $150,820+37.1%
16Pharmacy Aides$51,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,360 – $62,150+36.9%
17Protective Service Workers, All Other$58,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,600 – $73,530+36.6%
18Surveyors$102,880
Bachelor's degree
$67,150 – $140,400+36.4%
19Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$81,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,510 – $94,960+35.7%
20Registered Nurses$131,750
Bachelor's degree
$101,180 – $157,970+35.1%
21Interpreters and Translators$80,960
Bachelor's degree
$51,620 – $101,020+34.6%
22Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors$78,870
Master's degree
$46,990 – $114,660+32.9%
23Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$86,200
Associate's degree
$58,320 – $115,480+32.7%
24Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$127,680
Associate's degree
$96,350 – $137,070+32.2%
25Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists$86,870
Bachelor's degree
$65,490 – $107,400+31.1%
26Conservation Scientists$95,470
Bachelor's degree
$70,300 – $115,480+30.8%
27Court, Municipal, and License Clerks$62,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,930 – $70,320+29.0%
28Clergy$78,220
Bachelor's degree
$37,140 – $105,090+28.6%
29Highway Maintenance Workers$64,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,920 – $70,320+28.4%
30Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists$98,110
Bachelor's degree
$57,640 – $113,350+27.8%
31Paramedics$77,460
Postsecondary nondegree award
$40,910 – $95,900+27.8%
32Postsecondary Teachers, All Other$98,840
Doctoral or professional degree
$51,880 – $210,840+27.3%
33First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$101,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$64,110 – $155,100+26.9%
34Respiratory Therapists$104,360
Associate's degree
$89,160 – $122,190+26.8%
35Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$101,580
Associate's degree
$77,280 – $123,610+26.8%
36Instructional Coordinators$98,060
Master's degree
$63,750 – $130,890+26.6%
37First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers$70,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,250 – $96,320+26.5%
38Home Health and Personal Care Aides$45,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,320 – $48,340+26.3%
39Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$80,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,330 – $97,700+26.3%
40Logging Equipment Operators$62,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,700 – $81,750+26.1%
41Manicurists and Pedicurists$44,850
Postsecondary nondegree award
$34,270 – $74,430+25.4%
42Social and Human Service Assistants$57,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,820 – $67,170+25.3%
43Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians$78,640
Bachelor's degree
$51,350 – $115,500+25.0%
44Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$62,020
No formal educational credential
$53,000 – $70,480+24.8%
45Cartographers and Photogrammetrists$101,350
Bachelor's degree
$71,050 – $119,100+24.5%
46First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$131,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$104,740 – $166,180+24.4%
47Dentists, General$212,310
Doctoral or professional degree
$151,040 – $349,290+24.2%
48Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$74,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,490 – $117,310+24.1%
49Electronic Equipment Installers and Repairers, Motor Vehicles$59,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,730 – $80,950+23.9%
50Education Administrators, Postsecondary$129,510
Master's degree
$76,500 – $183,260+23.8%

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

#	Occupation	MedianSalem, OR	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Crossing Guards and FlaggersNo formal educational credential	$62,990	$38,890 – $82,470	+65.3%
2	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$96,080	$62,670 – $117,490	+64.4%
3	Private Detectives and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,070	$57,170 – $93,620	+58.3%
4	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$98,850	$57,630 – $129,010	+56.4%
5	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,950	$57,490 – $95,860	+48.8%
6	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$92,110	$64,400 – $99,070	+48.3%
7	Clinical and Counseling PsychologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$143,980	$113,350 – $163,340	+43.1%
8	Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and CosmetologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$50,960	$33,780 – $69,960	+42.4%
9	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,690	$64,100 – $91,470	+42.0%
10	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$134,500	$58,750 – $157,200	+41.1%
11	Physicians, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$373,970	$179,780 – $484,020	+40.6%
12	Tree Trimmers and PrunersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,190	$48,490 – $97,130	+39.7%
13	Waiters and WaitressesNo formal educational credential	$48,720	$31,300 – $74,850	+38.3%
14	GlaziersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,420	$47,760 – $110,040	+37.4%
15	Social and Community Service ManagersBachelor's degree	$110,210	$64,990 – $150,820	+37.1%
16	Pharmacy AidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,590	$37,360 – $62,150	+36.9%
17	Protective Service Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,100	$38,600 – $73,530	+36.6%
18	SurveyorsBachelor's degree	$102,880	$67,150 – $140,400	+36.4%
19	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,500	$38,510 – $94,960	+35.7%
20	Registered NursesBachelor's degree	$131,750	$101,180 – $157,970	+35.1%
21	Interpreters and TranslatorsBachelor's degree	$80,960	$51,620 – $101,020	+34.6%
22	Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health CounselorsMaster's degree	$78,870	$46,990 – $114,660	+32.9%
23	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$86,200	$58,320 – $115,480	+32.7%
24	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$127,680	$96,350 – $137,070	+32.2%
25	Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$86,870	$65,490 – $107,400	+31.1%
26	Conservation ScientistsBachelor's degree	$95,470	$70,300 – $115,480	+30.8%
27	Court, Municipal, and License ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,830	$49,930 – $70,320	+29.0%
28	ClergyBachelor's degree	$78,220	$37,140 – $105,090	+28.6%
29	Highway Maintenance WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,550	$50,920 – $70,320	+28.4%
30	Zoologists and Wildlife BiologistsBachelor's degree	$98,110	$57,640 – $113,350	+27.8%
31	ParamedicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$77,460	$40,910 – $95,900	+27.8%
32	Postsecondary Teachers, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$98,840	$51,880 – $210,840	+27.3%
33	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$101,440	$64,110 – $155,100	+26.9%
34	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$104,360	$89,160 – $122,190	+26.8%
35	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$101,580	$77,280 – $123,610	+26.8%
36	Instructional CoordinatorsMaster's degree	$98,060	$63,750 – $130,890	+26.6%
37	First-Line Supervisors of Security WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,790	$46,250 – $96,320	+26.5%
38	Home Health and Personal Care AidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,200	$37,320 – $48,340	+26.3%
39	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,610	$48,330 – $97,700	+26.3%
40	Logging Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,740	$50,700 – $81,750	+26.1%
41	Manicurists and PedicuristsPostsecondary nondegree award	$44,850	$34,270 – $74,430	+25.4%
42	Social and Human Service AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,560	$41,820 – $67,170	+25.3%
43	Clinical Laboratory Technologists and TechniciansBachelor's degree	$78,640	$51,350 – $115,500	+25.0%
44	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$62,020	$53,000 – $70,480	+24.8%
45	Cartographers and PhotogrammetristsBachelor's degree	$101,350	$71,050 – $119,100	+24.5%
46	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$131,940	$104,740 – $166,180	+24.4%
47	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$212,310	$151,040 – $349,290	+24.2%
48	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,270	$56,490 – $117,310	+24.1%
49	Electronic Equipment Installers and Repairers, Motor VehiclesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,970	$46,730 – $80,950	+23.9%
50	Education Administrators, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$129,510	$76,500 – $183,260	+23.8%

More for Salem, OR

Other metro areas in OR

By field in Salem, OR

Without a degree

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

Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Salem, OR

More for Salem, OR

Other metro areas in OR

By field in Salem, OR

Without a degree

Jobs that pay the biggest premium in each state