ocity
💰 COL Index: 107 — Near Avg Cost

Salaries in Portland, OR

Modeled occupation planning estimates with gross-pay and cost-context formulas.

Model generated 2026-02-25 · Methodology reviewed July 16, 2026 · 40 selected occupations

Selected-Role Model Average
$71,148
unweighted modeled medians; not a worker average
Purchasing-Power Model
$66,743
model average ÷ 106.6 × 100
Highest Modeled Role
Marketing Manager
$160,740
City 1BR Rent Reference
$1,776
monthly context; not a current quote

What does the salary model mean for Portland?

$71,148 is the unweighted arithmetic average of the modeled medians for these 40 selected occupations. It is not an official mean or median for all local workers.

Model average$71,148/year
Gross monthly equivalent$5,929/month
Household income context$86,057

Keep the measures separate: gross monthly salary is before taxes and deductions; household income can include multiple earners; the selected-role model average is not weighted by local employment.

🏆 Highest Modeled Values in This 40-Role Set

Ranked by modeled annual occupation median. These are planning estimates, not direct local OEWS rows.

🥇 +2% vs national

Marketing Manager

$160,740
💡 Purchasing-power model $150,788
⏱ Hourly modeled equivalent $77.28/hr
National projected growth +8.0%
Career Guide → Best Cities →
🥈 +2% vs national

Pharmacist

$138,723
💡 Purchasing-power model $130,134
⏱ Hourly modeled equivalent $66.69/hr
National projected growth -3.0%
Career Guide → Best Cities →
🥉 +2% vs national

Software Developer

$129,779
💡 Purchasing-power model $121,744
⏱ Hourly modeled equivalent $62.39/hr
National projected growth +17.0%
Career Guide → Best Cities →
4️⃣ +2% vs national

Construction Manager

$110,352
💡 Purchasing-power model $103,520
⏱ Hourly modeled equivalent $53.05/hr
National projected growth +8.0%
Career Guide → Best Cities →
5️⃣ +2% vs national

Project Manager

$103,285
💡 Purchasing-power model $96,890
⏱ Hourly modeled equivalent $49.66/hr
National projected growth +6.0%
Career Guide → Best Cities →

📋 Complete Salary Guide — All 40 Occupations in Portland

Purchasing-power equivalent = modeled annual median divided by the planning cost index (106.6/100). It does not estimate taxes or take-home pay. This city cost reference is above 100.

Showing all 40 occupations.

#
1 Marketing Manager $160,740
2 Pharmacist $138,723
3 Software Developer $129,779
4 Construction Manager $110,352
5 Project Manager $103,285
6 Physical Therapist $101,684
7 Financial Analyst $100,970
8 Web Developer $94,586
9 Dental Hygienist $89,263
10 Accountant $87,784
11 Registered Nurse $87,774
12 Data Analyst $85,010
13 Insurance Agent $81,522
14 Loan Officer $77,708
15 Police Officer $76,393
16 Human Resources Specialist $68,989
17 Elementary School Teacher $64,930
18 Plumber $64,604
19 Paralegal $63,992
20 Electrician $62,768
21 Real Estate Agent $62,697
22 Graphic Designer $62,554
23 Social Worker $62,065
24 Chef/Head Cook $61,544
25 Firefighter $58,250
26 Carpenter $58,047
27 HVAC Technician $56,772
28 Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) $55,701
29 Heavy Truck Driver $54,141
30 Welder $50,571
31 Auto Mechanic $49,276
32 Personal Trainer $47,604
33 Dental Assistant $45,707
34 Veterinary Technician $43,586
35 Pharmacy Technician $41,097
36 Cosmetologist $39,129
37 Medical Assistant $39,027
38 Security Guard $36,855
39 Nursing Assistant (CNA) $36,468
40 Nail Technician $34,010

OCity planning estimates. National occupation references are inputs; displayed city values are modeled rather than direct local BLS occupation rows.

Portland salary model: formulas, sources and limitations

Stored occupation model comparison

modeled estimate ÷ stored national reference = row comparison

On this owner, estimate-to-reference ratios are approximately 1.020×. Ratios can vary by occupation, so this is not described as one citywide multiplier or a direct local OEWS download.

Purchasing-power equivalent

modeled estimate ÷ 106.6 × 100

This comparison does not estimate taxes or take-home pay and is not an official BLS adjustment.

Limitations. “Average” is unweighted across selected occupations. Growth fields are national occupation projections, not local forecasts. City and metro geographies can differ. Repeated stored employment counts are not presented as local jobs.
BLS OEWS methodologyBLS national projectionsCensus/ACS income context

Model generated 2026-02-25; methodology reviewed July 16, 2026.

🏙️ Living Costs in Portland

🏠
1BR Rent
$1,776/mo
🏡
2BR Rent
$2,024/mo
🏘️
Median Home
$500,000
📉
Unemployment
4.0%
💳
Median Income
$86,057
🎓
College Educated
55%
🚶
Walk Score
65/100
📊
Cost of Living
107
Near Avg Cost
📊 Full Cost of Living Breakdown → 🏠 Real Estate Market →

🧮 Test Your Portland Budget

Use scenario tools to compare gross pay and city cost context. Results depend on the inputs and do not guarantee take-home pay, housing approval or affordability.

💰 Decode a Job Offer 🔄 Salary Equivalence Calculator 🔍 Career Arbitrage Tool

❓ Portland Salary FAQ

What does the average salary in Portland mean on this page?

▼
$71,148 is the unweighted arithmetic average of the modeled medians for 40 selected occupations. It is not an official mean or median for all Portland workers.

What is the monthly salary estimate in Portland?

▼
The selected-occupation model average equals about $5,929 per month before taxes and deductions. This gross arithmetic conversion is not take-home pay or household income.

What is a good salary in Portland?

▼
There is no universal threshold. Household size, current housing quotes, taxes, debt, benefits, transportation and other recurring costs determine fit. The figures here are planning references, not affordability guarantees.

Are these direct local BLS salary observations for Portland?

▼
No. Each stored city planning estimate is compared with its stored national occupation reference. The estimate-to-reference relationship is approximately 1.020×; it is not represented as one universal city multiplier or a direct local BLS observation.

📝 Planning Takeaways for Portland

Use the occupation rows to compare modeled gross-pay references, not to predict an offer. Validate the exact role, experience level, employer, benefits and location. Then model taxes and current household costs before making a relocation or career decision.

Career Decisions

Make your salary work in Portland

salary

Is $60K a Good Salary in 2026? It Depends Where You Live

In some cities $60K makes you comfortable, in others you're barely scraping by — the data tells the full story

salary

Where Accountants Earn the Most After Cost of Living (2026)

Raw accountant salary is misleading — here's where the pay goes FURTHEST after rent and groceries

salary

10 Best Affordable Cities for Artists and Creatives (2026)

Where creative careers actually pay the rent — without the NYC or LA price tag

Career Guides →Cost of Living →Housing Market →Neighborhood Guide →

Explore Portland Further

🏙️ Portland City Overview 💰 Cost of Living 🏠 Real Estate 📊 Browse Salaries by City 💼 All Career Guides 🏘️ Neighborhood Guide 🔍 Career Arbitrage