Oregon RN Salary - How Much Do RNs Make in OR?

According to May 2018 data provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the state of Oregon employs 28,490 registered nurses. The average RN salary in Oregon is $80,440 or about $38.67 per hour. This is notably higher than the national average of $65,470 annually, or 32.56 an hour. This can partially be attributed to the high cost of living in this state. Living in Oregon costs about seven percent more than the national average.

Registered nurses in this state are paid a wide range of salaries. Those in the 25th percentile were paid under $67,890 in 2018, and ten percent of these nurses made under $58,200. The median annual salary was $80,360. An additional 25 percent made over $92,130, ten percent of which made over $105,710. The best way for registered nurses to maximize their potential earnings is to take advantage of educational opportunities and to gain experience in the field. Becoming certified in a specialty area can also lead to an increase in earning potential.

The highest average RN salary in Oregon can be found in the Portland-Vancouver-Beaverton area which also encompasses parts of Washington. This area employed 16,420 registered nurses at an average annual salary of $84,410. RNs with wages in the 75th percentile earned more than $95,810. Those with earnings in the 25th percentile earned less than $71,040. Some of this higher wage is offset by the higher cost of living, which is about seven percent above the national average. The unemployment rate is 7.3 percent, according to Forbes.

The metropolitan area with the lowest average RN salary is Medford, Oregon. As of the 2018, this area employed 1,850 registered nurses at an average annual salary of $77,660. The 90th percentile for RN salaries here was $96,200 and above. The 75th percentile was $89,150. Those with earnings in the 25th percentile made $67,420 or less, and those in the tenth percentile $59,700 or less. The cost of living in this area is about five percent below the national average, but the employment rate is nearly ten percent.

Resources

• https://www.forbes.com/places/or/portland/
• https://meric.mo.gov/data/cost-living-data-series
• https://www.forbes.com/places/or/medford/