The highest paying jobs in Oregon include surgeons ($280K+), psychiatrists ($240K+), orthodontists ($230K+), and chief executives ($200K+). These roles require advanced degrees and extensive experience. High-paying technical roles like software architects and petroleum engineers also rank among the top, earning over $150K annually.
Oregon’s growing economy offers high-income career opportunities across various industries, including healthcare, technology, engineering, and law enforcement. Whether you’re planning a long-term career or considering relocation, understanding where the highest paying jobs in Oregon are can help you make smarter job decisions.
Overview of the Highest Paying Jobs in Oregon
Oregon’s top-paying careers are mostly in healthcare, executive management, and advanced engineering. These roles often require a post-secondary non-degree award, graduate-level education, or years of industry experience. According to recent labor statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Oregon’s professionals in medicine, tech, and finance regularly earn six-figure salaries.
Jobs like nurse anesthetists and psychiatrists top state income charts, while roles such as electrical and electronics repairers, claims adjusters, and fire inspectors also offer strong wages in technical fields.
Some top jobs in the state include:
- Software Architects: Technology professionals earn over $138K annually.
- Power Plant Operators: Vital roles in energy and electrical systems command high hourly wages.
- Federal Agents and Criminal Investigators: Law enforcement roles, especially detectives and sheriff-level positions, pay competitively.
Salaries are influenced by location, employer size, industry demand, and role-specific training requirements.
Top 10 Highest Paying Jobs in Oregon (with Salaries)
The table below shows a ranked overview of Oregon’s top-earning professions. All data reflects averages across industries and highlights where each position is typically found.
Highest Paying Jobs in Oregon
| Job Title | Median/Avg Annual Salary (USD) | Hourly Wage (USD) | Notes / Location Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psychiatrist | $315,586 | $151.55 | Top medical specialty, high demand |
| Orthodontist | $276,826 | $133.06 | Dental specialty, high pay |
| Surgeon | $255,095 | $122.67 | Surgical specialties, high responsibility |
| Orthopedist | $134,663 | $64.72 | Medical specialty |
| Federal Agent | $118,830 | $57.12 | Law enforcement, federal level |
| Software Architect | $138,351 | $66.49 | High-tech industry, software design |
| Loan Officer | $189,735 | $91.18 | Finance sector, lending roles |
| Radiologist | $170,220 | $81.84 | Medical imaging specialty |
| Marketing Manager | $165,000 | $79.33 | Corporate roles, Portland area |
| Computer and Information Research Scientist | $169,510 | $81.50 | Tech research, innovation |
Additional top-paying roles include dentists, airline pilots, nurse anesthetists, pharmacists, and specialists in deep learning and AI development. Engineers in electrical and plumbing sectors also earn high wages.
Industries That Offer the Best Salaries in Oregon
Healthcare and technology dominate Oregon’s top-paying industries. Physicians, dentists, and specialized medical professionals remain highly compensated due to skill scarcity and increasing patients demand.
High-Paying Industries:
- Healthcare: Includes psychiatrists, nurse anesthetists, radiologists, and orthodontists.
- Technology: Software architects, AI engineers, and computer network specialists lead here.
- Finance and Insurance: Loan officers, claims adjusters, and financial controllers perform well.
- Public Safety: Jobs for police, detectives, and criminal investigators show strong average wages.
- Energy: Electrical power line installers, tower operators, and substation technicians earn above-average rates.
In construction and maintenance, roles like plumbers, pipefitters, and insulation workers in commercial settings also provide higher-than-average income.
Education and Experience Requirements for Top Jobs
Most high-paying jobs in Oregon require advanced education, specialized certifications, or several years of experience.
Educational Requirements:
- Medical Fields: MD or DO for doctors, DDS or DMD for dentists, and CRNA for nurse anesthetists.
- Tech Fields: Bachelor’s or master’s degree in computer science or engineering. Some roles accept self-taught professionals with proven portfolios.
- Trade and Repair: Certification or a postsecondary nondegree award for repairers, crane operators, and powerhouse workers.
Certain fields, such as federal security roles or first line supervisors, require law enforcement academy training and security clearance.
Soft skills such as communication, adaptability, and the ability to educate patients or assist clients remain essential. In customer-facing sectors, this directly influences pay and career progression.
Regional Differences in High Salaries Across Oregon
Salaries vary across Oregon due to cost of living and employment density.
Key Regional Trends:
- Portland Metro: Highest concentration of tech, finance, and corporate jobs.
- Eugene and Salem: Strong in education, transportation, and government sectors.
- Bend and Medford: Growing tech presence with lower average cost of living.
- Coastal Towns: More seasonal and tourism-focused jobs, fewer high-end salaries.
Professionals in commercial energy, law enforcement, or large factories may find higher wages in eastern and central Oregon where demand outweighs supply.
Remote work has expanded options, allowing residents to work for out-of-state companies while living in lower-cost areas within Oregon.
Job Outlook and Demand for High-Paying Roles
Healthcare and tech are projected to remain dominant through 2035, based on Bureau projections.
High-Demand Careers:
- Healthcare: As Oregon’s population ages, demand for doctors, therapists, and medical examiners will increase.
- Technology: AI, cybersecurity, and cloud computing roles will grow in demand and complexity.
- Law Enforcement: Oregon continues to recruit and train patrol officers and investigators due to retirements and population increases.
Automation-Resistant Jobs:
- Human-centric roles like therapy, patient care, or law enforcement are hard to automate.
- Skilled trades like electrical repair, system control, or heavy equipment maintenance are future-proof.
With industries adapting to new networks, systems, and digital infrastructure, Oregon’s job market remains competitive, especially in innovation-focused fields.
How to Get Started in a High-Paying Career in Oregon
Securing a high-paying job in Oregon takes strategic planning. Start by identifying your target field and matching its requirements.
Steps to Start:
- Obtain Necessary Education: Choose in-demand degrees (healthcare, engineering, data science).
- Gain Certifications: OSHA, CompTIA, CFA, PMP, or electronics repairers certs add strong value.
- Build Experience: Internships, apprenticeships, or part-time roles improve resumes.
- Use Local Resources: Tap into the Oregon Employment Department, university career services, and online portals.
- Network Strategically: Join professional organizations and attend state industry events.
Remote workers should research companies that allow flexibility while maintaining competitive pay structures.
Most Popular Questions About High-Paying Jobs in Oregon
These are the questions we get asked the most about top careers and salaries in Oregon.
How does the cost of living in Oregon cities affect the real value of these high salaries?
While Portland offers some of Oregon’s highest salaries, its cost of living is also high. Cities like Salem or Eugene offer slightly lower salaries but better purchasing power, especially in housing and utilities.
Are there emerging industries in Oregon that could offer high-paying jobs soon?
Yes. AI development, green energy, and biotechnology are fast-growing in Oregon. These sectors are creating new job types with six-figure potential, particularly in Portland’s startup ecosystem.
How important is advanced education for accessing Oregon’s highest paying jobs?
Many top roles—like physicians, engineers, and pharmacists—require graduate degrees. However, several tech positions and trades value certifications and experience over traditional degrees.
What is the job market outlook for high-paying healthcare roles in Oregon?
Healthcare demand is rising due to Oregon’s aging population. Roles for nurse anesthetists, surgeons, and radiologists are expanding in both urban and rural areas.
Do remote work opportunities impact salary potential in Oregon’s tech sector?
Yes. Remote work allows Oregon residents to earn wages aligned with San Francisco or Seattle companies. However, some employers adjust compensation based on where you live, which can influence actual earnings.
How do seasonal industries (like tourism in Oregon) influence high-paying job availability?
Seasonal industries tend to offer variable pay. While not always among the highest paying jobs, tourism-related management or specialty roles can supplement income during peak periods like summer or ski season.
Additional Industry Insights on High-Paying Oregon Careers
Oregon’s top-paying sectors also include highly technical and infrastructure-supporting roles that often go unnoticed. Jobs like electronics installers and fire inspectors are critical to public and workplace safety, often requiring certification or a high school diploma and yielding strong pay.
Professionals in substation maintenance and energy distribution work in tandem with powerhouse technicians and crane operators to ensure energy networks run without failure. These employees must adjust large-scale systems, interpret real-time data, and respond quickly to outages or disruptions.
In healthcare, educate patients practices are vital for dentists and hygienists alike. While teeth cleaning and X-rays are common procedures, specialists and examiners focus on long-term care, disease prevention, and accurate diagnoses.
The claims adjusters who work with insurance companies also play a key role. They evaluate damages, interview customers, and finalize repair cost estimates, often collaborating with forensic examiners and criminal investigators in complex cases.
Finally, fields like electronics repairers and dentists continue to offer job security and high wages, provided you complete the necessary credentials and develop in-demand, hands-on skills.
