Lawyers Salary
Lawyers in Oregon make a median of $138,210 a year, or about $66.45 an hour. The range runs from $74K at the entry level to $264K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.44), that's roughly $134,918 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,555/month, or 19.1% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Oregon. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $138K get you in Oregon?
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What this looks like in Oregon
Pay for lawyers in Oregon runs about 13% below the U.S. median of $160K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,555/month, 20% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 102.44) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Lower pay, lower costs, Oregon can be a reasonable trade-off for lawyerss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Oregon
Entry-level lawyers (10th percentile) start around $74K. Mid-career wages sit at $138K. Top earners bring in $264K or more, a $190K spread from bottom to top.
Lawyers salary by metro in Oregon
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany | $163K | +18% | 50 |
| Salem | $156K | +13% | 780 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro | $155K | +12% | 5,170 |
| Medford | $128K | -7% | 170 |
| Bend | $124K | -10% | 300 |
| Corvallis | $124K | -11% | 70 |
| Eugene-Springfield | $112K | -19% | 420 |
| Grants Pass | $105K | -24% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track lawyers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Oregon numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a lawyer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Oregon?
Yes — at the median salary of $138K, rent takes 20% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,555/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for lawyers in Oregon?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new lawyers typically earn — is $74K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,417/month. At HUD’s $1,555/month FMR, rent would take 35% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is lawyer a high-paying job in Oregon?
Local pay runs 13% below the national median — $138K here vs. $160K nationally.
How does Oregon compare to the national average for lawyers?
Oregon pays $138K median vs. the U.S. average of $160K — that’s -13%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 102.44), the purchasing-power equivalent is $135K — below the national median.
How much do lawyers make in Oregon?
The median is $138,210 a year, that works out to about $66 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $73,610, and experienced lawyers can clear $263,790. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $138K enough to live in Oregon?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,794/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,555/month, which eats 20% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a lawyers salary go in Oregon?
Oregon has a Regional Price Parity of 102.44 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median lawyers salary is worth about $134,918 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do lawyers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.