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:
Where the paycheck goes
What $138K actually covers in Oregon, month by month
About lawyers
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
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 lawyers 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 annually. We'll email you when Oregon numbers change.
Related careers in Legal
Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
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 $4,521/month. At HUD’s $1,555/month FMR, rent would take 34% 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.