Lighting Technicians Salary
Lighting Technicians in Oregon make a median of $57,900 a year, or about $27.84 an hour. The range runs from $47K at the entry level to $102K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.44), that's roughly $56,521 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,555/month, about 41.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Oregon. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $58K get you in Oregon?
About lighting technicians
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What this looks like in Oregon
Pay for lighting technicians in Oregon runs about 15% below the U.S. median of $68K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,555/month, which is 42.4% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 102.44) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for lighting technicianss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Oregon
Entry-level lighting technicians (10th percentile) start around $47K. Mid-career wages sit at $58K. Top earners bring in $102K or more, a $55K spread from bottom to top.
Lighting Technicians salary by metro in Oregon
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro | $58K | +1% | 140 |
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Oregon numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a lighting technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Oregon?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $58K, rent takes 42.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,555/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,100/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for lighting technicians in Oregon?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new lighting technicians typically earn — is $47K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,808/month. At HUD’s $1,555/month FMR, rent would take 55% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is lighting technician a high-paying job in Oregon?
Local pay runs 15% below the national median — $58K here vs. $68K nationally.
How does Oregon compare to the national average for lighting technicians?
Oregon pays $58K median vs. the U.S. average of $68K — that’s -15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 102.44), the purchasing-power equivalent is $57K — below the national median.
How much do lighting technicians make in Oregon?
The median is $57,900 a year, that works out to about $28 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $46,800, and experienced lighting technicians can clear $101,820. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $58K enough to live in Oregon?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,668/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,555/month, which eats 42.4% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a lighting technicians 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 lighting technicians salary is worth about $56,521 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do lighting technicians 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.