Registered Nurses Salary
Registered Nurses in Oregon make a median of $129,010 a year, or about $62.02 an hour. The range runs from $95K at the entry level to $155K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.44), that's roughly $125,937 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,555/month, or 20.4% 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 $129K get you in Oregon?
About registered nurses
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Oregon
Oregon sits well above the national pay line for registered nurses, local pay runs about 32% higher than the U.S. median of $98K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,555/month, 21.2% 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. Combined with manageable housing costs, Oregon offers a genuinely strong financial position for registered nursess at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Oregon
Entry-level registered nurses (10th percentile) start around $95K. Mid-career wages sit at $129K. Top earners bring in $155K or more, a $60K spread from bottom to top.
Registered Nurses salary by metro in Oregon
7 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bend | $135K | +5% | 2,500 |
| Salem | $132K | +2% | 4,010 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro | $130K | +1% | 24,220 |
| Medford | $127K | -2% | 2,370 |
| Eugene-Springfield | $114K | -12% | 3,590 |
| Albany | $112K | -13% | 580 |
| Grants Pass | $107K | -17% | 540 |
Compare to other states
Track registered nurses salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Oregon numbers change.
Related careers in Healthcare
Frequently asked questions
Can a registered nurse afford a 2BR apartment alone in Oregon?
Yes — at the median salary of $129K, rent takes 21.2% 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 registered nurses in Oregon?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new registered nurses typically earn — is $95K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,717/month. At HUD’s $1,555/month FMR, rent would take 27% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is registered nurse a high-paying job in Oregon?
Local pay is 32% above the national median — $129K here vs. $98K nationally.
How does Oregon compare to the national average for registered nurses?
Oregon pays $129K median vs. the U.S. average of $98K — that’s +32%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 102.44), the purchasing-power equivalent is $126K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do registered nurses make in Oregon?
The median is $129,010 a year, that works out to about $62 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $95,280, and experienced registered nurses can clear $155,010. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $129K enough to live in Oregon?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,346/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,555/month, which eats 21.2% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a registered nurses 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 registered nurses salary is worth about $125,937 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do registered nurses 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.