Tire Builders Salary
In Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA, tire builders earn $44,600 at the median, or about $21.44 an hour. The range runs from $45K at the entry level to $67K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 105.42), so that salary is closer to $42,307 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,922/month, about 62.4% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $45K get you in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro’s Regional Price Parity (105.42). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About tire builders
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What this looks like in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro
Pay for tire builders in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro runs about 22% below the U.S. median of $57K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,922/month, which is 66.9% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 5% above the national average (BEA RPP 105.42), so groceries and services cost more too. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for tire builderss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA
Entry-level tire builders (10th percentile) start around $45K. Mid-career wages sit at $45K. Top earners bring in $67K or more, a $22K spread from bottom to top.
Tire Builders pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Tire Builders salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | $74K | +29% | 1,360 |
| North Carolina | $64K | +11% | 3,750 |
| Illinois | $60K | +4% | N/A |
| Ohio | $56K | -2% | 780 |
| Texas | $55K | -4% | 610 |
| Mississippi | $53K | -8% | 710 |
| Indiana | $51K | -11% | 1,320 |
| Iowa | $51K | -12% | 510 |
| Connecticut | $49K | -15% | 90 |
| Oregon | $48K | -16% | 250 |
| New York | $47K | -19% | 530 |
| Maryland | $46K | -19% | 60 |
| Kentucky | $46K | -20% | 270 |
| Oklahoma | $46K | -20% | N/A |
| Arizona | $46K | -20% | 130 |
| Pennsylvania | $45K | -21% | 360 |
| California | $45K | -22% | 360 |
| Michigan | $44K | -23% | 80 |
| Georgia | $44K | -23% | 940 |
| Florida | $44K | -23% | 170 |
Showing 1–10 of 20 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track tire builders salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a tire builder afford a 2BR apartment alone in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $45K, rent takes 66.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,922/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for tire builders in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new tire builders typically earn — is $45K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,676/month. At HUD’s $1,922/month FMR, rent would take 72% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is tire builder a high-paying job in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro?
Local pay runs 22% below the national median — $45K here vs. $57K nationally.
How does Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro compare to the national average for tire builders?
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro pays $45K median vs. the U.S. average of $57K — that’s -22%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 105.42), the purchasing-power equivalent is $42K — below the national median.
How much do tire builders make in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA?
The median is $44,600 a year, that works out to about $21 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $44,600, and experienced tire builders can clear $66,670. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $45K enough to live in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,875/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,922/month, which eats 66.9% 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 tire builders salary go in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro?
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro has a Regional Price Parity of 105.42 (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 tire builders salary is worth about $42,307 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do tire builders 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.