Cost of Living in Salem, OR
Salem, OR — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Price level
103.6
U.S. average = 100 · #39 of 387
Median wage
$55,310
all jobs · $3,551/mo take-home
1-bedroom rent
$1,201
HUD fair market rent
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Salem, OR to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
Salary needed to keep your lifestyle
—
Prices in Salem, OR vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 103.6 | +3.6% |
| Housing | 110.3 | +10.3% |
| Goods | 105.3 | +5.3% |
| Utilities | 104.7 | +4.7% |
| Other services | 100.3 | +0.3% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Salem, OR
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,181 | $47,240/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $1,201 | $48,040/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,560 | $62,400/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,159 | $86,360/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,338 | $93,520/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Take-home pay in Salem, OR
Your take-home pay
$42,612
per year · effective tax rate 23.0%
$3,551Monthly
$1,775Twice a month
$1,639Every 2 weeks
$20.49Hourly
- Federal income tax$4,457
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,429
- Medicare (1.45%)$802
- Oregon income tax$4,010
- Take-home pay$42,612
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 8.75% state
Highest-paying jobs in Salem, OR
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Frequently asked questions
Is Salem, OR expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Salem, OR metro area are 103.6% of the U.S. average, with housing at 110.3%. It is the #39 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Salem, OR?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $62,189 in Salem, OR (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $55,310.
How much is rent in Salem, OR?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Salem, OR are $1,181 for a studio, $1,201 for one bedroom, $1,560 for two bedrooms and $2,159 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
All salaries in Salem, OR
Management Occupations
- Computer and Information Systems Manager — $158,390
- Financial Manager — $141,400
- Medical and Health Services Manager — $137,400
- Managers, All Other — $129,470
- Construction Manager — $114,450
- General and Operations Manager — $114,430
- Social and Community Service Manager — $110,210
Business and Financial Operations Occupations
- Project Management Specialist — $102,730
- Management Analyst — $99,090
- Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators — $90,270
- Accountant and Auditor — $87,480
- Compliance Officer — $85,150
- Human Resources Specialist — $80,270
- Buyer and Purchasing Agent — $80,220
- Training and Development Specialist — $79,190
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other — $75,670
- Market Research Analyst and Marketing Specialist — $64,160
Computer and Mathematical Occupations
- Software Developer — $131,620
- Computer Systems Analyst — $109,970
- Network and Computer Systems Administrator — $109,970
- Computer User Support Specialist — $61,510
Architecture and Engineering Occupations
- Civil Engineer — $115,480
Community and Social Service Occupations
- Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors — $78,870
- Child, Family, and School Social Workers — $64,700
- Social and Human Service Assistant — $57,560
Legal Occupations
- Lawyer — $156,070
- Paralegal and Legal Assistant — $57,230
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
- Postsecondary Teachers, All Other — $98,840
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $77,810
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $77,340
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $74,810
- Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education — $44,060
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $38,950
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations
- Public Relations Specialist — $87,740
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $131,750
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse — $79,600
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Dental Assistant — $59,210
- Psychiatric Aide — $50,580
- Medical Assistant — $50,240
- Nursing Assistant — $48,840
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $45,200
Protective Service Occupations
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $84,320
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $83,690
- Security Guard — $46,150
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- Waiter and Waitress — $48,720
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $45,660
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $44,690
- Cooks, Restaurant — $39,170
- Bartender — $38,410
- Food Preparation Worker — $37,300
- Dishwasher — $35,070
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $34,720
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $34,520
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
- Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker — $45,040
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners — $38,340
- Maid and Housekeeping Cleaner — $37,920
Personal Care and Service Occupations
Sales and Related Occupations
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products — $67,700
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel — $62,400
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $48,200
- Retail Salesperson — $35,760
- Cashier — $34,340
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $75,990
- Executive Secretary and Executive Administrative Assistant — $70,320
- Billing and Posting Clerk — $56,040
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — $55,660
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $54,420
- Office Clerks, General — $50,650
- Medical Secretary and Administrative Assistant — $48,920
- Customer Service Representative — $47,790
- Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks — $47,590
- Information and Record Clerks, All Other — $46,870
- Receptionist and Information Clerk — $38,510
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations
Construction and Extraction Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $101,440
- Electrician — $98,850
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $80,610
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $74,270
- Carpenter — $59,730
- Construction Laborer — $54,500
- Painters, Construction and Maintenance — $47,840
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
- First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers — $85,150
- Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic — $57,960
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $53,090
Production Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $62,220
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $44,010
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operator and Tender — $37,540
- Food Batchmaker — $36,520
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $60,580
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $60,500
- Bus Drivers, School — $51,570
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $47,790
- Light Truck Driver — $46,330
- Stocker and Order Filler — $41,520
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $40,360
- Cleaner of Vehicles and Equipment — $37,400
- Packers and Packagers, Hand — $35,410
- Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendant — $34,100
- Driver/Sales Worker — $32,850