Biological Technician Salary in Portland, OR
Biological Technicians in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area earn a median $57,200 a year — 1% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $43,965 take-home, or $3,664 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median biological technician salary in Portland, OR. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,684
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,546
- Medicare (1.45%)$829
- Oregon income tax$4,175
- Take-home pay$43,965
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 8.75% state
The Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro spans Oregon, Washington. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Biological Technician pay by experience in Portland, OR
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,300 | $21.78 | $35,444 | $2,954 |
| 25th percentile | $48,290 | $23.22 | $37,585 | $3,132 |
| Median (50th) | $57,200 | $27.50 | $43,965 | $3,664 |
| 75th percentile | $64,530 | $31.02 | $49,213 | $4,101 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $75,090 | $36.10 | $55,915 | $4,660 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Oregon resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $57,200 buys in Portland, OR
Prices in Portland, OR are 5.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.25× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median biological technician's $43,965 take-home pay has the buying power of $41,704 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Portland, OR has 1.4× the national concentration of biological technician jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for biological technicians, adjusted for cost of living
Portland, OR ranks #25 of 29 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $95,220 | $69,954 | $60,507 |
| 2 | Worcester, MA | $69,730 | $54,619 | $53,274 |
| 3 | Richmond, VA | $65,210 | $51,641 | $52,771 |
| 4 | San Jose, CA | $72,940 | $56,572 | $51,232 |
| 5 | Indianapolis, IN | $59,550 | $48,301 | $50,474 |
| 6 | Denver, CO | $65,140 | $52,362 | $49,500 |
| 7 | Phoenix, AZ | $61,280 | $50,095 | $48,487 |
| 8 | Durham, NC | $58,400 | $47,283 | $48,460 |
| 25 | Portland, OR | $57,200 | $43,965 | $41,704 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 29 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a biological technician make in Portland, OR?
The median biological technician salary in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area is $57,200 a year, or about $27.50 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $48,290 and $64,530.
What is a biological technician’s take-home pay in Portland, OR?
On the median $57,200 salary, a single filer living in Oregon takes home about $43,965 a year ($3,664 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,175 in Oregon taxes in 2026.
Is Portland, OR a good place to work as a biological technician?
Pay here is 1% below the national median of $57,510. Local prices are 5.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $41,704 would in a typical U.S. city. Portland, OR ranks #25 of 29 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a biological technician afford rent in Portland, OR?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Portland, OR is $1,677 a month ($1,922 for two bedrooms) — 46% of a median biological technician’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Portland, OR
- Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists — $112,640
- Urban and Regional Planner — $103,070
- Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health — $98,050
- Occupational Health and Safety Specialist — $97,410
- Psychologists, All Other — $86,680
- Conservation Scientist — $83,580
- Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other — $62,660