Updated · 2026 tax rules · Data: IRS, BLS, BEA, HUD · How we calculate

Counter and Rental Clerk Salary in Portland, OR

Counter and Rental Clerks in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area earn a median $45,760 a year — 11% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $35,774 take-home, or $2,981 a month.

Median salary
$45,760
$22.00 per hour
Typical range
$35,900 – $79,600
10th to 90th percentile
Jobs in Portland, OR
3,760
1.21× national concentration
▲1.5%
Pay trend: The median for counter and rental clerks in Portland, OR rose from $45,100 (May 2024) to $45,760 (May 2025). That trailed inflation (2.4%), so buying power slipped about 0.9%.

Take-home pay calculator

Pre-filled with the median counter and rental clerk salary in Portland, OR. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.

Counter and Rental Clerk in Portland, OR
Deductions, kids & local tax

2026 tax year. Federal brackets from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32.

Your take-home pay
$35,774
per year · effective tax rate 21.8%
$2,981Monthly
$1,491Twice a month
$1,376Every 2 weeks
$17.20Hourly
  • Federal income tax$3,311
  • Social Security (6.2%)$2,837
  • Medicare (1.45%)$664
  • Oregon income tax$3,174
  • Take-home pay$35,774

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.

Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →

Counter and Rental Clerk pay by experience in Portland, OR

PercentileSalaryHourlyTake-home / yrPer month
10th percentile (entry level)$35,900$17.26$28,714$2,393
25th percentile$38,110$18.32$30,296$2,525
Median (50th)$45,760$22.00$35,774$2,981
75th percentile$58,740$28.24$45,067$3,756
90th percentile (top earners)$79,600$38.27$58,693$4,891

Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Oregon resident, 2026 tax rules.

What $45,760 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 counter and rental clerk's $35,774 take-home pay has the buying power of $33,934 in a typical American city.

1-bedroom rent
$1,677
56% of monthly take-home
2-bedroom rent
$1,922
64% of monthly take-home
Left after 1-BR rent
$1,304
per month for everything else

Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.

Portland, OR has 1.2× the national concentration of counter and rental clerk jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.

Best-paying cities for counter and rental clerks, adjusted for cost of living

Portland, OR ranks #15 of 32 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.

#Metro areaMedian salaryTake-homeReal value*
1Richmond, VA $46,520$37,698$38,523
2Seattle, WA $49,350$41,833$37,642
3Denver, CO $46,900$38,509$36,404
4Philadelphia, PA $45,310$37,196$36,269
5Phoenix, AZ $44,760$37,234$36,039
6San Jose, CA $48,570$39,611$35,872
7Washington, DC $48,010$39,041$35,856
8Nashville, TN $39,890$34,232$35,533
15Portland, OR$45,760$35,774$33,934

*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 32 metros →

About the job: counter and rental clerks

Receive orders, generally in person, for repairs, rentals, and services. May describe available options, compute cost, and accept payment.

Typical education
No formal educational credential
Work experience
None required
On-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
Job outlook, 2025–35
+3.0% (about average)

Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a counter and rental clerk make in Portland, OR?

The median counter and rental clerk salary in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area is $45,760 a year, or about $22.00 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $38,110 and $58,740.

What is a counter and rental clerk’s take-home pay in Portland, OR?

On the median $45,760 salary, a single filer living in Oregon takes home about $35,774 a year ($2,981 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,174 in Oregon taxes in 2026.

Is Portland, OR a good place to work as a counter and rental clerk?

Pay here is 11% above the national median of $41,300. Local prices are 5.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $33,934 would in a typical U.S. city. Portland, OR ranks #15 of 32 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.

Can a counter and rental clerk 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) — 56% of a median counter and rental clerk’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.

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