Electrical Engineer Salary in Portland, OR
Electrical Engineers in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area earn a median $128,080 a year — 6% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $88,429 take-home, or $7,369 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median electrical engineer salary in Portland, OR. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$19,473
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,941
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,857
- Oregon income tax$10,379
- Take-home pay$88,429
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.90% state
The Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro spans Oregon, Washington. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Electrical Engineer pay by experience in Portland, OR
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $84,250 | $40.50 | $61,558 | $5,130 |
| 25th percentile | $102,000 | $49.04 | $72,492 | $6,041 |
| Median (50th) | $128,080 | $61.58 | $88,429 | $7,369 |
| 75th percentile | $144,040 | $69.25 | $97,758 | $8,146 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $164,720 | $79.19 | $109,845 | $9,154 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Oregon resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $128,080 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 electrical engineer's $88,429 take-home pay has the buying power of $83,882 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 1.5× the national concentration of electrical engineer jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for electrical engineers, adjusted for cost of living
Portland, OR ranks #44 of 79 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Albuquerque, NM | $163,720 | $116,477 | $121,907 |
| 2 | Manchester, NH | $159,360 | $120,189 | $113,754 |
| 3 | Austin, TX | $145,360 | $110,620 | $112,801 |
| 4 | San Jose, CA | $187,060 | $123,681 | $112,007 |
| 5 | Chattanooga, TN | $123,840 | $95,911 | $104,862 |
| 6 | Houston, TX | $131,070 | $100,852 | $102,254 |
| 7 | Huntsville, AL | $130,330 | $94,095 | $101,099 |
| 8 | Kennewick, WA | $128,190 | $98,884 | $98,806 |
| 44 | Portland, OR | $128,080 | $88,429 | $83,882 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 79 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a electrical engineer make in Portland, OR?
The median electrical engineer salary in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area is $128,080 a year, or about $61.58 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $102,000 and $144,040.
What is a electrical engineer’s take-home pay in Portland, OR?
On the median $128,080 salary, a single filer living in Oregon takes home about $88,429 a year ($7,369 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $10,379 in Oregon taxes in 2026.
Is Portland, OR a good place to work as a electrical engineer?
Pay here is 6% above the national median of $120,630. Local prices are 5.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $83,882 would in a typical U.S. city. Portland, OR ranks #44 of 79 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a electrical engineer 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) — 23% of a median electrical engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Portland, OR
- Industrial Engineer — $129,890
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer — $129,330
- Environmental Engineer — $127,080
- Engineers, All Other — $126,380
- Civil Engineer — $106,280
- Mechanical Engineer — $105,020
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval — $100,490
- Civil Engineering Technologist and Technician — $84,930
- Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other — $79,350
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologist and Technician — $77,990
- Industrial Engineering Technologist and Technician — $75,870
- Architectural and Civil Drafter — $75,560