Lawyer Salary in Portland, OR
Lawyers in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area earn a median $155,330 a year — 3% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $104,357 take-home, or $8,696 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median lawyer salary in Portland, OR. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$26,013
- Social Security (6.2%)$9,630
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,252
- Oregon income tax$13,077
- Take-home pay$104,357
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.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Lawyer pay by experience in Portland, OR
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $75,000 | $36.06 | $55,860 | $4,655 |
| 25th percentile | $107,390 | $51.63 | $75,812 | $6,318 |
| Median (50th) | $155,330 | $74.68 | $104,357 | $8,696 |
| 75th percentile | $206,800 | $99.42 | $135,763 | $11,314 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $285,800+ | $137.40 | $180,287 | $15,024 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Oregon resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $155,330 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 lawyer's $104,357 take-home pay has the buying power of $98,991 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Lawyer jobs are about as common in Portland, OR as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.88).
Best-paying cities for lawyers, adjusted for cost of living
Portland, OR ranks #34 of 47 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $239,200+ | $188,293 | $170,520 |
| 2 | Birmingham, AL | $170,230 | $119,372 | $130,256 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $208,880 | $144,183 | $128,091 |
| 4 | Dallas, TX | $168,510 | $126,443 | $122,653 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $195,190 | $131,718 | $120,971 |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $212,500 | $139,838 | $120,953 |
| 7 | Houston, TX | $157,980 | $119,245 | $120,903 |
| 8 | Philadelphia, PA | $170,660 | $122,673 | $119,618 |
| 34 | Portland, OR | $155,330 | $104,357 | $98,991 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 47 metros →
About the job: lawyers
Represent clients in criminal and civil litigation and other legal proceedings, draw up legal documents, or manage or advise clients on legal transactions. May specialize in a single area or may practice broadly in many areas of law.
- Typical education
- Doctoral or professional degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +4.7% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a lawyer make in Portland, OR?
The median lawyer salary in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area is $155,330 a year, or about $74.68 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $107,390 and $206,800.
What is a lawyer’s take-home pay in Portland, OR?
On the median $155,330 salary, a single filer living in Oregon takes home about $104,357 a year ($8,696 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $13,077 in Oregon taxes in 2026.
Is Portland, OR a good place to work as a lawyer?
Pay here is 3% below the national median of $159,670. Local prices are 5.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $98,991 would in a typical U.S. city. Portland, OR ranks #34 of 47 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a lawyer 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) — 19% of a median lawyer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Portland, OR
- Paralegal and Legal Assistant — $75,430