Registered Nurse Salary in Portland, OR
Registered Nurses in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area earn a median $130,310 a year — 34% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $89,733 take-home, or $7,478 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median registered nurse salary in Portland, OR. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$20,008
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,079
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,889
- Oregon income tax$10,600
- Take-home pay$89,733
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.
Registered Nurse pay by experience in Portland, OR
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $97,180 | $46.72 | $69,523 | $5,794 |
| 25th percentile | $108,280 | $52.06 | $76,360 | $6,363 |
| Median (50th) | $130,310 | $62.65 | $89,733 | $7,478 |
| 75th percentile | $136,460 | $65.61 | $93,327 | $7,777 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $155,650 | $74.83 | $104,544 | $8,712 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Oregon resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $130,310 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 registered nurse's $89,733 take-home pay has the buying power of $85,119 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Registered Nurse jobs are about as common in Portland, OR as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.92).
Best-paying cities for registered nurses, adjusted for cost of living
Portland, OR ranks #33 of 370 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $216,740 | $142,511 | $129,059 |
| 2 | Vallejo, CA | $203,290 | $134,031 | $123,555 |
| 3 | Santa Rosa, CA | $174,550 | $116,298 | $107,899 |
| 4 | Sacramento, CA | $171,460 | $114,514 | $107,353 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $186,610 | $123,394 | $106,730 |
| 6 | Santa Cruz, CA | $170,960 | $114,225 | $103,939 |
| 7 | Yuba City, CA | $149,320 | $101,728 | $97,597 |
| 8 | Olympia, WA | $125,020 | $96,717 | $93,293 |
| 33 | Portland, OR | $130,310 | $89,733 | $85,119 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 370 metros →
Registered Nurse salaries elsewhere in Oregon
- Bend, OR — $135,010
- Salem, OR — $131,750
- Medford, OR — $127,030
- Eugene, OR — $113,720
- Grants Pass, OR — $106,710
- Albany, OR — $111,920
Frequently asked questions
How much does a registered nurse make in Portland, OR?
The median registered nurse salary in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area is $130,310 a year, or about $62.65 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $108,280 and $136,460.
What is a registered nurse’s take-home pay in Portland, OR?
On the median $130,310 salary, a single filer living in Oregon takes home about $89,733 a year ($7,478 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $10,600 in Oregon taxes in 2026.
Is Portland, OR a good place to work as a registered nurse?
Pay here is 34% above the national median of $97,550. Local prices are 5.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $85,119 would in a typical U.S. city. Portland, OR ranks #33 of 370 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a registered nurse 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) — 22% of a median registered nurse’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Portland, OR
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Family Medicine Physician — $239,200+
- Emergency Medicine Physician — $239,200+
- Pediatricians, General — $212,660
- Dentists, General — $209,440
- Pharmacist — $168,830
- Physician Assistant — $163,810
- Nurse Practitioner — $158,890
- Veterinarian — $131,720
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer — $128,420
- Dental Hygienist — $123,100
- Occupational Therapist — $112,100