Economists pay range in Portland
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $82,780 a year or less, while the top 10% make $153,150 or more. The middle half of economists in Portland earn between $101,600 and $128,670.
- $83K10th
- $102K25th
- $122KMedian
- $129K75th
- $153K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $119,740 | $9,978 | $57.57 |
| Median | $122,120 | $10,177 | $58.71 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $101,600 | $8,467 | $48.85 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $128,670 | $10,722 | $61.86 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Economists salary after taxes in Portland
On the average salary of $119,740, a single filer in Portland takes home about $83,891 a year, or $6,991 a month and $3,227 every two weeks. Taxes take 30% of gross pay.
The Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WA | $93,067 | $7,756 |
| Working in OR | $83,891 | $6,991 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
Is Portland a good place for economists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Portland area are 5% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 105.4), so the average $119,740 buys what about $113,583 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Portland ($60,690). A typical home costs $552,022, or 4.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Economists salary in other Oregon cities
Portland ranks 1st of 2 Oregon metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Portland$119,740
- Salem$118,550
Highest-paying cities for economists
New York, NY pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($184,860).
- New York, NY$184,860
- Washington, DC$166,140
- Durham, NC$159,310
- St. Louis, MO$156,690
- Los Angeles, CA$155,860
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Economists salary in Portland: questions
How much do economists make an hour in Portland?
$57.57 an hour on average, and $58.71 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level economists salary in Portland?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $82,780 a year and the 25th percentile is $101,600, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the economists take-home pay in Portland?
About $83,891 a year ($6,991 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $119,740. Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
Do economists earn more in Portland than elsewhere?
The average here is 18% less than the U.S. metro average for this job ($145,984).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 19-3011; area Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA (38900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.4%.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
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