Lawyers pay range in Portland
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $75,000 a year or less, while the top 10% make $285,800 or more. The middle half of lawyers in Portland earn between $107,390 and $206,800.
- $75K10th
- $107K25th
- $155KMedian
- $207K75th
- $286K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $164,090 | $13,674 | $78.89 |
| Median | $155,330 | $12,944 | $74.68 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $107,390 | $8,949 | $51.63 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $206,800 | $17,233 | $99.42 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Lawyers pay in Portland vs. Oregon and the U.S.
Lawyers in Portland earn 5% more than the Oregon average ($156,620) and 12% less than the U.S. average ($185,840). At the median the gap is -3% against the U.S. median of $159,670.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | $164,090 | $155,330 | $75,000 | $285,800 | 5,170 |
| Oregon | $156,620 | $138,210 | $73,610 | $263,790 | 7,150 |
| United States | $185,840 | $159,670 | $78,360 | $351,600 | 754,500 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Lawyers salary after taxes in Portland
On the average salary of $164,090, a single filer in Portland takes home about $109,204 a year, or $9,100 a month and $4,200 every two weeks. Taxes take 33% 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 | $123,422 | $10,285 |
| Working in OR | $109,204 | $9,100 |
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 lawyers? 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 $164,090 buys what about $155,652 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Portland ($60,690). A typical home costs $552,022, or 3.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Lawyers salary in other Oregon cities
Portland ranks 1st of 8 Oregon metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
Highest-paying cities for lawyers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($288,980).
- San Jose, CA$288,980
- Santa Rosa, CA$248,950
- Los Angeles, CA$241,500
- San Francisco, CA$237,060
- Bridgeport, CT$231,710
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Lawyers salary in Portland: questions
How much do lawyers make an hour in Portland?
$78.89 an hour on average, and $74.68 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level lawyers salary in Portland?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $75,000 a year and the 25th percentile is $107,390, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the lawyers take-home pay in Portland?
About $109,204 a year ($9,100 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $164,090. Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
Do lawyers earn more in Portland than elsewhere?
The average here is 12% less than the U.S. average for this job ($185,840).
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 23-1011; area Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA (38900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.9%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- 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.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.88, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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