Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $134,010
- Median hourly wage: $64.43
- Total employment: 180 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Portland, Oregon
Despite recession fears and falling consumer confidence, the job market in the United States has remained relatively stable in 2025 thus far. According to May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics data, around 177,000 new jobs were added in April, a slight decrease from the 185,000 new jobs added in the month before, but an extension of the country's 52-month streak of job growth. Unemployment rates also held relatively steady between April 2024 and April 2025, coming in at around 4%.
Of course, that doesn't necessarily mean Americans have it easy in the workplace. A December 2024 Payscale report found that nearly half (47%) of business organizations struggle to balance fair pay practices with spend optimization, and 18% plan to reduce pay increases in 2025 as a result.
For context, median weekly earnings across all employees in the U.S. stood at $1,194 in the first quarter of 2025. This represents an increase of 4.8% from a year prior and exceeds the Consumer Price Index's 2.7% increase in the same time period. However, there's one caveat: Earnings go much further in some places than in others.
In fact, the very definition of a "high-paying" job varies by location, as well as other factors such as industry and benefits. Even a six-figure salary may be considered low-income in places with an unusually high cost of living. Meanwhile, technology, finance, and health care jobs lead in terms of salary, but benefits like remote work can make other lower-paying jobs more desirable.
Regardless, anyone seeking a high-paying job should start by looking at the numbers. Stacker used BLS data to find the 50 highest-paying jobs in Portland. Jobs are ranked by their median annual pay as of May 2024, so any jobs without annual compensation figures available were excluded from this analysis.
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2 / 50#49. Aerospace engineers
- Median annual wage: $134,190
- Median hourly wage: $64.51
- Total employment: 110 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
dokurose // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Sales managers
- Median annual wage: $135,340
- Median hourly wage: $65.07
- Total employment: 4,350 people (3.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Halfpoint // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Materials engineers
- Median annual wage: $135,500
- Median hourly wage: $65.14
- Total employment: 70 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
michaeljung // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Power plant operators
- Median annual wage: $136,300
- Median hourly wage: $65.53
- Total employment: 60 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Construction managers
- Median annual wage: $136,970
- Median hourly wage: $65.85
- Total employment: 2,760 people (2.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
- Median annual wage: $137,780
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 2,190 people (1.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Purchasing managers
- Median annual wage: $139,040
- Median hourly wage: $66.85
- Total employment: 840 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Electronics engineers, except computer
- Median annual wage: $139,370
- Median hourly wage: $67.01
- Total employment: 1,100 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Database architects
- Median annual wage: $143,260
- Median hourly wage: $68.88
- Total employment: 570 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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11 / 50#40. Medical and health services managers
- Median annual wage: $144,420
- Median hourly wage: $69.44
- Total employment: 3,290 people (2.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Human resources managers
- Median annual wage: $144,990
- Median hourly wage: $69.71
- Total employment: 1,940 people (1.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VE.Studio // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Natural sciences managers
- Median annual wage: $148,970
- Median hourly wage: $71.62
- Total employment: 860 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Samborskyi // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Software developers
- Median annual wage: $149,010
- Median hourly wage: $71.64
- Total employment: 16,620 people (13.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Nurse practitioners
- Median annual wage: $151,890
- Median hourly wage: $73.02
- Total employment: 1,310 people (1.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Art directors
- Median annual wage: $155,350
- Median hourly wage: $74.69
- Total employment: 900 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
luchschenF // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Physicists
- Median annual wage: $155,560
- Median hourly wage: $74.79
- Total employment: 90 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stokkete // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Physician assistants
- Median annual wage: $156,450
- Median hourly wage: $75.21
- Total employment: 980 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Compensation and benefits managers
- Median annual wage: $157,500
- Median hourly wage: $75.72
- Total employment: 160 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kanghophoto // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Financial managers
- Median annual wage: $159,540
- Median hourly wage: $76.70
- Total employment: 5,090 people (4.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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21 / 50#30. Lawyers
- Median annual wage: $161,420
- Median hourly wage: $77.61
- Total employment: 5,600 people (4.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Marketing managers
- Median annual wage: $165,000
- Median hourly wage: $79.33
- Total employment: 4,440 people (3.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Computer and information research scientists
- Median annual wage: $169,510
- Median hourly wage: $81.50
- Total employment: 650 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Pharmacists
- Median annual wage: $169,520
- Median hourly wage: $81.50
- Total employment: 2,420 people (1.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Mark_Kostich // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Medical dosimetrists
- Median annual wage: $170,220
- Median hourly wage: $81.84
- Total employment: 30 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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26 / 50#25. Architectural and engineering managers
- Median annual wage: $170,410
- Median hourly wage: $81.93
- Total employment: Not available
Sebastian Duda // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates
- Median annual wage: $174,100
- Median hourly wage: $83.70
- Total employment: 130 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Frame Stock Footage // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Computer and information systems managers
- Median annual wage: $178,210
- Median hourly wage: $85.68
- Total employment: Not available
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Pediatricians, general
- Median annual wage: $181,990
- Median hourly wage: $87.50
- Total employment: 600 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Dentists, general
- Median annual wage: $184,420
- Median hourly wage: $88.66
- Total employment: 760 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
31 / 50#1. Dentists, all other specialists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
32 / 50#1. Anesthesiologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 170 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
33 / 50#1. Ophthalmologists, except pediatric (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 140 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
34 / 50#1. Psychiatrists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 90 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock
35 / 50#1. Radiologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 210 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
36 / 50#1. Chief executives (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 740 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Komsan Loonprom // Shutterstock
37 / 50#1. Cardiologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 90 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
38 / 50#1. Nurse anesthetists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 270 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Natee K Jindakum // Shutterstock
39 / 50#1. Physicians, pathologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 130 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock
40 / 50#1. Dermatologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 110 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Djols // Shutterstock
41 / 50#1. Emergency medicine physicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 600 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Photoroyalty // Shutterstock
42 / 50#1. Surgeons, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available
Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock
43 / 50#1. Orthopedic surgeons, except pediatric (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 100 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlurryMe // Shutterstock
44 / 50#1. General internal medicine physicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 380 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
45 / 50#1. Family medicine physicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 1,230 people (1.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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46 / 50#1. Neurologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 40 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
47 / 50#1. Obstetricians and gynecologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 210 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wutzkohphoto // Shutterstock
48 / 50#1. Physicians, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 2,930 people (2.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
YAKOBCHUK VIACHESLAV // Shutterstock
49 / 50#1. Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 630 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Elnur // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Podiatrists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 120 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Cu Fleshman, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 364 metros.
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