SOC 17-2141 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Mechanical Engineers — Portland
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA · 6 metro areas compared
At $105,020, median pay for Mechanical Engineers in Portland, OR tracks the national median of $104,110 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $105,020, median pay for Mechanical Engineers in Portland, OR tracks the national median of $104,110 closely. Pay ranges from under $78,210 at the tenth percentile to more than $165,040 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $95,630 to $130,680.
Employment stands at 2,520, or 2.1 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, Corvallis records the highest median at $106,700. Of the 681 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 131st.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $78,210 | −24.9% |
| 25th | $95,630 | −8.1% |
| Median (50th) | $105,020 | +0.9% |
| 75th | $130,680 | +25.5% |
| 90th | $165,040 | +58.5% |
| Mean | $116,540 | +11.9% |
Other metro areas in Oregon
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Portland run 3.4% above the national average, so the median of $105,020 buys what $101,567 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 2.4% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$105,020as reported by BLSLocal price level
103.4US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$101,567US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $105,020 a year, 0.9% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $78,210 to $165,040 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 2,520 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Corvallis, at $106,700.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Mechanical Engineers in Portland, OR?
The median annual wage is $105,020, or $50.49 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $104,110, so pay in Portland, OR is 0.9% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Portland, OR earns more than $165,040 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $78,210 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Corvallis, at $106,700 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 2,520 jobs in this occupation in Portland, OR. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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