What the data says about lawyer pay in Portland
Monthly take-home on that median is roughly US$10,800; local prices sit at COL 100, so its buying power is about US$155,300.
How Portland compares with United States and OR
On a United States league table of 21 metros, Portland comes 15th. One place higher is Houston at US$157,980, one lower is Austin at US$153,330, and San Jose tops the list.
Portland is the only observed OR metro for this role, so there is no in-state average to compare; the national and metro ranking above is the better reference.
Cost of living and take-home in Portland
Living costs are close to the baseline (COL index 100), so the median's buying power, about US$155,300, is near its face value.
Adjusting for prices does not move Portland in the ranking: it is 15th of 21 on both cash and buying power.
Take-home on the median comes to roughly US$10,800 monthly (17% effective tax in our simplified model). Rent for a modeled 1-bedroom is 15% of it, and the single-adult budget ends about US$7,280 in the black.
Metros with a cost level like Portland
In New York — similar cost level, COL 100 — the median is US$208,880 (+34% vs Portland), and the modeled budget leaves US$3,390 more each month.
In Los Angeles — similar cost level, COL 100 — the median is US$194,410 (+25% vs Portland), and the modeled budget leaves US$2,470 more each month.
A lawyer moving from Portland to Chicago (similar cost level, COL 100) would see the median rise 7% to US$165,660, with US$650 more left over monthly in our model.
Other Portland jobs compared with lawyer
Lawyer ranks 2nd of 9 occupations with observed Portland data. Software Engineer leads the city at US$156,000.
Closest neighbours in the Portland list: Registered Nurse at US$130,310 (-16%).
Entry-level vs senior lawyer pay in Portland
Portland is relatively stronger at the entry end: its 10th-percentile pay (US$75,000) ranks 19th of 21, while its 90th percentile (US$285,800) ranks 20th.
For the top 10% of earners, San Jose leads with US$421,000 at the 90th percentile, +47% against Portland.
The lawyer pay range in Portland
The 90th percentile (US$285,800) is 3.8× the 10th (US$75,000), a wide band that usually reflects different seniority levels and employer types under one title.