Registered Nurse pay in Portland, by the numbers
After a simplified 15% national tax estimate that is about US$9,200 a month, in a metro with a cost-of-living index of 100.
Registered Nurse pay in Portland: national and in-state ranking
On a United States league table of 21 metros, Portland comes 5th. One place higher is Los Angeles at US$135,560, one lower is Seattle at US$128,260, 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.
Is US$130,310 a good salary in Portland?
With a COL index of 100, there is little difference between headline pay and price-adjusted pay (US$130,300).
Its place holds after a cost-of-living adjustment — 5th of 21 either way.
After a simplified 15% effective national income tax, the median nets about US$9,200 a month. A modeled 1-bedroom (US$1,650) takes 18% of that, leaving around US$5,690 after modeled living costs.
Metros with a cost level like Portland
In New York — similar cost level, COL 100 — the median is US$119,720 (-8% vs Portland), and the modeled budget leaves US$670 less each month.
A registered nurse moving from Portland to Los Angeles (similar cost level, COL 100) would see the median rise 4% to US$135,560, with US$340 more left over monthly in our model.
In Chicago — similar cost level, COL 100 — the median is US$100,490 (-23% vs Portland), and the modeled budget leaves US$1,920 less each month.
Other Portland jobs compared with registered nurse
Of the 9 roles we track in Portland, Registered Nurse is 3rd by median; the highest is Software Engineer (US$156,000).
Closest neighbours in the Portland list: Lawyer at US$155,330 (+19%) and Data Scientist at US$129,600 (-1%).
Entry-level vs senior registered nurse pay in Portland
Portland is relatively stronger at the entry end: its 10th-percentile pay (US$97,180) ranks 6th of 21, while its 90th percentile (US$155,650) ranks 8th.
For the top 10% of earners, San Jose leads with US$235,190 at the 90th percentile, +51% against Portland.
How wide registered nurse pay runs in Portland
From the 10th percentile (US$97,180) to the 90th (US$155,650) is only 1.6×, a narrower spread than many roles.