Portland Employment

Employment and Industries in the Portland, Oregon Area

The tables here illustrate essential information about work and employment in the area. Information includes:

  • A table of the most numerous types of work found here, both for jobs generally requiring college degrees and jobs not requiring college degrees.
  • A table listing those careers significantly more common in Portland than in other US cities; this is useful both for career planning and for understanding the nature of Portland.
  • A list of the highest-paying jobs in Portland.
  • A list of any large public companies in Portland.

Jobs in Portland

RankTitleTotal EmployeesLocal Mean Salary (Per Year)Local Mean Salary (Per hour)National Growth % 2014-2024
1All Occupations1209420$58,240$28100
2Office and Administrative Support Occupations153550$43,800$21.0613.75
3Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations112720$30,450$14.648.7
4Sales and Related Occupations111950$47,450$22.819.5
5Transportation and Material Moving Occupations98070$40,670$19.556.7
6Management Occupations80190$115,490$55.526.35
7Production Occupations77430$43,110$20.735.6
8Business and Financial Operations Occupations74790$76,720$36.895.35
9Educational Instruction and Library Occupations65400$65,500$31.496
10Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations60530$97,990$47.115.85
11Construction and Extraction Occupations58190$61,040$29.354.6
12Computer and Mathematical Occupations44700$92,800$44.623
13Healthcare Support Occupations42840$37,360$17.962.85
14Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations40080$53,280$25.623.75
15Architecture and Engineering Occupations37710$84,240$40.51.7
16Fast Food and Counter Workers33030$27,510$13.222.45
17Retail Salespersons32810$31,630$15.212.7
18Personal Care and Service Occupations32770$34,590$16.634.65
19Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations30280$34,440$16.563.6
20Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations23100$61,450$29.541.8
21General and Operations Managers22150$121,250$58.291.5
22Registered Nurses22100$95,420$45.871.95
23Cashiers22080$28,620$13.762.2
24Customer Service Representatives21160$40,680$19.561.75
25Community and Social Service Occupations20700$56,150$271.75
26Stockers and Order Fillers20150$33,480$16.11.25
27Office Clerks, General19990$39,220$18.851.9
28Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand19530$34,510$16.591.8
29Waiters and Waitresses19410$30,860$14.841.65
30Protective Service Occupations19200$55,540$26.72.2
31Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive17480$43,360$20.851.4
32Home Health and Personal Care Aides16140$29,590$14.230
33Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers15710$108,200$52.020.65
34Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other15430$77,010$37.020.7
35Cooks, Restaurant14550$31,990$15.380.9
36Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners13880$32,720$15.731.5
37Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks13830$45,550$21.91.05
38Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products13750$76,830$36.940.85
39Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers12980$50,600$24.331.2
40Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations12690$75,350$36.230.8
41Carpenters10850$57,940$27.860.6
42Crematory Operators and Personal Care and Service Workers, All Other10040$31,750$15.260.1
43Maintenance and Repair Workers, General9840$44,500$21.390.9
44First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers9580$44,470$21.380.95
45Accountants and Auditors9460$75,410$36.260.9
46First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers9270$61,440$29.540.95
47Construction Laborers8850$46,430$22.320.9
48Legal Occupations8710$96,020$46.170.8
49Receptionists and Information Clerks8460$33,620$16.160.7
50First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers8320$36,690$17.640.6
51Food Preparation Workers8090$29,680$14.270.5
52Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators7970$37,630$18.090.8
53Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel7860$66,100$31.780.7
54Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants7570$45,110$21.690.4
55Nursing Assistants7550$35,090$16.870.95
56Medical Assistants7540$41,670$20.030.45
57Electricians7510$77,420$37.220.45
58Light Truck Drivers7250$39,560$19.020.6
59Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers6810$37,750$18.150.75
60Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists6780$77,200$37.120.45
61Computer User Support Specialists6770$58,820$28.280.4
62Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners6770$30,210$14.530.9
63Security Guards6590$31,780$15.280.7
64Financial Managers6070$129,940$62.470.4
65Personal Service Managers, All Other; Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling; and Managers, All Other5940$104,300$50.140.7
66Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks5810$39,710$19.090.4
67Computer Systems Analysts5560$95,780$46.050.4
68Human Resources Specialists5480$65,520$31.50.4
69Bartenders5470$32,070$15.420.4
70Management Analysts5300$95,780$46.050.55
71Passenger Vehicle Drivers, Except Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity5290$35,160$16.90.3
72Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators5010$42,500$20.430.4
73First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers4940$63,780$30.660.4
74Electronics Engineers, Except Computer4900$88,820$42.70.1
75Driver/Sales Workers4750$37,900$18.220.3
76Sales Managers4710$132,230$63.570.3
77Computer and Information Systems Managers4690$137,740$66.220.3
78First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers4580$80,140$38.530.4
79Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers4540$49,400$23.750.35
80Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers4520$37,420$17.990.2
81Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education4520$33,740$16.220.3
82Dishwashers4460$27,740$13.340.3
83Buyers and Purchasing Agents4450$65,290$31.390.25
84Lawyers4360$123,750$59.50.5
85Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics4340$48,190$23.170.5
86Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters4210$76,420$36.740.3
87Financial and Investment Analysts, Financial Risk Specialists, and Financial Specialists, All Other4120$84,540$40.640.2
88Industrial Engineers3970$93,720$45.060.2
89Marketing Managers3950$126,400$60.770.2
90Semiconductor Processing Technicians3930$40,140$19.30
91Production Workers, All Other3910$38,140$18.340.15
92Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other3880$41,700$20.050.1
93Computer Occupations, All Other3870$85,820$41.260.3
94Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations3830$33,540$16.130.65
95Construction Managers3810$107,020$51.450.3
96Substitute Teachers, Short-Term3790$42,730$20.540.4
97Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants3780$63,290$30.430.35
98Packers and Packagers, Hand3780$30,340$14.590.4
99Civil Engineers3740$91,720$44.090.2
100Information and Record Clerks, All Other3680$39,200$18.850.1
Source: 2019 Occupational Employment Statistics and 2018-28 Employment Projections, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS.gov
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Additional Details

Portland Colleges
Portland colleges and trade schools.

Jobs More Common Near Portland Than Most Other Cities

* Average job popularity for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$58,2401,209,420
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$43,800153,550
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations$30,450112,720
Sales and Related Occupations$47,450111,950
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$40,67098,070
Management Occupations$115,49080,190
Production Occupations$43,11077,430
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$76,72074,790
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$65,50065,400
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$97,99060,530
Construction and Extraction Occupations$61,04058,190
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$92,80044,700
Healthcare Support Occupations$37,36042,840
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$53,28040,080
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$84,24037,710
Fast Food and Counter Workers$27,51033,030
Retail Salespersons$31,63032,810
Personal Care and Service Occupations$34,59032,770
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$34,44030,280
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$61,45023,100
General and Operations Managers$121,25022,150
Registered Nurses$95,42022,100
Cashiers$28,62022,080
Customer Service Representatives$40,68021,160
Community and Social Service Occupations$56,15020,700
Stockers and Order Fillers$33,48020,150
Office Clerks, General$39,22019,990
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$34,51019,530
Waiters and Waitresses$30,86019,410
Protective Service Occupations$55,54019,200
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$43,36017,480
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$29,59016,140
Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$108,20015,710
Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other$77,01015,430
Cooks, Restaurant$31,99014,550
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$32,72013,880
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$45,55013,830
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$76,83013,750
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$50,60012,980
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations$75,35012,690
Carpenters$57,94010,850
Crematory Operators and Personal Care and Service Workers, All Other$31,75010,040
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$44,5009,840
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$44,4709,580
Accountants and Auditors$75,4109,460
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$61,4409,270
Construction Laborers$46,4308,850
Legal Occupations$96,0208,710
Receptionists and Information Clerks$33,6208,460
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$36,6908,320

Work Paying Relatively Well in the Portland, Oregon Metro Area (2008 data)

* Average Salary Index for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$58,2401,209,420
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$43,800153,550
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations$30,450112,720
Sales and Related Occupations$47,450111,950
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$40,67098,070
Management Occupations$115,49080,190
Production Occupations$43,11077,430
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$76,72074,790
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$65,50065,400
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$97,99060,530
Construction and Extraction Occupations$61,04058,190
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$92,80044,700
Healthcare Support Occupations$37,36042,840
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$53,28040,080
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$84,24037,710
Fast Food and Counter Workers$27,51033,030
Retail Salespersons$31,63032,810
Personal Care and Service Occupations$34,59032,770
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$34,44030,280
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$61,45023,100
General and Operations Managers$121,25022,150
Registered Nurses$95,42022,100
Cashiers$28,62022,080
Customer Service Representatives$40,68021,160
Community and Social Service Occupations$56,15020,700
Stockers and Order Fillers$33,48020,150
Office Clerks, General$39,22019,990
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$34,51019,530
Waiters and Waitresses$30,86019,410
Protective Service Occupations$55,54019,200
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$43,36017,480
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$29,59016,140
Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$108,20015,710
Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other$77,01015,430
Cooks, Restaurant$31,99014,550
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$32,72013,880
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$45,55013,830
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$76,83013,750
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$50,60012,980
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations$75,35012,690
Carpenters$57,94010,850
Crematory Operators and Personal Care and Service Workers, All Other$31,75010,040
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$44,5009,840
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$44,4709,580
Accountants and Auditors$75,4109,460
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$61,4409,270
Construction Laborers$46,4308,850
Legal Occupations$96,0208,710
Receptionists and Information Clerks$33,6208,460
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$36,6908,320

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