Lawyer salary in Oregon
Lawyers in Oregon earn a median of $138,210 a year ($66.45 an hour), based on BLS data for 7,150 workers.
Pay ranges from $73,610 for the lowest-paid 10% to $263,790 for the top 10%. That is 13% lower than the national median of $159,670. Oregon ranks 19th of 51 states for lawyers pay. There are 3.6 lawyers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.75). The average (mean) salary is $156,620, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for lawyers in Oregon
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $73,610 | $35.39 |
| 25th percentile | $99,450 | $47.81 |
| Median | $138,210 | $66.45 |
| 75th percentile | $195,620 | $94.05 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $263,790 | $126.82 |
| Average (mean) | $156,620 | $75.30 |
Half of lawyers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $11,517.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,758.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,315.77 |
| Weekly | $2,657.88 |
| Hourly | $66.45 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Lawyer salary in cities in Oregon
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Albany, OR | $162,880 | 50 |
| Salem, OR | $156,070 | 780 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $155,330 | 5,170 |
| Medford, OR | $127,970 | 170 |
| Bend, OR | $123,930 | 300 |
| Corvallis, OR | $123,650 | 70 |
| Eugene-Springfield, OR | $111,850 | 420 |
| Grants Pass, OR | $104,520 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for lawyers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $207,860 |
| District of Columbia | $195,190 |
| California | $195,080 |
| Massachusetts | $176,680 |
| Delaware | $173,510 |
| Colorado | $168,520 |
| Virginia | $167,210 |
| Connecticut | $163,600 |
| New Jersey | $161,430 |
| Illinois | $160,800 |
Related jobs in Oregon
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers | $89,220 | $42.90 |
| Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates | $166,400 | $80.00 |
| Judicial Law Clerk | $86,870 | $41.76 |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | $61,490 | $29.56 |
| Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers | $76,930 | $36.99 |
| Legal Support Workers, All Other | $60,860 | $29.26 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 23-1011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a lawyer make in Oregon?
The median salary for lawyers in Oregon is $138,210 a year, or $66.45 an hour. Pay ranges from $73,610 for the lowest-paid 10% to $263,790 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid lawyers make in Oregon?
The top 10% of lawyers in Oregon earn at least $263,790 a year. The top 25% earn $195,620 or more.
What is the starting pay for lawyers in Oregon?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $73,610 a year, and a quarter of lawyers earn $99,450 or less.
How many lawyers work in Oregon?
About 7,150 lawyers are employed in Oregon, not counting the self-employed.