Highest and lowest paying health care jobs in Portland, Oregon
Highest and lowest paying health care jobs in Portland
Anybody who has taken a course in marketing, psychology or sociology is likely familiar with Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. First detailed by psychologist Andrew Maslow in his 1943 work “A Theory of Human Motivation,” the hierarchy breaks down the complex network of human thoughts into a categorical triage, placing self-development at the top and security and physical health at the bottom. In setting up this pyramid, Maslow framed self-recognition and creative development as ultimate goals, while also prioritizing personal safety and strong physical health.
As such, it has never been more important to recognize the health care professionals who work tirelessly to keep the population healthy. In 2019, the United States spent 17.7% of its GDP on health. While it’s encouraging to know that the country is investing in those responsible for maintaining the nation’s well-being, not all health care professionals receive equal compensation.
Stacker compiled a list of the highest and lowest paying health care jobs in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by 2019 annual mean wage. Keep reading to see which health care jobs make the most and least in your city.
#56. Physical therapist aides
- Annual mean salary: $30,110
- #52 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 220
National
- Annual mean salary: $29,180
- Employment: 49,270
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Savannah, GA ($50,470)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($44,720)
--- Boulder, CO ($41,450)
#55. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
- Annual mean salary: $33,620
- #22 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,480
National
- Annual mean salary: $29,690
- Employment: 97,030
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New Haven, CT ($48,240)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($43,890)
--- Port St. Lucie, FL ($43,200)
#54. Medical transcriptionists
- Annual mean salary: $34,950
- #123 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 900
National
- Annual mean salary: $35,210
- Employment: 55,780
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($67,840)
--- Amarillo, TX ($56,970)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($54,080)
#53. Nursing assistants
- Annual mean salary: $35,090
- #34 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 7,550
National
- Annual mean salary: $30,720
- Employment: 1,419,920
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($46,170)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($45,100)
--- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($44,710)
#52. Orderlies
- Annual mean salary: $35,180
- #17 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 190
National
- Annual mean salary: $30,710
- Employment: 46,990
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($51,240)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($49,270)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($44,730)
#51. Pharmacy aides
- Annual mean salary: $35,370
- #17 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 260
National
- Annual mean salary: $30,490
- Employment: 37,280
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fresno, CA ($46,610)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($46,430)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($42,620)
#50. Veterinary technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $38,010
- #71 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 840
National
- Annual mean salary: $36,670
- Employment: 110,650
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI ($76,660)
--- Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA ($57,740)
--- Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($50,100)

#49. Psychiatric aides
- Annual mean salary: $38,700
- #17 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 260
National
- Annual mean salary: $32,590
- Employment: 55,020
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Utica-Rome, NY ($48,280)
--- Rochester, NY ($45,890)
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($45,010)
#48. Medical assistants
- Annual mean salary: $41,670
- #20 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 7,540
National
- Annual mean salary: $35,720
- Employment: 712,430
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($49,880)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($48,920)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($47,140)
#47. Phlebotomists
- Annual mean salary: $42,000
- #28 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,270
National
- Annual mean salary: $36,480
- Employment: 128,290
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($58,610)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($54,040)
--- Redding, CA ($52,310)
#46. Pharmacy technicians
- Annual mean salary: $43,090
- #28 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,930
National
- Annual mean salary: $35,250
- Employment: 417,780
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($51,090)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($50,790)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($50,070)
#45. Dietetic technicians
- Annual mean salary: $45,910
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
National
- Annual mean salary: $31,180
- Employment: 29,230
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN ($52,880)
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($45,910)
--- Salinas, CA ($44,730)
#44. Medical equipment preparers
- Annual mean salary: $46,750
- #17 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 610
National
- Annual mean salary: $39,530
- Employment: 56,900
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($63,400)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($61,080)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($60,670)
#43. Dental assistants
- Annual mean salary: $49,370
- #14 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,960
National
- Annual mean salary: $41,170
- Employment: 351,470
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($56,010)
--- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI ($54,510)
--- Rochester, MN ($53,010)
#42. Ophthalmic medical technicians
- Annual mean salary: $50,270
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 220
National
- Annual mean salary: $38,760
- Employment: 58,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Duluth, MN-WI ($56,620)
--- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI ($53,770)
--- New Bedford, MA ($53,250)
#41. Opticians, dispensing
- Annual mean salary: $50,880
- #18 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 600
National
- Annual mean salary: $40,730
- Employment: 72,330
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Utica-Rome, NY ($70,730)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($68,970)
--- New Haven, CT ($66,020)

#40. Athletic trainers
- Annual mean salary: $51,010
- #63 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100
National
- Annual mean salary: $50,540
- Employment: 28,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($73,250)
--- Lansing-East Lansing, MI ($66,390)
--- Trenton, NJ ($65,320)
#39. Recreational therapists
- Annual mean salary: $53,480
- #31 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $51,130
- Employment: 19,070
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA ($83,590)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($82,800)
--- Fresno, CA ($82,170)
#38. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
- Annual mean salary: $54,750
- #61 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,030
National
- Annual mean salary: $48,500
- Employment: 697,510
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($69,490)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($68,160)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($67,990)
#37. Exercise physiologists
- Annual mean salary: $58,230
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $54,750
- Employment: 7,280
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($184,950)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($88,760)
--- Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL ($69,300)

#36. Hearing aid specialists
- Annual mean salary: $58,860
- #15 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90
National
- Annual mean salary: $55,360
- Employment: 8,210
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL ($91,510)
--- Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL ($77,450)
--- Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI ($75,800)
#35. Physical therapist assistants
- Annual mean salary: $61,480
- #90 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 470
National
- Annual mean salary: $58,520
- Employment: 96,840
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($78,530)
--- Victoria, TX ($78,070)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($75,470)
#34. Surgical technologists
- Annual mean salary: $62,550
- #16 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 770
National
- Annual mean salary: $50,110
- Employment: 109,000
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($74,280)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($72,790)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($69,750)
#33. Massage therapists
- Annual mean salary: $63,160
- #12 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,830
National
- Annual mean salary: $47,180
- Employment: 107,240
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Anchorage, AK ($76,930)
--- Yakima, WA ($72,870)
--- College Station-Bryan, TX ($70,090)
#32. Occupational therapy assistants
- Annual mean salary: $63,850
- #68 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 250
National
- Annual mean salary: $61,880
- Employment: 44,990
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($92,580)
--- Visalia-Porterville, CA ($83,690)
--- Reno, NV ($81,800)

#31. Chiropractors
- Annual mean salary: $66,430
- #119 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 650
National
- Annual mean salary: $85,010
- Employment: 35,010
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Toledo, OH ($160,330)
--- Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN ($149,580)
--- Reno, NV ($140,260)
#30. Orthotists and prosthetists
- Annual mean salary: $72,000
- #23 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100
National
- Annual mean salary: $72,810
- Employment: 9,830
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($129,500)
--- Jackson, MS ($122,740)
--- Springfield, MA-CT ($103,700)
#29. Respiratory therapists
- Annual mean salary: $72,090
- #36 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 730
National
- Annual mean salary: $63,950
- Employment: 132,090
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($101,520)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($98,810)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($97,950)
#28. Dietitians and nutritionists
- Annual mean salary: $73,750
- #22 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 360
National
- Annual mean salary: $62,330
- Employment: 67,670
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($88,350)
--- Salinas, CA ($87,930)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($87,890)
#27. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $77,480
- #12 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 440
National
- Annual mean salary: $59,600
- Employment: 56,110
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salem, OR ($106,620)
--- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($103,050)
--- Medford, OR ($82,780)
#26. Radiologic technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $78,990
- #21 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,090
National
- Annual mean salary: $63,120
- Employment: 207,360
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($110,180)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($109,680)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($103,670)
#25. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists
- Annual mean salary: $87,440
- #20 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 280
National
- Annual mean salary: $74,270
- Employment: 37,900
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($124,950)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($104,870)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($99,920)
#24. Audiologists
- Annual mean salary: $87,690
- #24 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
National
- Annual mean salary: $83,900
- Employment: 13,590
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Reno, NV ($146,950)
--- Fresno, CA ($131,270)
--- Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR ($120,440)
#23. Physical therapists
- Annual mean salary: $87,910
- #198 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,680
National
- Annual mean salary: $90,170
- Employment: 233,350
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Yuba City, CA ($116,360)
--- Bakersfield, CA ($116,120)
--- Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($113,950)
#22. Speech-language pathologists
- Annual mean salary: $88,270
- #63 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 970
National
- Annual mean salary: $82,000
- Employment: 154,360
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($117,710)
--- Corvallis, OR ($105,380)
--- Chico, CA ($104,640)
#21. Dental hygienists
- Annual mean salary: $89,110
- #42 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,510
National
- Annual mean salary: $77,230
- Employment: 221,560
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($140,150)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($120,420)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($113,940)
#20. Nuclear medicine technologists
- Annual mean salary: $90,460
- #15 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90
National
- Annual mean salary: $80,240
- Employment: 18,110
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($127,930)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($124,660)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($119,340)
#19. Diagnostic medical sonographers
- Annual mean salary: $92,260
- #18 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 680
National
- Annual mean salary: $75,780
- Employment: 72,790
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($126,850)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($118,880)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($115,280)
#18. Occupational therapists
- Annual mean salary: $92,270
- #54 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 810
National
- Annual mean salary: $86,210
- Employment: 133,570
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- The Villages, FL ($115,090)
--- Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($108,870)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($107,450)
#17. Registered nurses
- Annual mean salary: $95,420
- #24 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 22,100
National
- Annual mean salary: $77,460
- Employment: 2,982,280
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($140,740)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($138,000)
--- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($134,000)
#16. Radiation therapists
- Annual mean salary: $108,800
- #9 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130
National
- Annual mean salary: $91,620
- Employment: 17,860
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($142,300)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($126,260)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($124,720)
#15. Nurse midwives
- Annual mean salary: $113,030
- #13 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 150
National
- Annual mean salary: $108,810
- Employment: 6,930
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($163,020)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($156,450)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($130,140)

#14. Nurse practitioners
- Annual mean salary: $114,280
- #100 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,420
National
- Annual mean salary: $111,840
- Employment: 200,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($175,060)
--- Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA ($160,110)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($157,150)
#13. Physician assistants
- Annual mean salary: $115,710
- #93 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 780
National
- Annual mean salary: $112,410
- Employment: 120,090
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($161,370)
--- Leominster-Gardner, MA ($156,250)
--- Waterbury, CT ($154,550)

#12. Optometrists
- Annual mean salary: $116,020
- #101 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 220
National
- Annual mean salary: $122,980
- Employment: 39,420
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Champaign-Urbana, IL ($238,460)
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($210,490)
--- Evansville, IN-KY ($183,380)
#11. Veterinarians
- Annual mean salary: $127,810
- #21 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 950
National
- Annual mean salary: $104,820
- Employment: 74,540
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sherman-Denison, TX ($210,960)
--- Lubbock, TX ($176,730)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($161,230)
#10. Podiatrists
- Annual mean salary: $131,650
- #33 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $142,680
- Employment: 9,770
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC ($222,760)
--- Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI ($206,190)
--- Scranton--Wilkes-Barre--Hazleton, PA ($200,200)
#9. Pharmacists
- Annual mean salary: $136,510
- #59 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,680
National
- Annual mean salary: $125,510
- Employment: 311,200
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Tyler, TX ($161,790)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($158,250)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($157,850)
#8. Pediatricians, general
- Annual mean salary: $175,440
- #60 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 300
National
- Annual mean salary: $184,410
- Employment: 29,740
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Rockford, IL ($277,390)
--- Killeen-Temple, TX ($273,770)
--- Chico, CA ($270,550)
#7. Dentists, general
- Annual mean salary: $194,370
- #106 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,050
National
- Annual mean salary: $178,260
- Employment: 110,730
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Burlington, NC ($278,360)
--- Burlington-South Burlington, VT ($275,430)
--- Longview, TX ($272,440)

#6. Psychiatrists
- Annual mean salary: $221,120
- #53 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130
National
- Annual mean salary: $220,430
- Employment: 25,530
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($282,400)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($280,270)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($280,200)
#5. Nurse anesthetists
- Annual mean salary: $224,170
- #7 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 170
National
- Annual mean salary: $181,040
- Employment: 43,570
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Toledo, OH ($266,260)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($254,860)
--- Columbus, GA-AL ($247,540)
#4. Obstetricians and gynecologists
- Annual mean salary: $228,030
- #43 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 150
National
- Annual mean salary: $233,610
- Employment: 18,620
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fayetteville, NC ($284,520)
--- Akron, OH ($282,650)
--- Albuquerque, NM ($281,800)
#3. General internal medicine physicians
- Annual mean salary: $239,150
- #35 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 240
National
- Annual mean salary: $201,440
- Employment: 44,610
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sioux Falls, SD ($282,610)
--- Rapid City, SD ($280,990)
--- Barnstable Town, MA ($280,500)
#2. Family medicine physicians
- Annual mean salary: $254,480
- #31 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 480
National
- Annual mean salary: $213,270
- Employment: 109,370
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Racine, WI ($286,030)
--- Jacksonville, NC ($282,580)
--- Gadsden, AL ($281,430)
#1. Anesthesiologists
- Annual mean salary: $270,110
- #11 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 390
National
- Annual mean salary: $261,730
- Employment: 31,010
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL ($283,660)
--- Tulsa, OK ($281,080)
--- Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ ($276,350)



