Portland, Oregon

Nursing in PortlandPay, hospitals and openings.

Thinking about a nursing job in Portland? This guide pulls together what matters before you apply — what RNs actually earn here, what it costs to live here, which hospitals are hiring, and where to look next.

$130,310Median RN pay
24,220RNs employed
$1,9222-bed rent / month
173Employers listed
Nursing in Portland, OR: median RN pay $130,310

What RNs earn in Portland

Registered nurses in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro earn a median of $130,310 a year, 34% above the national RN median of $97,550. The middle half of RNs here earn between $108,280 and $136,460, so experience, specialty and shift differentials can move you a long way inside that range. Among the 60 metro markets The RN Network tracks, Portland ranks #8 for median RN pay.

RoleMedianTypical range
Registered Nurse$130,310$108,280 – $136,460
Nurse Practitioner$158,890$140,030 – $170,660
Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)$246,070$236,360 – $299,260
Nurse Midwife$147,140$132,900 – $160,010

Powered by RN Workforce Insights™ · 2025 annual pay. Typical range is the 25th to 75th percentile.

Cost of living and the Portland nursing market

Pay only tells half the story. A two-bedroom apartment at fair market rent runs about $1,922 a month in Portland, which is roughly 18% of a median RN salary before taxes. That leaves RNs here more room in the budget than in most big nursing markets.

About 24,220 RNs work in this metro, the #31 largest RN workforce of the markets we track. The RN Network directory lists 173 healthcare employers in Portland, Vancouver and Hillsboro, including 76 behavioral health facilities, 38 long-term care facilities, 24 outpatient surgery centers and 17 hospitals.

Hiring nurses in Portland?

How long has your hardest Portland RN role been open? Every week a position sits empty costs your team extra shifts, overtime and the good nurses who start looking elsewhere. Pick the fastest way to fill it.

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Know this market before you hire

RN Workforce Insights™ shows time to fill, turnover and nurse supply for Portland, so you plan hiring around real numbers.

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Fill the roles a posting won't

The RN Network's Recruiting Services team goes and gets them, finding and presenting qualified RNs for the roles that will not fill from a posting.

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Run a facility in Portland? Feature it in the directory →

Career advice for Portland nurses

Watch the latest episode of Nursing Matters, the show that helps nurses find the right job, land the offer and grow their careers.

You Passed the NCLEX. Can You Lose This License? Nursing Matters Episode 102626

Nursing Matters · Oct 26, 2026

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Medical Surgical Nurse Career: The Leadership Roles Panels Count

Happy Medical-Surgical Nurses Week, which the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses celebrates November 1 through 7 and which opens today.

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Common questions about nursing in Portland

How much do registered nurses make in Portland?

The median RN salary in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro is $130,310 a year, and the middle half of RNs earn between $108,280 and $136,460.

What do nurse practitioners earn in Portland?

Nurse practitioners in the Portland metro earn a median of $158,890 a year.

Can a nurse afford to live in Portland?

A two-bedroom apartment at fair market rent costs about $1,922 a month in Portland, roughly 18% of a median RN salary before taxes.

Which hospitals hire nurses in Portland?

Hospitals in the Portland area include Portland VA Medical Center, Adventist Health Portland, Kaiser Foundation Hospital Westside, Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center, Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center. See the full list in The RN Network facility directory.

How do I find a nursing job in Portland?

Browse current Oregon openings on The RN Network job board, claim your free Talent Agent profile so employers hiring in Portland can find you, and compare pay using the Oregon salary guide.