How Much Does an RN Make in Salem, OR in 2026?
Typical pay for RNs in Salem, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Oregon.
BLS OES May 2025 · Salem metro area
A typical RN in Salem, Oregon earns $63.34 per hour, or $131,750 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $10,979 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $101,180, and the top 10% of earners make over $157,970.
That pay is 2% above the Oregon figure of $129,010 and 35% above the national figure of $97,550. Salem ranks 2nd of 7 metro areas in Oregon for RN pay. About 4,010 RNs work in the Salem area.
RN pay in Salem at a glance
- Typical pay is $63.34 an hour, or $131,750 a year.
- That is 2% above the Oregon figure, ranking 2nd of 7 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $101,180; the top 10% make over $157,970.
- Typical pay rose +65% from 2015 to 2025, against +51% for Oregon as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an RN make in Salem?
Pay in Salem runs from entry-level positions at around $48.64 an hour to more than $75.95 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Oregon and national figures.
RN pay by career stage in Salem
| Career stage | Salem | Oregon | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $101,180$48.64 an hour | $95,280$45.81 an hour | $68,940$33.14 an hour |
| First years | $109,870$52.82 an hour | $107,220$51.55 an hour | $80,330$38.62 an hour |
| Typical RN | $131,750$63.34 an hour | $129,010$62.02 an hour | $97,550$46.90 an hour |
| Experienced | $132,930$63.91 an hour | $134,420$64.63 an hour | $112,350$54.02 an hour |
| Top 10% | $157,970$75.95 an hour | $155,010$74.52 an hour | $137,470$66.09 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Salem area as BLS defines it
RN pay growth in Salem
Typical (median) annual wage for RNs in the Salem area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical RN pay in Salem was $80,010 a year. By 2025 it had reached $131,750, a change of +65%, compared with +51% for Oregon over the same years.
How Salem compares with other Oregon cities
Bend pays RNs the most in Oregon at $135,010 a year, $3,260 more than Salem. The lowest-paying area in the state is Grants Pass at $106,710.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Salem | RNs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bend | $135,010 | $64.91 | +2% | 2,500 |
| 2 | Salem | $131,750 | $63.34 | this city | 4,010 |
| 3 | Portland | $130,310 | $62.65 | -1% | 24,220 |
| 4 | Medford | $127,030 | $61.07 | -4% | 2,370 |
| 5 | Eugene metro incl. Springfield | $113,720 | $54.67 | -14% | 3,590 |
| 6 | Albany | $111,920 | $53.81 | -15% | 580 |
| 7 | Grants Pass | $106,710 | $51.30 | -19% | 540 |
Every metro area in Oregon with RN wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Oregon typical pay $129,010
Is Salem a good place to work as an RN?
RNs in Salem earn a strong wage by national standards: typical pay is $131,750 a year, 35% above the national figure. For every 1,000 jobs in the Salem area, about 21 are RN positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 22. RN jobs make up about the same share of the job market as they do across the country.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an RN make in Salem, OR?
- A typical RN in Salem earns $131,750 a year, or $63.34 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $101,180 and the top 10% earn over $157,970.
- How much does an RN make an hour in Salem?
- Typical hourly pay for RNs in Salem is $63.34. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $48.64, and the top 10% earn over $75.95 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an RN in Salem?
- Entry-level RN positions in Salem typically offer around $48.64 an hour, or $101,180 a year.
- Is RN pay in Salem higher than in the rest of Oregon?
- Salem pay is 2% above the Oregon figure of $129,010 a year, ranking 2nd of 7 metro areas in the state. Bend pays the most in Oregon at $135,010.