Mechanical Engineer.
Portland.
$109,000
median salary, 7% above the national average
$87,000 to $139,000. Last updated August 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
If you are evaluating a Mechanical Engineer offer in Portland, OR, here is the reality: $87,000 to $139,000, with $109,000 as the midpoint. 7% above the national average. Industry placement creates the widest pay gaps, with automotive, aerospace, and energy sector roles paying 15 to 30% more than HVAC or consumer products. Do not accept the first number. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page.
Salary range.
Where do you fall?
Orbyt estimate for Mechanical Engineer in Portland, modelled from national occupation wages adjusted for local cost of living. The published government benchmark for this occupation is below.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $105,020 for Mechanical Engineers (SOC 17-2141) in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metropolitan area, based on 2,520 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$78,210
25th percentile
$95,630
Median
$105,020
75th percentile
$130,680
90th percentile
$165,040
Workers surveyed
2,520
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Mechanical Engineers (SOC 17-2141) rather than Mechanical Engineer specifically. The Portland range at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.
View the BLS source for SOC 17-2141Salary by experience.
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $98,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$71,000
to $87,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$93,000
to $114,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$120,000
to $142,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$136,000
to $169,000
Total compensation.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $24,000 to the total package.
Base
$109,000
Equity
$13,000
Bonus
$9,000
Signing
$2,000
Estimated total: $133,000
How Portland compares.
Portland, OR
$109,000
Cost of living: 10% above average
National Average
$102,000
Portland is $7,000 above
Mechanical Engineer salary by city.
Salary by role in Portland.
What you should know.
Here is what the Mechanical Engineer market actually looks like in Portland. Portland's tech scene is anchored by Intel's semiconductor campus and a strong cluster of sportswear and creative companies including Nike and Adidas. The city attracts professionals who value work life balance and sustainability. Salaries are moderate compared to Seattle, but the lower cost of living makes Portland a solid value proposition. Industry placement creates the widest pay gaps, with automotive, aerospace, and energy sector roles paying 15 to 30% more than HVAC or consumer products. CAD/CAE proficiency, FEA simulation skills, and experience with additive manufacturing or robotics integration command premiums in the current market.
Entry-level mechanical engineers start at $70,000 to $82,000. Senior engineers earn $90,000 to $118,000 after five to seven years. Engineering managers reach $120,000 to $155,000, with directors at large manufacturers earning $160,000 to $200,000. In Portland, cost of living sits near the national average, so the numbers you see are roughly what you keep.
Base salary is not the full picture. Manufacturing firms offer bonuses of 5 to 12% tied to project milestones and cost savings. Automotive OEMs include profit-sharing of $3,000 to $12,000 annually. Many employers provide PE exam support and professional society membership fees. And on the tax side: oregon has no sales tax, but state income tax rates climb to 9.9%. Portland adds a local arts tax and metro supportive housing tax. Factor these into your net pay calculations. When someone quotes you $109,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Highlight your willingness to work hybrid in Portland's tech campuses. Intel, Nike, and other major employers reward in person collaboration with higher compensation bands. The range for Mechanical Engineers in Portland runs from $87,000 to $139,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: BLS OES, H-1B LCA (DOL). COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified July 1, 2026. Full methodology
Considering a related role?
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Common questions.
Mechanical Engineer salary in other cities.
Other salaries in Portland.
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Cite this data
Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.
"Mechanical Engineer Salary in Portland, OR." Orbyt Salary Explorer, August 2026. https://www.orbytlabs.ai/orbyt-jobs/salaries/mechanical-engineer/portland
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