Travel Nurse Pay in Oregon (2026)
Oregon pays staff RNs some of the highest wages in the country, taxes them hard, and sits outside the Nurse Licensure Compact. Here is what the numbers say.
By the NursePayLab editorial team · Updated $1
Key numbers at a glance
| Pay measure | Oregon | U.S. overall |
|---|---|---|
| Staff RN median hourly wage (BLS OEWS, May 2025) | $62.02 | $46.90 |
| Staff RN median annual wage (BLS OEWS, May 2025) | $129,010 | $97,550 |
| Staff RN mean annual wage (BLS OEWS, May 2025) | $123,140 | $101,420 |
| Registered nurses employed (BLS OEWS, May 2025) | 39,730 | 3,379,720 |
Travel nurse pay in Oregon: the numbers
The baseline is remarkable. Per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey (May 2025), Oregon employs 39,730 registered nurses at a median wage of $62.02 an hour ($129,010 a year) — the highest median in this state series, roughly 32% above the $46.90 an hour ($97,550) national median — with a mean of $123,140. A tight labor market, West Coast cost of living and the state's nurse staffing rules have pushed hospital wages up faster than nearly anywhere. The counterweight is the tax code: Oregon runs four graduated brackets from 4.75% up to 9.9%, and a typical traveler's taxable wages fall in the 8.75% bracket, per the Oregon Department of Revenue — one of the steepest takes in the country, softened only partly by having no state sales tax.
| Pay measure | Oregon | U.S. overall |
|---|---|---|
| Staff RN median hourly wage (BLS OEWS, May 2025) | $62.02 | $46.90 |
| Staff RN median annual wage (BLS OEWS, May 2025) | $129,010 | $97,550 |
| Staff RN mean annual wage (BLS OEWS, May 2025) | $123,140 | $101,420 |
| Registered nurses employed (BLS OEWS, May 2025) | 39,730 | 3,379,720 |
| Typical travel gross package (hedged — varies by specialty, facility, season) | roughly $2,000–$3,100/week | roughly $1,800–$3,200/week |
| State income tax on wages, 2026 | graduated, 4.75%–9.9% | varies by state |
Treat the travel band as hedged market context, not a quote: routine med-surg in a suburban Portland hospital can land below it, while ICU, NICU and L&D contracts in the Portland systems and regional referral centers routinely clear the top — high staff wages force hospitals to bid contractors above them. Licensure is the gate: Oregon is not part of the Nurse Licensure Compact — a bill to join was introduced in the 2025 legislative session but the state remained outside as of late 2026 — so every traveler needs an Oregon license by endorsement through the Oregon State Board of Nursing; verify current rules and start weeks early. Compare Oregon against the neighbors on the travel nurse pay by state hub.
The map: Portland dominates with several competing systems, the state's academic medical center and the widest specialty mix. Salem and Eugene add steady mid-market volume. Bend pairs a strong regional referral hospital with mountain-town rents — price housing there before assuming the stipend covers it — and Medford anchors the south. Rural eastern Oregon and the coast post some of the state's best premiums precisely because fewer travelers want them, and Portland's GSA lodging maxima run far above the small-town tables, which shows up directly in stipend ceilings.
How stipends change the math in Oregon
An Oregon offer splits into taxable wages and tax-free stipends, and nowhere is the split more valuable: at an 8.75% marginal state rate, every dollar shifted from taxable wage into compliant stipend is worth more than in almost any other state. Housing and meal stipends stay untaxed only while you maintain a valid tax home with duplicated living expenses, and they are capped by the GSA per diem tables for your assignment city. Portland's tables sit near the top of the national range, so Portland contracts can legally carry much larger tax-free housing stipends than the same job in a small city — that is the mechanism that keeps Oregon offers competitive despite the tax. Decide early whether to take the stipend or agency housing; in Portland that choice is routinely worth several hundred dollars a week.
Illustrative contract, Portland: $25 an hour taxable times 36 guaranteed hours is $900 of weekly taxable gross. Federal income tax runs about $69 a week for a single filer after the standard deduction, FICA about $69, and Oregon income tax roughly $68 at typical travel wages — call it $694 net from the taxable side. Add $1,500 housing plus $450 meals and incidentals, untaxed with a valid tax home, and weekly take-home is about $2,640, a blended rate near $73 an hour. A 13-week contract lands near $34,400. Run your own offer through the take-home pay calculator — this is an estimate, not tax advice.
The comparison that matters: Oregon's 8.75% bracket punishes high-taxable offers, so when comparing an Oregon package against a no-tax state, push the taxable rate down and the stipends to the GSA ceiling before judging it. A $2,800 Oregon week structured as $900 taxable plus $1,900 in stipends nets close to a much larger-looking gross elsewhere. The flip risk is audit-side: agencies advertising very low taxable wages with very large stipends are exporting risk onto you — the GSA caps and a bona fide tax home are the guardrails. Score any two offers with the contract comparison calculator or the blended rate calculator, and if this is your first contract, walk the first assignment checklist before you sign anything.
FAQ
How much do travel nurses make in Oregon?
Oregon staff RNs earn a median of $129,010 a year ($62.02 an hour) per BLS OEWS May 2025 data — the highest median in this state series and about 32% above the $97,550 national median. Travel packages typically run roughly $2,000–$3,100 a week gross depending on city and specialty, with Portland on the higher end.
How much is Oregon income tax for travel nurses?
Oregon runs four graduated brackets from 4.75% up to 9.9%, and a typical traveler's taxable wages fall in the 8.75% bracket, per the Oregon Department of Revenue. Expect roughly $60–$85 a week of state tax on a standard contract. Offsetting it: Oregon charges no state sales tax.
Is Oregon part of the Nurse Licensure Compact?
No. Oregon is not a Nurse Licensure Compact member — a bill to join was introduced in the 2025 legislative session but the state remained outside the compact as of late 2026. You need an Oregon RN license by endorsement through the Oregon State Board of Nursing; start it early.
Where are the biggest travel nurse markets in Oregon?
Portland dominates with several competing systems and the state's academic medical center. Salem, Eugene and Bend add steady demand — Bend pairs mountain-town rents with a strong regional referral hospital — and Medford and the rural southern and eastern counties post real premiums for scarce specialties.
Are stipends tax-free in Oregon?
Federal rules decide, not Salem: housing and meal stipends are tax-free only while you maintain a valid tax home and duplicated living expenses, capped by GSA per diem rates for the assignment city. Oregon's income tax applies to your taxable wages only; it does not change how stipends are treated.
Why are Oregon RN wages so high?
A tight nurse labor market, high cost of living and Oregon's nurse staffing rules have pushed hospital wages up faster than most states — the May 2025 BLS median of $62.02 an hour trails only a few West Coast peers. High staff pay raises the floor under travel rates too, because hospitals must beat the staff wage to attract contractors.