Certifications & licenses in Oregon

Compare requirements, salaries, and career paths for 28 professional credentials in OR. Data from BLS OEWS and primary state licensing sources.

Tracked careers

Top-paying

Registered Nurse (RN)

$129,010

insights

What's different about Oregon

Licensing landscape in Oregon

Oregon Health Licensing Office

distinct boards

COSMETOLOGY

As of July 1, 2024, required training for hair design is 1,110 hours and for nail technology is 241 hours.

Oregon Health Authority, Board of Cosmetology

MASSAGE THERAPY

Oregon requires 625 hours of education from an accredited school to become a Licensed Massage Therapist.

Oregon Board of Massage Therapists

EMT

An initial Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) course in Oregon is approximately 160 hours.

Oregon Health Authority

ELECTRICAL

A general journeyman electrician license requires 8,000 hours of on-the-job experience and 576 hours of classroom instruction.

Oregon Building Codes Division

Metro concentration of certified careers

Where certified careers cluster

Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA

134,230 jobs

Office and Administrative Support

BLS OEWS May 2024

Salem, OR

22,450 jobs

Office and Administrative Support

BLS OEWS May 2024

Eugene-Springfield, OR

16,090 jobs

Food Preparation and Serving Related

BLS OEWS May 2024

Cost-of-living adjusted earnings in Oregon

What nominal wages are actually worth in Oregon

110.0

COL composite index

MERIC Q3 2024

131.7

Housing index

38th in US

National rank

A $75,000 salary in Oregon has roughly the purchasing power of a $68,182 salary in an average-cost-of-living state.

Regional comparison: Oregon vs. neighbors

Oregon vs. neighboring states

Certified Nursing Assistant · Median annual wage

State	Median annual wage	vs OR
OR	$49,830	—
CA	$47,630	-4% vs OR
WA	$49,180	-1% vs OR
ID	$38,650	-22% vs OR
NV	$45,490	-9% vs OR

Massage Therapist · Required training hours

State	Required training hours	vs OR
OR	625 hours	—
CA	500 hours	-125 hours
WA	500 hours	-125 hours
ID	500 hours	-125 hours
NV	500 hours	-125 hours

Sources (8)

health_and_safety

Healthcare in Oregon

14 paths

Career	License	Median salary	Time	Est. cost
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)	Required	$49,830	6-12 weeks	—
Dental Assistant	No	$59,490	3-6 months	—
EMT	Required	$49,270	3-6 months	—
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)	Required	$80,470	3-6 weeks	—
Medical Assistant	No	$50,410	9-24 months	—
Medical Coder	No	$59,000	4-12 months	—
Paramedic	Required	$74,840	1 year	—
Pharmacy Technician	Required	$54,900	3-12 months	—
Phlebotomist	No	$49,160	4-16 weeks	—
Radiology Technologist	Required	$102,290	2 years	—
Registered Nurse (RN)	Required	$129,010	2-4 years	—
Respiratory Therapist	Required	$100,560	2-4 years	—
Surgical Technologist	No	$81,390	9-24 months	—
Dental Hygienist	Required	$122,080	2-4 years	—

construction

Skilled Trades in Oregon

5 paths

Career	License	Median salary	Time	Est. cost
CDL Truck Driver	Required	$61,980	3-8 weeks	—
Electrician	Required	$101,310	4 years	—
HVAC Technician	Required	$62,940	2-4 years	—
Plumber	Required	$97,050	4 years	$250
Welder	Required	$59,450	1-5 years	—

spa

Personal Care & Wellness in Oregon

4 paths

Career	License	Median salary	Time	Est. cost
Personal Trainer	No	$58,510	3-6 months	—
Barber	Required	$77,430	8-12 months	—
Cosmetologist	Required	$57,580	9-12 months	—
Massage Therapist	Required	$86,970	6-12 months	—

business_center

Professional & Business in Oregon

5 paths

Career	License	Median salary	Time	Est. cost
CPA (Certified Public Accountant)	Required	$85,800	2-4 years	$1,210
Notary Public	Required	—	4-6 weeks	$100
Paralegal	Required	$61,490	—	—
Insurance Agent	Required	$61,680	1-2 months	—
Real Estate Agent	Required	$61,610	4-6 months	—