Are you looking for high-paying CNA, LPN, or RN jobs in Oregon? Apply for per diem nursing jobs from the palm of your hand with our PRN nurse staffing app.
StatesAre you looking for high-paying CNA, LPN, or RN jobs in Oregon? Apply for per diem nursing jobs from the palm of your hand with our PRN nurse staffing app.
Are you a nurse looking for the best nursing jobs in Oregon? Are you a high school graduate interested in pursuing a career in nursing? Regardless of your current state or needs, if it has to do with the nursing profession in Oregon, we have got you covered.
This ultimate guide to working as a nurse or nursing assistant in Oregon covers everything from the best nursing programs to average nurse salaries and the cost of living in this state. Read on for this and more!
Getting a nursing license in Oregon is basically the same as in any other state. The first step is choosing a nursing program. The following are the main options aspiring nurses can choose from
What better way to evaluate the quality of a nursing program than by its first-time NCLEX pass rate? On this note, here are the 2021 first-time NCLEX pass rates of practical nurse programs in Oregon organized from highest to lowest:
Want to become an RN as quickly as possible? An ADN program may be the best option for you. Here are ADN programs in Oregon organized from highest to lowest 2021 first-time NCLEX pass rates:
Have you opted to invest the time and money required to obtain a BSN? Once those paychecks start rolling in, you certainly won’t regret it. Now, you might as well aim for the very best bachelor’s nursing program. To help you choose the very best, here are BSN programs in Oregon from the highest to the lowest 2021 first-time NCLEX pass rates:
Another path to enter the nursing profession is to become a certified nursing assistant (CNA) first. A CNA program can take as little as four weeks to complete and is an excellent way to begin working in healthcare before graduating as a nurse. Of course, working as a CNA is an excellent career choice in itself, but if you decide to continue your studies and become an RN, having previous work experience as a CNA can increase your annual RN salary by $3,400 to $7,700.
After you complete this four-week program, you can begin looking for CNA jobs in Oregon. Did you know that Oregon is the fifth-highest-paying state for CNAs nationwide? Here are the hourly, weekly, monthly, and annual wages for CNAs living in Oregon:
Truth be told, you can’t expect to earn $38,830 annually right off the bat since this is the average salary for all CNAs in Oregon, with and without work experience and certifications. With this in mind, here are the average salaries at different levels of CNA income in Oregon, starting with an entry-level income and ending with the highest-paid CNA salary:
Another important consideration when it comes to CNA salary is where you live. In fact, the average CNA salary in Oregon can vary by over $5,000 annually, depending on location. On this note, here are the average annual CNA salaries in different areas of Oregon from highest to lowest:
Are you an LPN or on the road to becoming one? Then, this section is for you. Here is the complete breakdown of the average LPN salary in Oregon:
Furthermore, here are the LPN salary percentiles in Oregon, reflecting LPN salary from an entry-level job all the way to the highest-paying LPN jobs in Oregon:
As is the case with the average CNA salary in Oregon, LPN salaries also vary from one area of Oregon to the next. In fact, the average LPN in Portland earns over $6,000 more per year than the average LPN in Redmond. With this in mind, let’s take a look at the average LPN salaries in different areas of Oregon:
If you’re not yet an RN, you will want to become one after seeing the average salary for RN jobs in Oregon. The following are the average hourly, weekly, monthly, and annual RN wages in Oregon:
An annual salary of $98,630 already sounds amazing, but wait until you see how much you can earn as an RN with more years of work experience and nursing certifications under your scrubs. The following percentiles show the full scope of RN salaries in Oregon, from the lowest- to the highest-paid RNs:
As we have seen with CNA salaries and LPN salaries, RN salaries vary significantly from one area of Oregon to the next. In fact, the average nurse in the Portland-Hillsboro area earns over $12,000 more annually than the average RN in Salem. Here are the average RN salaries in different parts of Oregon:
Now, salary is important, and it’s understandably one of the topics we are most anxious to learn about regarding our chosen professions. However, there is another financial consideration that is as important as salary: cost of living. Earning the highest-possible salary is worth nothing unless it is enough to cover basic living expenses. Therefore, it’s time to analyze to what extent CNA, LPN, and RN salaries in Oregon can cover the cost of living in this state.
According to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) living wage calculator, the lowest hourly wage needed to cover living expenses in Oregon is $19.38 for a single adult. This basic amount naturally increases for adults with children.
The following are the living wages required for a single adult to support one or more children in Oregon:
If we recall the average CNA, LPN, and RN salaries in Oregon, we can see that the average CNA cannot support a child in this state. The average LPN could comfortably support themselves but also could not single-handedly support a child. Only a single-parent RN—with an average RN salary—could have sufficient income to support a child in Oregon. Finally, the highest-earning RNs could single-handedly support two children in this state.
Now, these are the living wages required in families with two adults (one working) with one or more children:
As we can see, having another adult in the picture—even if this adult is not working—significantly reduces the cost of living since this parent can eliminate the cost of childcare. The fact remains, however, that even the highest-earning LPNs cannot earn enough on their own to cover the expenses of raising a child in this state.
Finally, here are the required hourly wages for families with two working adults and one or more children:
This situation is obviously the easiest to manage. A high-earning CNA can generate enough income to support one child—as long as the household has a second source of income. The average LPN could support up to two children with the financial contribution of a partner or second adult in the household. Finally, the average RN could comfortably support three children.
Now let’s take a look at the typical living expenses in Oregon households with a single working adult:
Source: Glasmeier, Amy K. Living Wage Calculator. 2020. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. https://livingwage.mit.edu/states/41
Here are the typical living expenses in Oregon households with two adults (one working):
Source: Glasmeier, Amy K. Living Wage Calculator. 2020. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. https://livingwage.mit.edu/states/41
Finally, here are the typical expenses in households with two working adults, with and without children:
Source: Glasmeier, Amy K. Living Wage Calculator. 2020. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. https://livingwage.mit.edu/states/41
Since we have established that the living wage and average salary in a given location are equally important factors in helping nurses determine where to live, let’s take a look at the living hourly wages in Oregon’s main metropolitan areas from lowest to highest:
Now, here comes the moment of truth. The following table shows the annual living wage for a single adult in each metropolitan area in Oregon, along with the average salaries for CNAs, LPNs, and RNs in each location. Depending on your license, you will be able to determine which cities you can support yourself in as a nurse or nursing assistant and which city can offer you the best quality of life.
Table created based on data from the MIT living wage calculator and the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
As we can see, Corvallis and the Portland-Hillsboro area are too expensive for the average CNA salary in these cities. However, in all other cities, CNAs earn enough to cover basic living expenses for a single adult. LPNs and RNs make more than enough to live comfortably in any city in Oregon.
For those of you who are new to Oregon or are just considering moving there, here is a little of what this state has to offer.
Oregon is known for its natural beauty, so if you enjoy hiking, camping, or taking long scenic drives, you will love living in this state. First of all, Oregon has about 363 miles of free and public coastline. The southern coast has more secluded beaches, whereas the central and northern coasts are popular tourist destinations. Secondly, Oregon has 255 state parks! Not only are Oregon’s parks numerous, but they are popular. In fact, this state park system services 46 million daytime visitors and over 2.5 million campers. Oh, and the population of Oregon is only 4.2 million—talk about a favorite hobby!
Here are some parks you won’t want to miss:
Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States, with a depth of 2,000 feet. It is also known as one of the seven wonders of Oregon. It formed over 7,700 years ago after the collapse of the active volcano Mount Mazama. Since no streams or rivers flow into this lake, it has fewer minerals, which helps explain its unique brilliant blue color. It is no surprise that photographers, artists, and other spectators flock to this park year-round to appreciate the majestic views.
This park is another of Oregon’s seven wonders. Its jagged cliffs attract rock climbers, mountain bikers, hikers, and spectators from all over the world. Due to its location, this park sees sunshine nearly year-round, making it one of the most popular parks in Oregon.
Located near Salem, Silver Falls State Park is the largest state park in Oregon. It boasts ten waterfalls, rivers, and canyons, making this park a beautiful place to hike, bike, or camp, surrounded by nature.
Finally, we can’t finish this section on things to do in Oregon without mentioning Portland. Not only is Portland the largest city in Oregon, but it is undoubtedly unique—or weird, as people from Portland might proudly say. When you visit Portland, you can expect anything from spicy doughnuts to naked bike rides. Let’s just say that visiting Portland is an unforgettable experience.
Oregon is one of the highest-paying states for CNAs, LPNs, and RNs—even after factoring in the cost of living. Furthermore, there are numerous quality nursing programs to choose from, making this state an all-around great option for people considering or already in the nursing profession. Finally, Oregon is a beautiful state promising unforgettable experiences.
Want to give it a try? Go ahead and visit Oregon picking up per diem nursing shifts as you go. After all, you don’t have to be a travel nurse to travel.
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