Minimum Wage in Oregon

For business owners and managers, it is essential to know what you are legally obligated to pay your employees. Many states in the US have different laws, rules, and regulations when it comes to the minimum wage, and it is crucial to be equipped with everything there is to know regarding the minimum wage for your specific state.

In this guide, we will be focusing on Oregon’s statewide minimum wage. Oregon is one of 22 states where the minimum wage is higher than the federal wage. The federal minimum wage currently sits at $7.25 per hour and has been for many years.

The minimum wage in Oregon is unique to most other states as there is a minimum wage for 3 separate state areas, “Standard”, “Portland Metro”, and “Nonurban Counties”, which are all calculated via the consumer price index, measuring the cost of living, inflation, and other important factors that have a say in determining how much people should be paid.

You might be interested to know that the Oregon minimum wage is ranked in the top 10 highest state minimum wages in the United States, which is pretty impressive!

Did the Oregon Minimum Wage Go Up?

The graphic below highlights the various Oregon minimum wage rates. The minimum wage did go up in 2022 for all three areas within the state. The standard Oregon minimum wage rate went up to $13.00 per hour, Portland metro area increased to $14.75 per hour, and the Non-urban counties rose to $12.50 per hour.

Oregon Minimum Wage 2022

As mentioned previously, the Oregon minimum wage 2022 is quite different when compared with most other states. The three designated Oregon state areas have different minimum wages from one another, meaning if you work for an employer within one of these areas you will be subject to that area’s minimum wage.

The Oregon minimum wage increase is generally reviewed each year and the increase goes into effect in July of each year, rather than January, which is the month that most states tend to enact any increase in their minimum wage. This means, as an employer in Oregon, you can legally pay employees the 2021 rate until July 2022, after this, the 2022 rate comes into effect.

What are the Standard and Nonurban Counties?

Oregon’s Standard area has a minimum wage that is calculated via the consumer price index, where it is measured against the cost of living, house prices, and other economical factors. Here are all the counties within Oregon’s standard area:

• Clatsop
• Columbia
• Tillamook
• Yamhill
• Polk
• Marion
• Lincoln
• Benton
• Linn
• Hood River
• Wasco
• Lane
• Deschutes
• Josephine
• Jackson

Oregon’s metro area minimum wage is calculated by adding on $1.25 to the standard area’s minimum wage each year, here are the counties within the Portland metro area:

• Washington
• Multnomah
• Clackamas

The non-urban counties in Oregon that are subject to the lowest minimum wage rate within the state are as follows:

• Coos
• Douglas
• Curry
• Klamath
• Lake
• Harney
• Malheur
• Crook
• Grant
• Baker
• Wheeler
• Jefferson
• Wheeler
• Grant
• Baker
• Wallowa
• Union
• Umatilla
• Morrow
• Gilliam
• Sherman

The table below provides the history of Oregon’s minimum wage over the years since 1983.