What does a Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health salary really buy you in Oregon?
Oregon is 6.6% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
Oregon's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 106.6, meaning prices are 6.6% higher the national average. A Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health earning $53,350 in Oregon has the equivalent purchasing power of $50,046 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Oregon's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $35,870 | $33,649 | $-2,220 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $42,680 | $40,037 | $-2,642 |
| Median (P50) | $53,350 | $50,046 | $-3,303 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $71,840 | $67,392 | $-4,447 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $97,330 | $91,303 | $-6,026 |
While $53,350 sounds high, Oregon's elevated cost of living erases 6% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $50,046. Consider whether the higher pay offsets the higher costs.
Where does Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Oregon ranks #35 out of 48 states for Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health after cost-of-living adjustment.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.
A Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health in Oregon earns a median salary of $53,350 per year. After adjusting for Oregon's cost of living (RPP=106.6), the real purchasing power is $50,046 — a -6.2% difference.
Oregon's cost of living is 6.6% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Oregon is 106.6 (US average = 100).
Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.
The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health in Oregon: $53,350 x (100 / 106.6) = $50,046. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health's nominal salary of $53,350 in Oregon has 6.2% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $50,046. However, Oregon may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.