How does Oregon stack up in nurse compensation? The newly published report, How Much Do Oregon’s Registered Nurses Earn? The 2023 Oregon Wage Study from the Oregon Center for Nursing helps to address that common question. Tune in for a conversation with OCN Research Director Dr. Richard Allgeyer as we dig into the data and examine Oregon nursing wages at every level—from position type and practice setting to geographic location and cost of living.
This episode delves into the contrasts between acute care and other practice settings—and much more. According to the median hourly wage, the typical RN in Oregon makes $54.63 per hour. While some data points are easily assumed, such as advanced degrees driving up nursing wages, Dr. Allgeyer points out a deeper narrative.
Although nurses in urban areas, such as the Portland metro, earn higher wages per hour, they face a reduction in purchasing power due to the cost of living. In contrast, nurses in rural settings enjoy a financial advantage, with their earnings stretching further relative to living costs. When talking about nursing salaries, incorporating the cost of living into the wage analysis becomes essential.
In rural parts of the state, a nurse’s income can be approximately three times the local living wage. In comparison, in urban areas, it is only 2.6 times. This metric points to the seeming influence of geography on a nurse’s financial well-being. It also serves as a crucial tool for healthcare employers in rural regions to attract talent by emphasizing lower living costs.
Dr. Allgeyer also discusses how the data inform the current and future conversations on the economic valuation of nursing practice. OCN’s research is the first state-specific insight that nursing leaders have into nursing wages and pay equity.
The State of Wellness podcast is hosted by the Oregon Center for Nursing, the state’s nonprofit nursing workforce center. Learn more at oregoncenterfornursing.org/podcast.
Resources Mentioned in the Episode
