Minimum wage in Oregon, 2000–2026
- Minimum wage in 2026
$15.55 an hour1
In force since Jul 1, 2026.
- On January 1, 2027
$15.55 an hour2
The rate in force since Jul 1, 2026; no later rate was announced by Oct 26, 2026.
- Tipped employees
$15.55 an hour in cash3
Tipped employees get the full minimum wage before tips. Rate shown: $15.55 (standard statewide); $16.80 (Portland metro); $14.55 (nonurban counties).
- Overtime
Premium pay after 40 hours a week4
- Portland minimum wage
$16.80 an hour1
Portland metro rate, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027, per Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries.
The Oregon minimum wage rose from $6.50 in 2000 to $15.55 in 2026
Line chart of the Oregon minimum wage against the federal minimum: $6.50 in 2000, $8.40 in 2010, $12 in 2020, and $15.55 in 2026. The federal minimum was $5.15 in 2000 and $7.25 in 2026.
What a full-time minimum-wage employee costs in Oregon
At $15.55 an hour for 40 hours a week, a new employer with 10 staff pays $32,344 in wages and $3,580 on top (11.1%) in payroll taxes and workers' comp.
- Wages (2,080 paid hours a year)
- $32,344
- Social Security (employer share)6.2%6 of $32,344
- $2,005
- Medicare (employer share)1.45%7 of $32,344
- $469
- Workers' compensation (benchmark index rate)$0.89 per $100 of payroll10
- $288
- Total a year
- $35,924
If you also offer single health coverage, the average employer here pays about $7,726 more a year: a $9,225 average premium11 less $1,499 paid by the employee11.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum wage in Oregon in 2026?
$15.55 an hour since Jul 1, 2026 (the standard rate; it depends on work location): $32,344 a year at full time.
What is the minimum wage for tipped employees in Oregon?
$15.55 an hour before tips: Oregon allows no tip credit ($15.55 (standard statewide); $16.80 (Portland metro); $14.55 (nonurban counties)).
How much does a minimum-wage employee cost an employer in Oregon?
About $35,924 a year full time at $15.55: $32,344 of pay plus $3,580 on top, $3,293 in payroll taxes and $288 in workers' comp, before any health coverage.
How has the Oregon minimum wage changed since 2000?
The Oregon minimum wage rose from $6.50 in 2000 to $15.55 in 2026. On the way: $8.40 in 2010 and $12 in 2020, per the U.S. DOL.
More minimum wage and employer cost pages
Employer costs in Oregon
States with a similar minimum wage
Data and rules for every state
Sources
The 11 pages this page's facts come from, with the day we last checked each one. The numbers beside the figures above link here.
Quotes from the sources
- Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries oregon.gov/boli/workers/pages/minimum-wage.aspx“Oregon's minimum wage depends on work location. For July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, those rates are: $16.80 per hour - Portland metro”
- Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries oregon.gov/boli/workers/Pages/minimum-wage.aspx“Oregon's minimum wage depends on work location. For July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, those rates are:”
- U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division dol.gov/agencies/whd/state/minimum-wage/tipped“Definition of Tipped Employee by Minimum Tips received (monthly unless otherwise specified) … State requires employers to pay tipped employees full state minimum wage before tips … Oregon … $15.55 (standard statewide); $16.80 (Portland metro); $14.55 (nonurban counties)”
- U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division dol.gov/agencies/whd/minimum-wage/state“Oregon … Basic Minimum Rate (per hour): $15.55 (standard state rate); $16.80 (Portland Metro Area); $14.55 (Non-Urban counties) … Premium Pay After Designated Hours 1 : Weekly - 40 … The overtime premium rate is one and one-half times the employee's regular rate, unless otherwise specified.”
- U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division Changes in Basic Minimum Wages in Non-Farm Employment Under State Law: Selected Years 1968 to 2024“Oregon 1.25 1.25 1.25` 2.30 2.30 2.90 3.10 … Oregon 3.35 4.75 4.75 4.75 4.75 5.50 6.00 … Oregon 6.50 6.50 6.50 6.90 7.05 7.25 7.50 … Oregon 7.80 7.95 8.40 8.40 8.50 8.80 8.95 … Oregon 9.10 9.25 9.75 9.75 10.75 11.25 … Oregon 12.00 12.75 13.50 14.20 14.70” “Federal (FLSA) $1.15 & $1.60 $1.30 & $1.60 $1.60 $2.20 & $2.30 $2.90 $3.10 $3.35 … Federal (FLSA) $3.35 $3.80 $4.25 $4.25 $4.25 $4.75 $5.15 … Federal (FLSA) $5.15 $5.15 $5.15 $5.15 $5.15 $5.15 5.15 … Federal (FLSA) 5.15 5.85 6.55 7.25 7.25 7.25 7.25 … Federal (FLSA) 7.25 7.25 7.25 7.25 7.25 7.25 … Federal (FLSA) 7.25 7.25 7.25 7.25 7.25”
- Internal Revenue Service IRS Publication 15 (Circular E), Employer's Tax Guide“For 2026, the social security tax rate is 6.2% (amount withheld) each for the employer and employee (12.4% total).”
- Social Security Administration ssa.gov/oact/cola/cbb.html“Tax rates under the HI program are 1.45 percent for employees and employers, each, and 2.90 percent for self-employed persons.”
- Internal Revenue Service Topic no. 759, Form 940 – FUTA tax (IRS)“If you're entitled to the maximum 5.4% credit, the FUTA tax rate after credit is 0.6%.” “FUTA tax rate: The FUTA tax rate is 6.0%. The tax applies to the first $7,000 you paid to each employee as wages during the year.”
- Oregon Employment Department oregon.gov/employ/Businesses/Tax/Pages/Current-Tax-Rate.aspx“2.4% (new employer rate)” “The UI taxable wage base for 2026 is $56,700 per employee.”
- Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services oregon.gov/dcbs/reports/cost/Pages/premium-index-rates.aspx“Premium index rate: $0.75-$1.00 … State Index rate Percent of study median … 38 42 Oregon 0.89 82%”
- Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (MEPS-IC) meps.ahrq.gov/mepsweb/data_stats/summ_tables/insr/state/series_2/2025/ic25_iia_f.pdf“Table II.C.1 Average total single premium (in dollars) per enrolled employee … Division and State Total … Oregon 9,225 8,099 9,146 8,725 8,321 10,232 8,594 9,407” “Table II.C.2 Average total employee contribution (in dollars) per enrolled employee for single coverage … Division and State Total … Oregon 1,499 1,602 * 1,233 * 1,403 1,343 1,687 1,448 1,514”