Oregon
Oregon Minimum Wage 2026: $15.55 Standard, $16.80 Portland Metro
Independently fact-checked against primary sources (last audited September 29, 2026). · 5 primary sources cited on this page. How we verify our legal content
Oregon's minimum wage is set in three regional tiers. Since July 1, 2026, the rate is $15.55 per hour in the standard counties, $16.80 in the Portland metro area and $14.55 in the nonurban counties, under ORS 653.025 as published by the Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI). The rates adjust every July 1, so there is no January 1, 2027 increase, and BOLI had not yet calculated the July 1, 2027 rates when this page was last verified.
Information last verified on September 28, 2026. This article has not been reviewed by a licensed lawyer.
Jurisdiction scope: This page covers the Oregon minimum wage law (ORS chapter 653) and the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) minimum wage overlay. It does not cover overtime detail, final-pay rules or any other state.
What is the minimum wage in Oregon in 2026?
For July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027, BOLI lists three rates. Which one applies depends on where the work is performed.
| Tier | Hourly rate | Effective | Where it applies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland metro | $16.80 | July 1, 2026 | Inside the urban growth boundary, including parts of Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties |
| Standard | $15.55 | July 1, 2026 | Benton, Clatsop, Columbia, Deschutes, Hood River, Jackson, Josephine, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Polk, Tillamook, Wasco and Yamhill counties, plus the parts of Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties outside the urban growth boundary |
| Nonurban | $14.55 | July 1, 2026 | Baker, Coos, Crook, Curry, Douglas, Gilliam, Grant, Harney, Jefferson, Klamath, Lake, Malheur, Morrow, Sherman, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa and Wheeler counties |
The previous rates, in force from July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026, were $16.30 (Portland metro), $15.05 (standard) and $14.05 (nonurban), according to BOLI's schedule page.
BOLI says workers are typically paid the rate for the county where they work 50 percent or more of their weekly hours; an employer can pay a traveling worker the rate for each county worked, and a delivery driver is owed the rate for the county where the day starts and ends.
This page does not sort individual street addresses inside Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties into the Portland metro or standard tier. For a specific address, ask BOLI which tier applies.
When does the Oregon minimum wage go up next?
The next change is July 1, 2027. The new rates are not yet known: BOLI had not announced them when this page was last verified.
ORS 653.025(1)(j) provides that after June 30, 2023 the rate is adjusted annually for inflation on July 1. Under ORS 653.025(5), BOLI's commissioner calculates the adjustment no later than April 30 each year, using the increase, if any, from March of the preceding year to March of the current year in the U.S. City Average Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), All Items. The result is rounded to the nearest five cents and takes effect July 1. The Portland metro rate then equals the standard rate plus $1.25 (ORS 653.025(2)(h)), and the nonurban rate equals the standard rate minus $1.00 (ORS 653.025(3)(h)).
Because the statute keys the adjustment to an increase, the size of the 2027 change cannot be known until BOLI publishes it. Check the BOLI minimum wage schedule after April 30, 2027.
Tipped workers: Oregon has no tip credit
Oregon employers must pay the full regional minimum wage before tips. ORS 653.035(3) provides that employers, including employers regulated by the FLSA, may not include any amount received by employees as tips in determining the amount of the minimum wage required. BOLI's FAQ says: "Tip credits are illegal in Oregon."
That is a sharp contrast with the federal rule, under which an employer can pay a tipped employee a direct wage of at least $2.13 an hour if that amount plus tips equals at least $7.25, the employee keeps all tips and the employee customarily and regularly receives more than $30 a month in tips (DOL FAQ; 29 U.S.C. 203(m)(2)(A)). In Oregon, a server in the Portland metro area must receive at least $16.80 an hour from the employer, and tips are on top of that.
Youth, student and other exceptions
Oregon has no youth or training wage. BOLI states that the minimum wage is the same for adults and for minors. ORS 653.030 lets the commissioner set lower rates only for student-learners, as defined in ORS 653.070.
ORS 653.020 excludes some workers from the minimum wage law altogether. The exclusions include certain piece-rate hand harvest and pruning agricultural workers, hand harvest laborers 16 or under paid on a piece-rate basis, in an operation customarily paid by piece rate in the region, at the same piece rate as workers over 16 on the same farm (ORS 653.020(1)(d)), immediate family members of an agricultural employer, casual domestic service, salaried administrative, executive and professional employees, federal employees, enrolled students employed by their own primary or secondary school, outside salespersons and taxicab operators. The statute lists more, and this page does not reproduce the full list.
Can Portland or other Oregon cities set a higher minimum wage?
No. ORS 653.017(2) provides that the State of Oregon preempts all charter and statutory authority of local governments to set any minimum wage requirements. ORS 653.017(3) leaves room for public employers, specifications in public contracts, and conditions of direct tax abatements or subsidies for private employers with 10 or more employees.
The Portland metro rate is therefore not a city ordinance. It is a state tier that follows the urban growth boundary.
How Oregon and federal minimum wage law fit together
The federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour (29 U.S.C. 206(a)(1)(C)). Under 29 U.S.C. 218(a), nothing in the FLSA excuses noncompliance with a state law or municipal ordinance that sets a higher minimum wage, and DOL states that where an employee is subject to both, the employee is entitled to the higher rate. Every Oregon tier is above $7.25, so the Oregon rate controls for covered work. For federal coverage rules, subminimum certificates and pending federal bills, see the federal minimum wage page.
If you live in Oregon and work across the border in Idaho, or the reverse, compare the Idaho minimum wage page with this one.
What to do if you are paid less than the Oregon minimum wage
BOLI takes wage complaints through its online complaint portal, which BOLI's minimum wage page links. BOLI can explain which deadlines apply to your claim, so contact it promptly rather than waiting.
ORS 653.055(1) makes an employer that pays less than the required wage liable for the full amount of wages owed, less amounts already paid, plus the civil penalties provided in ORS 652.150. Under ORS 653.055(2), an agreement to work for less than the minimum wage is no defense. ORS 653.055(3) lets the commissioner bring wage claims and sue to enjoin violations. Under ORS 653.055(4), the court may award reasonable attorney fees to the prevailing party in an action brought by an employee. ORS 653.060 bars an employer from firing or discriminating against an employee for asking about the minimum wage law, reporting a violation or filing a complaint, starting a proceeding, or testifying; a violation is an unlawful employment practice, and the employee may file a complaint with BOLI under ORS 659A.820. This page did not review the limitation periods for these claims, so ask BOLI or a lawyer licensed in Oregon how long you have.
For the federal remedy, 29 U.S.C. 216(b) gives an employee unpaid minimum wages plus an equal amount as liquidated damages and a reasonable attorney's fee, and 29 U.S.C. 255(a) sets a two-year limit, or three years for a willful violation. For final-pay and unpaid-wage steps, see Oregon final paycheck laws, Oregon at-will employment laws and unpaid wages. To estimate overtime, use the overtime calculator.
Common Oregon minimum wage mistakes
Three assumptions come up repeatedly. First, Portland and Multnomah County do not set their own minimum wage. Second, tip credits are not allowed in Oregon. Third, rates do not change on January 1; they change on July 1.
Disclaimer: This page is general legal information, not legal advice. It covers the Oregon minimum wage law (ORS chapter 653) and the federal Fair Labor Standards Act as verified on September 28, 2026. For a specific pay situation, consult a lawyer licensed in Oregon or the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries.
Related pages
- Federal minimum wage rules
- Oregon final paycheck laws
- Oregon at-will employment laws
- Unpaid wages and how to claim them
- Overtime calculator
- Idaho minimum wage
Last updated: September 28, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum wage in Oregon?
Since July 1, 2026, it is $16.80 in the Portland metro area, $15.55 in the standard counties and $14.55 in the nonurban counties (BOLI; ORS 653.025).
Will Oregon's minimum wage go up in 2027?
Not on January 1. Oregon adjusts on July 1, and BOLI calculates the 2027 rates by April 30, 2027. They had not been announced when this page was last verified.
What is the minimum wage in Portland, Oregon?
$16.80 per hour since July 1, 2026. It is a state tier for work inside the urban growth boundary, not a city ordinance.
Which Oregon counties have the lowest minimum wage?
The nonurban counties, at $14.55 per hour. They include Baker, Coos, Crook, Curry, Douglas, Klamath, Malheur and Umatilla, among others listed by BOLI.
Does Oregon have a tip credit?
No. ORS 653.035(3) bars counting tips toward the minimum wage, so tipped workers must receive the full regional minimum from the employer.
Can an employer pay minors less than the minimum wage in Oregon?
Generally no. BOLI states the minimum wage is the same for adults and minors, and ORS 653.030 allows lower rates only for student-learners. ORS 653.020(1)(d) excludes hand harvest laborers 16 or under who are paid on a piece-rate basis, in an operation customarily paid by piece rate in the region, at the same piece rate as workers over 16 on the same farm.
Can Oregon cities set their own minimum wage?
No. ORS 653.017(2) preempts local minimum wage authority, with exceptions for public employers, public contracts and some tax abatements or subsidies.
How do I file a minimum wage complaint in Oregon?
Use the BOLI online complaint portal. BOLI can tell you which deadlines apply to your claim.
Does the federal $7.25 minimum wage apply in Oregon?
Only if it is higher, which it never is here. Under 29 U.S.C. 218(a) the higher state rate applies to covered work.
Updates
Independently fact-checked against the cited primary sources
The Law Behind This Article
This article rests on the statutory provisions below, held in our own legal record and retrieved from the official source. Tap a section to read the operative text.
Oregon Revised Statutes, Chapter 653: Minimum Wages; Employment Conditions; Minors
§ 653.025Minimum wage rate; rulesIn force
(1) Except as provided in subsections (2) and (3) of this section, ORS 652.020 and the rules of the Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor and Industries issued under ORS 653.030 and 653.261, for each hour of work time that the employee is gainfully employed, no employer shall employ or agree to employ any employee at wages computed at a rate lower than: (a) For calendar year 2003, $6.90. (b) From January 1, 2004, to June 30, 2016, a rate adjusted for inflation as calculated by the commissioner. (c) From July 1, 2016, to June 30, 2017, $9.75. (d) From July 1, 2017, to June 30, 2018, $10.25. (e) From July 1, 2018, to June 30, 2019, $10.75. (f) From July 1, 2019, to June 30, 2020, $11.25. (g) From July 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021, $12. (h) From July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2022, $12.75. (i) From July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023, $13.50. (j) After June 30, 2023, beginning on July 1 of each year, a rate adjusted annually for inflation as described in subsection (5) of this section.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at oregonlegislature.gov
§ 653.035Deducting value of lodging, meals and other benefits furnished by employer; treatment of commissions and tipsIn force
(1) Employers may deduct from the minimum wage to be paid employees under ORS 653.025, 653.030 or 653.261, the fair market value of lodging, meals or other facilities or services furnished by the employer for the private benefit of the employee. (2) Employers may include commission payments to employees as part of the applicable minimum wage for any pay period in which the combined wage and commission earnings of the employee will comply with ORS 653.010 to 653.261. In any pay period where the combined wage and commission payments to the employee do not add up to the applicable minimum wage under ORS 653.010 to 653.261, the employer shall pay the minimum rate as prescribed in ORS 653.010 to 653.261. (3) Employers, including employers regulated under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, may not include any amount received by employees as tips in determining the amount of the minimum wage required to be paid by ORS 653.010 to 653.261.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at oregonlegislature.gov
§ 653.020Excluded employeesIn force
ORS 653.010 to 653.261 do not apply to any of the following employees: (1) An individual employed in agriculture if: (a) Such individual is employed as a hand harvest or pruning laborer and is paid on a piece-rate basis in an operation which has been, and is customarily and generally recognized as having been, paid on a piece-rate basis in the region of employment and is employed by an employer who did not, during any calendar quarter during the preceding year, use more than 500 piece-rate-work-days of agricultural labor; (b) Such individual is the parent, spouse, child or other member of the employer’s immediate family; (c) Such individual: (A) Is employed as a hand harvest or pruning laborer and is paid on a piece-rate basis in an operation which has been, and is customarily and generally recognized as having been, paid on a piece-rate basis in the region of employment; (B) Commutes daily from a permanent residence to the farm on which the individual is so employed; and (C) Has been employed in agricultural labor less than 13 weeks during the preceding calendar year; (d) Such individual, other than an individual described in paragraph (c) of…
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at oregonlegislature.gov
§ 653.030Commissioner may prescribe lower rates in certain cases; rulesIn force
The Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor and Industries shall issue rules prescribing the employment of other types of persons at fixed minimum hourly wage rates lower than the minimum wage rate required by ORS 653.025, when the commissioner has determined that the application of ORS 653.025 would substantially curtail opportunities for employment for specific types of persons. The types of persons for whom a minimum hourly wage rate may be set are limited to persons who are student-learners, as defined in ORS 653.070.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at oregonlegislature.gov
§ 653.055Liability of noncomplying employer; contrary agreements no defense; wage claims; suits to enjoin future violations; attorney feesIn force
(1) Any employer who pays an employee less than the wages to which the employee is entitled under ORS 653.010 to 653.261 or 653.272 is liable to the employee affected: (a) For the full amount of the wages, less any amount actually paid to the employee by the employer; and (b) For civil penalties provided in ORS 652.150. (2) Any agreement between an employee and an employer to work at less than the wage rate required by ORS 653.010 to 653.261 or 653.272 is no defense to an action under subsection (1) of this section. (3) The Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor and Industries has the same powers and duties in connection with a wage claim based on ORS 653.010 to 653.261 and 653.272 as the commissioner has under ORS 652.310 to 652.445 and in addition the commissioner may, without the necessity of assignments of wage claims from employees, initiate suits against employers to enjoin future failures to pay required minimum wages or overtime pay and to require the payment of minimum wages and overtime pay due employees but not paid as of the time of the filing of suit.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at oregonlegislature.gov
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Sources and References
- BOLI: Oregon minimum wage(www.oregon.gov).gov
- BOLI: minimum wage schedule(www.oregon.gov).gov
- ORS chapter 653 (minimum wage and wage claims)(www.oregonlegislature.gov).gov
- BOLI complaint portal(complaints.boli.oregon.gov).gov
- 29 U.S.C. 206 (federal minimum wage)(www.law.cornell.edu)
- 29 U.S.C. 203 (definitions, tip credit)(www.law.cornell.edu)
- 29 U.S.C. 218 (relation to state law)(www.law.cornell.edu)
- DOL Wage and Hour Division minimum wage FAQ(www.dol.gov).gov
- 29 U.S.C. 216 (penalties and remedies)(www.law.cornell.edu)
- 29 U.S.C. 255 (statute of limitations)(www.law.cornell.edu)