Plumber · Salary Comparison · 2026
Plumber Salary: Portland, OR vs San Francisco, CA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Plumbers in Portland, OR and San Francisco, CA, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ San Francisco, CA
$70,000 vs $88,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Portland, OR
$53,846 vs $47,312
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Portland, OR
$45,401 vs $39,651
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Portland, OR | San Francisco, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $70,000 | $88,000▲ | -$18,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $53,900 | $67,760▲ | -$13,860 |
| 75th Percentile | $89,600 | $112,640▲ | -$23,040 |
| 90th Percentile | $112,000 | $140,800▲ | -$28,800 |
| Cost of Living Index | 130 | 186 | -56 |
| State Income Tax | 8.75%▲ | 9.3% | -0.5500000000000007% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $53,846▲ | $47,312 | +$6,534 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $59,021 | $73,750▲ | -$14,729 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $45,401▲ | $39,651 | +$5,750 |
| Total Employment | 30,000 | 78,000 | -48,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Portland, OR minus San Francisco, CA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $18,000 more (median: $70,000 vs $88,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 130 vs 186), Portland, OR provides better purchasing power ($53,846 vs $47,312 equivalent). Portland, OR has the lower state tax rate (8.75% vs 9.3%).
Data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS · 2026 · Cost-of-living indices from composite metro area data. Take-home estimates approximate only — consult a tax professional for accurate figures.