Portland · Occupational wage benchmark

Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists Salary in Portland

Name: Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists wages in Portland
Creator: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
License: https://www.bls.gov/opub/copyright-information.htm

What Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists actually earn in the Portland metro area — the published BLS median, what it is worth after local costs, and how it ranks against other major metros.

Direct answer

Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists in the Portland metro area earn a median of $85,350 per year (+8.4% vs national, #9 of 47 major metros). Because the area price level is 105.4 against a U.S. average of 100, that salary carries roughly the purchasing power of $80,961 nationally. These are BLS occupational wage benchmarks across all workers — not MBA-graduate-specific outcomes.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2024 estimates (published April 2025)), Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro estimates for SOC 13-1161; cost-of-living adjustment from U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities by Metropolitan Statistical Area (MARPP) (2024). Occupational wage benchmarks across all workers, not MBA-specific outcomes.

Median annual wage: $85,350; Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists in Portland
Adjusted for cost of living: $80,961; Portland price level 105.4 (U.S. = 100)
Rank among metros: #9 of 47; #12 after cost of living
Workers employed: 8,130; in metro Portland

What Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists earn in Portland, adjusted for what it costs to live there

A headline wage only means something next to local prices. Once local prices are accounted for, Portland drops 3 places — a higher headline wage is partly consumed by a higher cost of living.

Metro	Median (nominal)	Adjusted for cost of living
San Jose	$141,960	$128,560
San Francisco	$123,250	$106,606
Boston	$102,390	$94,573
Seattle	$102,170	$91,935
New York	$100,520	$89,301
Denver	$99,040	$93,627
Minneapolis	$97,910	$93,406
Washington DC	$87,160	$80,048
Portland	$85,350	$80,961
Providence	$83,960	$82,497
Los Angeles	$82,990	$73,076
Charlotte	$82,930	$85,189
Richmond	$81,660	$83,447
Austin	$80,460	$82,047
Chicago	$80,400	$77,610
Philadelphia	$79,420	$77,442
Atlanta	$79,030	$78,984
Raleigh	$78,980	$80,463
Sacramento	$78,630	$73,713
Hartford	$78,220	$76,129

Nominal medians: BLS OEWS, May 2024 estimates (published April 2025) — occupational wage benchmarks across all workers, not MBA-specific outcomes. Adjusted column: SalaryMBA estimate, computed as nominal ÷ (metro RPP ÷ 100) using BEA MARPP 2024 regional price parities.

The national pay range for Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists

BLS publishes the full percentile distribution nationally. The spread within the occupation is usually far wider than the gap between metros.

Percentile (national)	Annual wage	Reading
10th percentile	$43,390	Entry / early-career end
25th percentile	$58,350
Median (50th)	$78,760
75th percentile	$108,310
90th percentile	$155,480	Senior / top-market end

Other MBA-relevant roles in Portland

Chief Executives $375,810 Computer and Information Systems Managers $183,720 Marketing Managers $172,610 Financial Managers $164,680 Sales Managers $162,640 Medical and Health Services Managers $151,260 Human Resources Managers $148,900 Data Scientists $129,600 Industrial Production Managers $127,800 General and Operations Managers $121,050 Financial and Investment Analysts $117,280 Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers $109,860 Project Management Specialists $108,340 Management Analysts $103,470 Operations Research Analysts $102,480 Budget Analysts $96,430 Accountants and Auditors $92,200 Logisticians $87,950

How to read the Portland number

The $85,350 median means half of Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists in the Portland area earn less and half earn more. It is measured across everyone in the occupation — every experience level, industry, and level of education. It is not the salary of a recent MBA graduate, and it is not a starting salary.

BLS counts roughly 8,130 people in this role in the Portland area. To compare against the state and national picture, see Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists nationally or model your own economics with the MBA ROI calculator.

Frequently asked questions

How much do Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists make in Portland?

Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists in the Portland metro area earn a median of $85,350 per year, according to BLS OEWS May 2024 estimates (published April 2025). That is +8.4% vs national, ranking Portland #9 of 47 major metros we track for this role. This is an occupational wage benchmark across all workers in the metro, not an MBA-graduate-specific salary.

Is $85,350 a good salary in Portland?

It depends on local prices. The Portland area price level is 105.4 against a U.S. average of 100, so $85,350 there carries roughly the purchasing power of $80,961 nationally — about $4,389 less than the headline number implies. Once local prices are accounted for, Portland drops 3 places — a higher headline wage is partly consumed by a higher cost of living.

Do Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists in Portland need an MBA?

These BLS figures cover everyone in the occupation regardless of degree, so they cannot isolate what an MBA adds. Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists is a role MBA graduates commonly target, and an MBA can affect where you land within the range through network, function, and seniority — but any precise MBA premium for this role in Portland would not be supported by this data.

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