2025 Oregon Minimum Wage
The 2025 Oregon Minimum Wage is $15.05.
Effective 2025-07-01Source: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Commissioner Stephenson Announces 2025 Oregon Minimum Wage Determination (BOLI)Verified 2026-09-02
Compared with 2024
| Item | 2024 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly | $14.70 | $15.05 | +$0.35 (+2.4%) |
Who it applies to
Employers and workers in Oregon subject to the state standard minimum wage
What changed this year, and why
Oregon's standard minimum wage increases to $15.05 per hour, effective July 1, 2025, up from $14.70 in 2024. The adjustment reflects an increase in the Consumer Price Index.
Common questions
- When does the 2025 minimum wage take effect?
- Oregon's minimum wage takes effect on July 1 each year. For 2025, the standard rate is $15.05 per hour.
- Are there different minimum wage rates for different parts of Oregon?
- Yes. Oregon has a tiered minimum wage with a higher rate for the Portland Metro area and a lower rate for non-urban counties. The $15.05 standard rate applies to areas outside those zones.
- How does the 2025 rate compare to 2024?
- The standard minimum wage was $14.70 per hour in 2024. The 2025 standard rate of $15.05 represents an increase.
Minors, students and training wages: who may be paid less than the rate on this page
Oregon law does not allow employers to pay minors, students, or anyone in a training period a subminimum wage. The minimum wage is the same for adults and for minors, and employees must receive at least minimum wage during all stages of employment, including any period of on-the-job training. Unlike federal law, Oregon does not have a separate training wage or student wage that falls below the standard rate. Every worker in the state, regardless of age or training status, must be paid at least $15.05 per hour under the standard rate for 2025, or the higher rate if they work in the Portland metro area. There are no exceptions that would allow an employer to pay less than the applicable minimum wage based on a worker's age, enrollment in school, or participation in a training program.
No. Unlike federal law, Oregon law requires that employees receive at least minimum wage during all stages of employment. This includes any period of on-the-job training.
BOLI : Oregon Minimum Wage : For Workers : State of Oregon (BOLI)
Who to ask about this rate, and where to take a wage complaint
Oregon workers who have questions about the minimum wage or need to file a complaint should contact the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI). This is the state agency responsible for enforcing Oregon's minimum wage laws and handling wage disputes. BOLI provides information about filing complaints and offers resources through its website. Workers can also visit the U.S. Department of Labor website for information about federal wage laws. For specific questions about Oregon's minimum wage requirements, workers should reach out to BOLI directly. The agency maintains information about workplace rights, required employer posters, and the process for reporting wage violations. Oregon has its own enforcement system for state wage laws, separate from federal oversight.
Visit the US DOL website on this topic.
BOLI : Oregon Minimum Wage : For Workers : State of Oregon (BOLI)
State minimum wage laws that give more than the federal rate
When federal and state minimum wage laws overlap, Oregon requires employers to follow whichever rule gives workers the better result. The federal minimum wage is lower than Oregon's minimum wage rates. Because Oregon law provides the greater protection, Oregon employers must pay the state rate, not the federal rate. This means workers in Oregon receive at least the state minimum wage for every hour worked, regardless of what the federal floor says. The federal rate has not changed in many years, but Oregon's rate adjusts annually with inflation. Employers cannot choose to pay the lower federal rate simply because it exists. The principle is straightforward: when two laws apply and they differ, the one that benefits the employee more controls. For Oregon workers, this guarantees they receive the higher state rate rather than the outdated federal amount.
When federal and state employment laws conflict, employers must apply whichever standard is most beneficial to the employee. Therefore, Oregon employers must pay the higher state minimum wage.
BOLI : Oregon Minimum Wage : For Workers : State of Oregon (BOLI)
When tips, meals or lodging count toward the minimum wage
Oregon law does not allow employers to count tips toward the minimum wage. Tip credits are explicitly illegal in the state, meaning that an employer must pay the full minimum wage regardless of how much a worker earns in tips. Tips belong entirely to the employee. Regarding meals and lodging, Oregon employers may make an authorized deduction for these items only when they are provided for the private benefit of the employee. However, if the employer requires the employee to live on-site or derives a mutual benefit from the employee living on the premises, the employer must pay the full minimum wage in addition to the value of meals and lodging. Employers may not require an employee to pay amounts that would reduce their earnings below minimum wage. Workers in Oregon can be confident that their tips are theirs to keep and that their employer must pay the full minimum wage on top of any tips received.
Employers may make an authorized deduction for meals and lodging so long as they are provided for the “private benefit” of the employee. However, if you require your employee to live on-site, or if you derive a mutual benefit from the employee living on the premises, you must pay minimum wage in addition to the value of meals and lodging.
BOLI : Oregon Minimum Wage : For Workers : State of Oregon (BOLI)
What an employer may deduct from your pay
Oregon employers may make an authorized deduction from wages for meals and lodging only when those items are provided for the private benefit of the employee. If the employer requires the employee to live on-site or derives a mutual benefit from the employee living on the premises, the employer must pay the full minimum wage in addition to the value of meals and lodging. Employers may not require an employee to pay, such as by direct charge, amounts that could not have been lawfully deducted from wages under the minimum wage law if doing so would reduce the employee's earnings below minimum wage. This means that in Oregon, deductions for board or housing cannot push a worker's pay below the applicable minimum wage rate. Any deductions must be authorized and must be for the employee's genuine private benefit, not for the employer's convenience. Oregon workers are protected from deductions that would effectively cut their pay below the legal floor.
Note that employers may not require an employee to pay (e.g., by direct charge) amounts that could not have been lawfully deducted from wages under the minimum wage law, if to do so would reduce that employee's minimum wage earnings.
BOLI : Oregon Minimum Wage : For Workers : State of Oregon (BOLI)
Why the federal rate applies when the state rate is lower
Oregon does not have a situation where the state minimum wage is lower than the federal rate. Oregon's minimum wage has consistently exceeded the federal rate of $7.25 per hour. When federal and state employment laws conflict, Oregon employers must apply whichever standard is most beneficial to the employee, which means they must pay the higher state minimum wage. The principle that the federal rate applies when a state rate is lower is not relevant for Oregon workers because the state rate is always higher than the federal floor. Oregon's minimum wage adjusts annually for inflation, keeping it well above the stagnant federal rate. Workers in Oregon are entitled to the state minimum wage, not the federal minimum wage, and employers must comply with the more protective state standard.
The current federal minimum wage remains $7.25 per hour.
BOLI : Oregon Minimum Wage : For Workers : State of Oregon (BOLI)
How the rate is adjusted each year, and who announces it
Oregon's minimum wage is adjusted each year based on inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index. When the CPI rises, the minimum wage increases accordingly. The new rate takes effect on July 1 of each year. This cost-of-living adjustment is automatic and does not require legislative action. For employees whose work period or work day straddles the transition date, there will be two different rates of pay: hours worked before the new rate takes effect are paid at the old rate, and hours worked after that time are paid at the new rate. The state publishes the updated rates each year so employers and workers know the new floor. This annual adjustment ensures that Oregon's minimum wage keeps pace with the rising cost of living in the state. Workers can expect the rate to increase most years when inflation rises, maintaining their purchasing power over time.
Oregon's minimum wage is tied to inflation. Annual increases in inflation (as measured by the Consumer Price Index) result in an increase to the minimum wage which becomes effective July 1 of each year.
BOLI : Oregon Minimum Wage : For Workers : State of Oregon (BOLI)
How each figure was verified
Each number below was read from a stored copy of the document named beside it, and checked to occur word for word in the quoted sentence. The digest is of that stored text.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Commissioner Stephenson Announces 2025 Oregon Minimum Wage Determination (BOLI)
- Hourly
Standard Minimum Wage: $15.05 per hour
Other years
Every Oregon Minimum Wage year · Minimum Wage in every state