Law (JD) Degree in Salem, OR — Salary & ROI 2026
Law (JD) degree analysis for Salem, OR. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$0
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$0
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
N/A
in Salem
Cost of Living
120
index (100 = avg)
Law (JD) in Salem, OR Overview
Salem, Oregon (pop. 175,535) has 14 colleges offering Law (JD) programs. The local cost of living index of 120 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,384/month. Law (JD) enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in . The adjusted starting salary in Salem is approximately $0.
Category
Legal
Local Colleges
14
Public Tuition
$12,943/yr
Private Tuition
$46,250/yr
Room & Board
$15,380/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$14,172/yr
Unemployment
5.4%
Graduation Rate
57%
Law (JD) Salary in Salem (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Salem's cost of living index of 120 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Law (JD) salary: $0 starting, $0 mid-career, $0 senior level.Salem adjustment factor: 1.20x based on the local cost of living index.
Law (JD) ROI Calculator for Salem
Estimate your return on investment for a Law (JD) degree using local Salem tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,943 | Private avg: $46,250
Salem avg aid: $14,172/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$113,292
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$-42,000
vs HS diploma in Salem
ROI Payback Period
N/A
to break even
Lifetime Return in Salem
$-113,292
Lifetime earnings premium ($0) minus total education cost ($113,292)
Student Loan Payoff for Law (JD) in Salem
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Salem for Law (JD)
Willamette University
private
$46,250/yr
$185,000 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Chemeketa Community College
$4,536/yr
Top Employers for Law (JD) in Salem
Salem offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Law (JD) graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Salem Hiring Sectors for Legal
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Law (JD) Job Titles
Law (JD) in Nearby Oregon Cities
Portland, OR
$0 starting · COL 112
24 colleges
Eugene, OR
$0 starting · COL 130
14 colleges
Gresham, OR
$0 starting · COL 110.2
5 colleges
Hillsboro, OR
$0 starting · COL 115.5
5 colleges
Bend, OR
$0 starting · COL 107
2 colleges
Beaverton, OR
$0 starting · COL 105.9
4 colleges
Medford, OR
$0 starting · COL 111
4 colleges
Springfield, OR
$0 starting · COL 120.3
3 colleges
Law (JD) Degree in Salem — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Law (JD) ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Salem.