Mechanical Engineering Degree in Portland, OR — Salary & ROI 2026
Mechanical Engineering degree analysis for Portland, OR. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$87K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$123K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
2.3 yrs
in Portland
Cost of Living
112
index (100 = avg)
Mechanical Engineering in Portland, OR Overview
Portland is one of Oregon's top college towns, with 24 institutions and a student population of 19,612. Public tuition averages $9,585/year here — well below the national average, making it a cost-effective choice. Mechanical Engineering enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in CAD and Thermodynamics. The adjusted starting salary in Portland is approximately $87,360.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
24
Public Tuition
$9,585/yr
Private Tuition
$53,947/yr
Room & Board
$18,112/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,300/yr
Unemployment
5.1%
Graduation Rate
51%
Mechanical Engineering Salary in Portland (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Portland's cost of living index of 112 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Mechanical Engineering salary: $78,000 starting, $110,000 mid-career, $138,000 senior level.Portland adjustment factor: 1.12x based on the local cost of living index.
Mechanical Engineering ROI Calculator for Portland
Estimate your return on investment for a Mechanical Engineering degree using local Portland tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $9,585 | Private avg: $53,947
Portland avg aid: $15,300/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$110,788
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$48,160
vs HS diploma in Portland
ROI Payback Period
2.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Portland
$953,212
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,064,000) minus total education cost ($110,788)
Student Loan Payoff for Mechanical Engineering in Portland
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Portland for Mechanical Engineering
Portland State University
public
$9,585/yr
$38,340 total
University of Portland
private
$51,414/yr
$205,656 total
Lewis & Clark College
private
$56,480/yr
$225,920 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Portland Community College
$4,536/yr
Top Employers for Mechanical Engineering in Portland
Portland offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Mechanical Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Portland Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Mechanical Engineering Job Titles
Mechanical Engineering in Nearby Oregon Cities
Eugene, OR
$101K starting · COL 130
14 colleges
Salem, OR
$94K starting · COL 120
14 colleges
Gresham, OR
$86K starting · COL 110.2
5 colleges
Hillsboro, OR
$90K starting · COL 115.5
5 colleges
Bend, OR
$83K starting · COL 107
2 colleges
Beaverton, OR
$83K starting · COL 105.9
4 colleges
Medford, OR
$87K starting · COL 111
4 colleges
Springfield, OR
$94K starting · COL 120.3
3 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Portland
Petroleum Engineering
$56K starting · 2.5 yr ROI
Computer Engineering
$56K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$92K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$56K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$90K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$90K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$56K starting · 3 yr ROI
Materials Science & Engineering
$56K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering Degree in Portland — 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 Mechanical Engineering ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Portland.