How Oregon compares
Ranked against the other 49 states on the figures we hold. Rates that combine state and local components — sales tax, the minimum wage where it varies by region — are shown on this page but not ranked, because a single number would misstate them.
| Figure | OR | Nationally | In its region |
|---|---|---|---|
| PopulationUS Census Bureau, Vintage 2025 estimates, July 1, 2025 | 4,273,586 | 27th highest of 50 | 4 of 11 |
| GDP ($bn)Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2025 | 342.9 | 25th highest of 50 | 4 of 11 |
| Median household incomeUS Census Bureau, ACS 2024 1-year, 2024 | $85,220 | 16th highest of 50 | 7 of 11 |
| Unemployment rateBureau of Labor Statistics, LAUS (seasonally adjusted, preliminary), September 2026 | 5.0% | tied 47th lowest of 50 | 10 of 11 |
| Foreign-born shareUS Census Bureau, ACS 2024 1-year, 2024 | 10.0% | tied 19th highest of 50 | 6 of 11 |
| Property tax ratechecked Nov 2026; confirm with the Oregon legislature | 0.82% | tied 22nd lowest of 50 | 9 of 11 |
| Deposit return window (days)checked Nov 2026; confirm with the Oregon legislature | 31 | 42nd lowest of 50 | 11 of 11 |
| Eviction notice (days)checked Nov 2026; confirm with the Oregon legislature | 10 | tied 13th highest of 50 | 3 of 11 |
| Final pay deadline (days)checked Nov 2026; confirm with the Oregon legislature | 0 | tied 1st lowest of the 29 states that set one | 1 of 5 |
- State income tax: yes41 of 50 states answer the same way
- At-will employment: yesthe same in all 50 states — it does not set Oregon apart
- Paid sick leave required: yes20 of 50 states answer the same way
- Paid family leave: yes12 of 50 states answer the same way
- Workers' comp required: yes49 of 50 states answer the same way
- Rent control permitted: yes4 of 50 states answer the same way
- Annual report required: yes43 of 50 states answer the same way
Statistical figures: US Census Bureau, Vintage 2025 estimates (July 1, 2025) · US Census Bureau, ACS 2024 1-year (2024) · Bureau of Economic Analysis (2025) · Bureau of Labor Statistics, LAUS (seasonally adjusted, preliminary) (September 2026) · SBA Office of Advocacy, 2025 Small Business Profiles (2025). Tax, wage, business and tenancy figures are recorded from state sources and were last checked on 2026-11-05 — confirm anything you are about to act on with the Oregon legislature.
What's changing in Oregon
Enacted changes with a fixed effective date. Contracts, payroll and leases signed now may run past these dates.
Coming up
- January 1, 2027Statewide rent-increase cap is 10% for 2027
9.5% in 2026; buildings under 15 years old are exempt.
Source ↗
Took effect in the last 12 months
- July 1, 2026Minimum wage rose to $15.55 (standard)/hr
Portland metro $16.80; nonurban counties $14.55. The July 1, 2027 rate is set by April 30, 2027.
Source ↗
Checked against official sources on 2026-11-05.
How long you have in Oregon
The periods that decide whether something is on time. Days are calendar days unless the underlying rule says otherwise.
- Return a security deposit within
- 31 days
- Eviction notice before filing
- 10 days
- Final paycheck within
- 0 days
- LLC formation processed in
- 3–5 days
- Annual report due
- Annually by the anniversary month of registration
- Overtime starts after
- 10 hrs/day or 40 hrs/week
AI Legal Insights — Oregon
AI-generated · Updated July 2026
Oregon operates under an at-will employment doctrine, but it is heavily influenced by robust worker protection statutes and<pad><pad> enacted through the Oregon Legislature. The state is notable for its comprehensive paid leave laws and strict consumer protection regulations enforced by the Department of Justice.
Oregon offers a dynamic economy driven by the technology, manufacturing, and agricultural sectors, particularly in the Silicon Forest region. While the state lacks a sales tax, businesses must navigate a progressive income tax structure and specific labor requirements like the Oregon Sick Time Law.
Oregon is known for its progressive stance on immigrant rights, including various state-level protections and a significant foreign-born population of 10.1%. While USCIS<pad> handles federal matters, the state provides various resources to support integration and legal services for its diverse immigrant communities.
- ›Ensure compliance with the Oregon Workplace Fairness Act when drafting non-disclosure and non-disparagement clauses.
- ›Verify that all employment contracts account for the specific<pad> requirements of the Oregon Paid Leave law.
- ›Include clear choice-of-law provisions, as Oregon courts strictly interpret local consumer protection and wage-and-hour statutes.
AI-generated insights · Verify with a licensed attorney before relying on this information.
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Employment Laws
Oregon labor regulations
Oregon has strong worker protections and a three-tier minimum wage. Since July 1, 2026 the rates are $15.55/hr standard, $16.80/hr in the Portland metro area, and $14.55/hr in nonurban counties; rates are adjusted each July for inflation. Oregon Sick Time requires up to 40 hours of sick time a year (paid at employers with 10+ employees), and Paid Leave Oregon provides paid family, medical, and safe leave.
| Law | OR Rule | Federal Floor |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Wage | $15.55/hr standard; $16.80/hr Portland metro; $14.55/hr nonurban counties (since July 1, 2026; adjusted each July 1) | $7.25/hr |
| Overtime | After 40 hrs/week at 1.5× rate; daily overtime after 10 hrs/day in manufacturing and some other industries | FLSA: after 40 hrs/week only |
| Paid Sick Leave | 1 hr per 30 hrs worked, up to 40 hrs/year; paid at employers with 10+ employees (6+ with a Portland location), unpaid below that | None (federal) |
| Paid Family Leave | Paid Leave Oregon: generally up to 12 weeks of paid family, medical, or safe leave a year; funded by payroll contributions | FMLA: 12 weeks unpaid |
| Workers Comp | Mandatory for employers with one or more employees | No general federal mandate |
| At-Will Employment | Yes, with significant statutory exceptions | Default nationwide |
| Final Paycheck | Fired or laid off: by end of the next business day. Quit with 48+ hours' notice: on the last day. Quit without notice: within 5 business days or the next payday, whichever is first | No federal requirement |
| Meal & Rest Breaks | 30-minute meal period for shifts of 6+ hours; 10-minute paid rest break for each 4 hours worked | No federal requirement |
- Paid Leave Oregon has paid benefits since September 2023. Employees pay 60% of the contribution; employers with 25 or more employees pay the remaining 40%. Benefits replace a larger share of wages for lower earners, up to a weekly cap.
- Oregon's pay equity law requires equal pay for work of comparable character and bars employers from screening applicants based on salary history.
- Oregon's predictive scheduling law requires large retail, hospitality, and food service employers to give advance notice of work schedules and pay extra for certain last-minute changes.
- Late final paychecks can trigger penalty wages of up to 30 days of pay.
- Non-compete agreements are enforceable only in limited situations, such as for salaried employees above an annually adjusted salary threshold who receive written notice of the agreement.
Sources: U.S. Department of Labor state minimum wage table · state labor agencies (checked Nov 2026)
Landlord-Tenant Laws
Oregon rental regulations
Oregon was the first state to adopt statewide rent stabilization. Annual rent increases are capped at 9.5% for 2026 and 10% for 2027, with buildings less than 15 years old exempt. After the first year of occupancy, landlords generally need a tenant-cause or qualifying landlord reason to end a month-to-month tenancy. There is no statutory cap on security deposits, but they must be returned within 31 days.
| Topic | OR Rule |
|---|---|
| Security Deposit | No statutory cap; returned within 31 days of the end of the tenancy with a written itemization of deductions |
| Rent Stabilization | Annual increase cap of 9.5% in 2026 and 10% in 2027; buildings less than 15 years old are exempt; no increase in the first year of tenancy |
| Rent Increase Notice | At least 90 days' written notice of a rent increase |
| Eviction Notice (Non-Payment) | Written termination notice for unpaid rent — either a 10-day notice served after rent is 7 days late, or a 13-day notice served after rent is 4 days late |
| No-Cause Termination | After the first year of occupancy, termination requires tenant cause or a qualifying landlord reason (such as sale to an owner-occupant or major renovation) with 90 days' notice and, for most landlords, a relocation payment of one month's rent |
| Habitability | Landlord must keep the unit habitable; after written notice, tenants have remedies that can include rent reduction, termination, or limited repair-and-deduct |
| Landlord Entry | At least 24 hours' notice for non-emergency entry, at reasonable times |
| Late Fee | May not be charged until rent is more than 4 days late; must be stated in the lease and follow statutory limits |
| Retaliation Protection | Landlord may not raise rent, reduce services, or evict because the tenant complained, used legal remedies, or joined a tenant organization |
Both landlords and tenants have enforceable rights under Oregon law. Document all communications and keep copies of your lease agreement. Use AI review to spot risky clauses before signing.
Starting a Business
Oregon LLC formation guide
Oregon has no sales tax, which benefits retail and direct-to-consumer businesses. Personal income tax rates run from 4.75% to 9.9%, corporate rates are 6.6%–7.6%, and the Corporate Activity Tax (CAT) applies to businesses with more than $1 million in Oregon commercial activity. The Portland area adds regional income taxes. LLC formation costs $100, and the annual report costs $100 and is due each year by the anniversary of registration.
Step-by-step LLC formation
- 1Choose a business name — must include "LLC", "L.L.C.", or "Limited Liability Company"; check availability with the Oregon Secretary of State
- 2File Articles of Organization with the Oregon Secretary of State online
- 3Pay the $100 filing fee
- 4Designate a registered agent with a physical Oregon address
- 5Get an EIN from the IRS — free at irs.gov; required for banking, hiring, and tax registration
- 6Register with the Oregon Department of Revenue for employer withholding, and for the Corporate Activity Tax once Oregon commercial activity exceeds $750,000
- 7File the annual report by the anniversary of registration — $100 fee
- 8Set up Paid Leave Oregon contributions — all employers withhold the employee share; employers with 25+ employees also pay the employer share
- 9If operating in the Portland area, check local tax registration and withholding rules (such as the Metro Supportive Housing Services tax)
Every LLC also needs a free EIN from the IRS (Form SS-4). Apply online at irs.gov — takes about 15 minutes and is required to open a business bank account.
Popular IRS Forms
Most-filed federal forms for Oregon taxpayers
Fill these out online with plain-English guidance — every field explained, no accountant required. Download as a ready-to-file PDF when done.
The main annual federal income tax return every taxpayer files.
Fill out free →Give your SSN or EIN to a client before getting paid as a contractor.
Fill out free →Report $600+ paid to independent contractors during the year.
Fill out free →Tell your employer how much federal tax to withhold from pay.
Fill out free →Report income and expenses from a sole proprietorship or LLC.
Fill out free →Report payroll taxes withheld from employees each quarter.
Fill out free →Get an automatic 6-month extension to file your 1040.
Fill out free →The year-end wage statement employers issue to each employee.
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Federal Offices
United States government offices in Oregon
Walk-in assistance by appointment only. Call (844) 545-5640 to schedule, or book online at irs.gov.
Immigration appointments via my.uscis.gov or call (800) 375-5283.
Free Legal Aid
Oregon legal assistance organizations
These organizations provide free or reduced-cost civil legal services to qualifying Oregon residents.
Free civil legal services for low-income Oregonians
Legal aid for rural and agricultural workers in Oregon
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