Nurse Practitioner Pay

Salem vs Sherwood: Nurse Practitioner Salary (2026)

Compare nurse practitioner salaries between Salem, OR and Sherwood, OR. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Salem, OR
$168,210
$80.87/hr
Sherwood, OR
$148,871
$71.58/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricSalem, ORSherwood, OR
Median Salary$168,210$148,871
Hourly Rate$80.87$71.58
Entry Level (P10)$134,257$117,592
25th Percentile$144,199$133,085
75th Percentile$177,924$169,799
Top Earner (P90)$203,672$190,479
Total Employed3204
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Salem ($168,210) and Sherwood ($148,871) nurse practitioner salaries.SalemSherwoodMedian Salary$168,210$148,871Entry Level (P10)$134,257$117,592Top Earner (P90)$203,672$190,479US Median $136,864

Verdict

Salem, OR offers better overall compensation for nurse practitioners, winning 4 out of 4 metrics compared to Sherwood.

The salary gap between Salem and Sherwood is $19,339 (12.99%). Salem's median is +22.90% compared to the US national median of $136,864.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Salem spans $69,415,Sherwood spans $72,887. Sherwood has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced nurse practitioners.

Salem
P10 (Entry)$134,257
P25$144,199
Median$168,210
P75$177,924
P90 (Top)$203,672
Sherwood
P10 (Entry)$117,592
P25$133,085
Median$148,871
P75$169,799
P90 (Top)$190,479

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Salem ($162,288 effective) pays 11.85% more than Sherwood ($145,098 effective).

Salem
Nominal: $168,210
CoL Index: 103.649
Adjusted: $162,288
Sherwood
Nominal: $148,871
CoL Index: 102.6
Adjusted: $145,098

Cost-of-living adjustment: salary × (100 / CoL index). Index of 100 = national average.

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Salem if…

  • Higher median salary ($168,210/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($203,672)
  • Larger job market (320 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $162,288)
  • You prefer the Oregon area and lifestyle

Choose Sherwood if…

  • You prefer the Oregon area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, nurse practitioner salaries in Salem grew 41.0% from 2019 to 2025, compared to 2.8% growth in Sherwood over the same period.

Salem, OR

+41.0%

$115,310 (2019) → $162,600 (2025)

Sherwood, OR

+2.8%

$139,996 (2024) → $143,906 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays nurse practitioners more: Salem or Sherwood?

Salem has a higher median nurse practitioner salary at $168,210/year, compared to Sherwood at $148,871/year — a difference of $19,339 (12.99%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Salem and Sherwood?

Salem nurse practitioners earn $80.87/hr while Sherwood hygienists earn $71.58/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Salem to Sherwood as a nurse practitioner?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Salem and Sherwood. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Salem = $162,288, Sherwood = $145,098), job availability (320 vs 4 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level nurse practitioners earn in Salem vs Sherwood?

Entry-level (10th percentile) nurse practitioners earn $134,257 in Salem and $117,592 in Sherwood. The Salem area offers higher starting salaries.
MG

Written by Maria Gonzalez, MSN, NP-C

Career Analyst

Maria has 10 years of experience in adult healthcare. She works in a community health clinic. Her specialty is chronic disease management.

Clinically reviewed by James Patel, DNP, APRNData verified by Aisha Khan, MSN, FNP-BC

Methodology & Data Source

All salary figures are 2026 projections based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. A 3.45% CAGR (derived from 6-year national BLS trends) was applied to estimate current compensation. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parity data. Actual salaries vary by employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS , released .

Compiled and verified by Maria Gonzalez, MSN, NP-C, a licensed nurse practitioner with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov