Wage & Backpay Calculator Guide for Oregon

Oregon wage and backpay rules

This source-backed guide covers Oregon wage, minimum-wage, overtime, final-wage, penalty-wage, and judgment-interest rules. It certifies only the quoted Oregon wage, overtime, final-wages, penalty-wage, and interest rules listed below; special exemptions and calculator corner cases remain outside certification unless a quoted source says otherwise.

Minimum wage and rate tiers

Oregon minimum wage is location-based. For July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026, the current rates are $15.05 standard, $16.30 Portland metro, and $14.05 non-urban.

Oregon minimum wage schedule. For July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, those rates are:

$16.30 per hour - Portland metro $15.05 per hour - Standard $14.05 per hour - Non-urban

Increases to the minimum wage are based on inflation (if applicable) and take effect on July 1st of each year.

Weekly overtime

Oregon's general overtime rule allows overtime after 40 hours in one workweek at no more than one and one-half times regular pay.

ORS 653.261. The Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor and Industries may issue rules prescribing such minimum conditions of employment, excluding minimum wages, in any occupation, including meal periods and rest periods, and maximum hours of work, but not less than eight hours per day or 40 hours per workweek; however, after 40 hours of work in one workweek overtime may be paid, but in no case at a rate higher than one and one-half times the regular rate of pay of such employees.

Final wages on termination

When employment ends by discharge or mutual agreement, unpaid earned wages are due not later than the end of the first business day after termination.

ORS 652.140. When an employer discharges an employee or when employment is terminated by mutual agreement, all wages earned and unpaid at the time of the discharge or termination become due and payable not later than the end of the first business day after the discharge or termination.

Penalty wages for nonpayment

Willful nonpayment after termination can trigger penalty wages at the same hourly rate for eight hours per day, capped at 30 days, with a 100 percent unpaid-wages cap unless the employer still does not pay within 12 days after written notice.

ORS 652.150. Except as provided in subsections (2) and (3) of this section, if an employer willfully fails to pay any wages or compensation of any employee whose employment ceases, as provided in ORS 652.140 and 652.145, then, as a penalty for the nonpayment, the wages or compensation of the employee shall continue from the due date thereof at the same hourly rate for eight hours per day until paid or until action therefor is commenced. However: (a) In no case shall the penalty wages or compensation continue for more than 30 days from the due date; and (b) A penalty may not be assessed under this section when an employer pays an employee the wages the employer estimates are due and payable under ORS 652.140 (2)(c) and the estimated amount of wages paid is less than the actual amount of earned and unpaid wages, as long as the employer pays the employee all wages earned and unpaid within five days after the employee submits the time records. If the employee or a person on behalf of the employee submits a written notice of nonpayment, the penalty may not exceed 100 percent of the employee's unpaid wages or compensation unless the employer fails to pay the full amount of the employee's unpaid wages or compensation within 12 days after receiving the notice.

Wage claims and attorney fees

An employer that pays less than the wages required by ORS 653.010 to 653.261 or 653.272 is liable for the unpaid wages and the civil penalties provided in ORS 652.150.

ORS 653.055. Any employer who pays an employee less than the wages to which the employee is entitled under ORS 653.010 to 653.261 or 653.272 is liable to the employee affected: (a) For the full amount of the wages, less any amount actually paid to the employee by the employer; and (b) For civil penalties provided in ORS 652.150.

Judgment interest

Oregon's legal rate of interest is 9 percent per annum for moneys after they become due unless the parties agreed otherwise.

ORS 82.010. The rate of interest for the following transactions, if the parties have not otherwise agreed to a rate of interest, is nine percent per annum and is payable on all moneys after they become due.

Not certified by this page

• This page does not certify specialty overtime exceptions or daily-overtime edge cases unless a quoted source here says so.
• This page does not certify federal FLSA liquidated-damages formulas or other non-Oregon wage-remedy rules.
• This page does not certify calculator inputs that depend on facts outside the quoted source text.

Use the calculator

DocketMath's wage and backpay calculator can model wage, overtime, and wage-claim scenarios once you identify the controlling Oregon rule set. Use the source panel for the verified primary-source citations.

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Sources

• Oregon minimum wage schedule — Oregon Minimum Wage
• ORS 653.261 — Minimum employment conditions; overtime; rules; meal periods; exemptions; penalty
• ORS 652.140 — Payment of wages on termination of employment; exception for collective bargaining
• ORS 652.150 — Penalty wage for failure to pay wages on termination of employment
• ORS 653.055 — Liability of noncomplying employer; contrary agreements no defense; wage claims; suits to enjoin future violations; attorney fees
• ORS 82.010 — Legal rate of interest; effect of violation

All sources are official primary law published by www.oregon.gov, www.oregonlegislature.gov.

Corroboration method: Official Oregon BOLI and Oregon Legislature sources.