Salem is home to a wide range of industries and private employers, with business-friendly taxes and fees and proven strengths in traded industry sectors. Abundant in natural resources, the Mid-Willamette Valley is the greatest producer of agricultural products in Oregon. The area is also a strong manufacturing and distribution region with a prime location on Interstate 5 between California and Washington. The addition of high-tech industry to the local economy has provided steady growth in manufacturing.
Quick facts
Taxes and fees
Business tax structure is an important item for deciding where to expand or locate a business. Unlike most states, Oregon corporate income taxes are calculated solely on relative Oregon sales, according to
Business Oregon.
Tax rates
Salem business license fees
Salem does not require businesses to pay a genral license fee. However, you need a business
license to operate certain types of businesses in Salem.
Proven strengths in traded industry sectors
Traded industries are businesses who produce goods and services that are sold in a location outside where they were made.
The importance of traded industry sectors
Roy Williams, President and CEO of the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce, is widely viewed as an expert on the traded-sector and how it drives growth in a region. In the video below, he explains this connection.
Salem’s top industry groups
| Trade, transportation, and utilities |
1,798 |
23,547 |
15.80% |
| Education and health services |
1,225 |
21,293 |
14.30% |
| Leisure and hospitality |
895 |
12,313 |
8.30% |
| Manufacturing |
449 |
11,437 |
7.70% |
| Professional and business services |
1,383 |
11,239 |
7.60% |
| Natural resources and mining |
565 |
11,165 |
7.50% |
Source: Strategic Economic Development Corporation (SEDCOR)
Top Willamette Valley traded sector employers
According to the SEDCOR website:
- Truitt Bros., Inc.
- T-Mobile US, Inc.
- Norpac Foods, Inc.
- Wells Fargo Call Center
- Don Poncho Authentic Mexican Foods, Inc.
- Kettle Foods, Inc. / Diamond Foods, Inc.
- Rainsweet, Inc.
- Panasonic Econ Solutions Solar America LLC
- Garmin AT
- Portland General Electric
- Willamette Valley Fruit Company
