Commercial Roofing
- Retail stores1,231
- Apartment property management firms996
- Manufacturing plants917
- Commercial building owners and lessors286
- Hotels161
Commercial trades market · Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA
Appointment setting for commercial contractors in Portland, OR
Portland-Vancouver has 6,638 businesses with 20 or more people on site across the categories commercial trades sell to, and it leans toward churches and religious organizations and senior living and nursing more than the U.S. as a whole. Here is how each trade's market looks, where the buildings are and when to call.
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Trades in Portland
How each commercial trade's market looks in Portland-Vancouver
Ranked by larger buildings per contractor against up to 100 markets (only markets with 10 or more contractors in a trade are ranked; n/r means not ranked). A higher rank means more buildings worth calling for every competitor working them.
| Trade | Contractors | 1-yr change | Larger buildings | Per contractor | Rank | Eligible targets | Push months |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial Roofing Largest buyer group: retail stores | 33 | +2 | 4,086 | 123.8 | #5 | 7,859 | Feb–Apr |
| Commercial Painting & Coatings Largest buyer group: retail stores | 45 | 0 | 4,329 | 96.2 | #12 | · | Feb–Apr |
| Commercial Flooring Largest buyer group: apartment and multifamily management companies | 28 | -4 | 2,679 | 95.7 | #11 | · | Year-round |
| Commercial HVAC & Mechanical Largest buyer group: manufacturing plants | 185 | +1 | 2,393 | 12.9 | #22 | 3,004 | May–Jun, Sep–Oct |
| Commercial Electrical Largest buyer group: retail stores | 237 | -6 | 3,127 | 13.2 | #23 | · | Year-round |
| Fire Protection Largest buyer group: restaurants | 88 | 0 | 4,408 | 50.1 | #34 | · | Year-round |
| Commercial Construction Largest buyer group: manufacturing companies | 407 | -5 | 2,194 | 5.4 | #42 | 7,859 | Year-round |
| Commercial Landscaping Largest buyer group: retail stores | 1,026 | -21 | 3,918 | 3.8 | #42 | · | Feb–Apr |
| Paving & Asphalt Largest buyer group: retail stores | 106 | 0 | 3,831 | 36.1 | #69 | · | Feb–Apr |
| Commercial Cleaning & Janitorial Largest buyer group: manufacturing plants | 883 | -27 | 2,688 | 3.0 | #79 | 2,327 | Year-round |
Who each program calls
The industries each Portland trade program prospects into
Every trade has its own target list. Here are the five largest target industries for each program in the Portland-Vancouver metro, with local location counts; each guide lists all ten and who your SDR asks for.
Commercial Painting & Coatings
- Retail stores1,231
- Apartment and multifamily management companies996
- Manufacturing plants917
- Senior living and skilled nursing352
- Owner-occupied and owner-managed commercial buildings286
Commercial Flooring
- Apartment and multifamily management companies996
- Ambulatory health care: physician, dental, outpatient and urgent care628
- Senior living and skilled nursing352
- Owner-occupied and owner-managed commercial buildings286
- Commercial property management firms118
Commercial HVAC & Mechanical
- Manufacturing plants917
- Medical and dental office buildings628
- Senior living and skilled nursing352
- Hotels161
- Commercial property management firms118
Commercial Electrical
- Retail stores1,231
- Manufacturing plants917
- Senior living and skilled nursing352
- Commercial building owners286
- Commercial property management firms118
Fire Protection
- Restaurants1,678
- Apartment management companies996
- Manufacturing plants917
- Senior living and skilled nursing352
- Hotels161
Commercial Construction
- Manufacturing companies917
- Senior living operators352
- Commercial building owners and developers286
- Hotel owners and management groups161
- Commercial property management firms118
Commercial Landscaping
- Retail stores1,231
- Apartment property management firms996
- Ambulatory health care offices and clinics628
- Senior living and skilled nursing352
- Commercial building owners and lessors286
Paving & Asphalt
- Retail stores1,231
- Apartment property management firms996
- Ambulatory health care offices and clinics628
- Commercial building owners and lessors286
- Hotels161
Commercial Cleaning & Janitorial
- Manufacturing plants917
- Ambulatory health care: physician, dental, outpatient and urgent care628
- Senior living and skilled nursing352
- Owner-occupied and owner-managed commercial buildings286
- Bank and credit union branches and offices136
Locations with 20 or more employees, U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023. Property management and similar categories count every company, whatever its size.
What's being built
The projects shaping Portland-Vancouver
Named, sourced projects current as of 2026-09, and the trades each one puts to work.
OHSU Vista Pavilion (OHSU Hospital Expansion Project)
$650 millionOpened 2026
A 14-story, 530,000 sq ft inpatient tower on OHSU's Marquam Hill campus in Portland that added 128 beds for Knight Cancer Institute patients and opened April 7, 2026.
With cancer care moved into the new tower, OHSU plans to repurpose existing hospital space for cardiovascular, neurological and other specialty care, which points to interior renovation work in the older buildings. A new tower this size also needs healthcare-grade cleaning and mechanical service contracts.
OHSU News, 2026-04 →Jefferson High School rebuild
$466 millionUnder construction, opening fall 2029
Portland Public Schools broke ground May 29, 2026 on an all-electric, multi-story replacement for Jefferson High School on the north end of its 14-acre campus facing North Killingsworth Street in north Portland.
An all-electric school puts more of the budget into heat pump systems and electrical service, with structure and envelope work through 2027 and interiors through 2029. It is one of three high school rebuilds in the district's bond program, along with Cleveland and Ida B. Wells.
KPTV, 2026-05-29 →Flexential Hillsboro 5 and Hillsboro 6 data centers
358,000 sq ft (Hillsboro 5); 350,000 sq ft (Hillsboro 6)Hillsboro 5 under construction for 2026; Hillsboro 6 planned
Flexential's fifth Hillsboro data center (36 megawatts) is under construction, and a sixth (27 megawatts) is planned at 3935 N.E. Aloclek Place in Hillsboro, Washington County.
Back-to-back data center buildings keep mechanical cooling, electrical distribution and fire suppression crews busy as one finishes and the next starts. Operating halls also need specialized cleaning on an ongoing basis.
Hillsboro News-Times, 2025-10-01 →Block 67 mixed-use development
Sitework summer to fall 2026, opening spring/summer 2028
A two-building development by Koz Development in downtown Hillsboro with 338 apartments for older adults and working families, ground-floor retail and an anchor grocery store.
Vertical construction runs from fall 2026 into 2028, so roofing, mechanical, electrical and fire sprinkler work follows the sitework. The grocery and retail spaces add commercial tenant finish work near the end.
Hillsboro News-Times, 2026-04-17 → Where the buyers cluster
The owners that anchor Portland-Vancouver
Health systems, campuses, large employers and industrial parks hold the biggest concentrations of commercial buildings here. Each fact links to its source, checked 2026-10.
OHSU Hospital and OHSU Doernbecher Children's Hospital
Portland, Multnomah County
OHSU's 2025 Fact Book lists 704 licensed beds for the 2026 calendar year and 22,501 employees through fiscal year 2025.
OHSU Hospital, Doernbecher, OHSU Health Hillsboro Medical Center and clinics in Portland and Beaverton need mechanical, life-safety, cleaning and interior work.
Oregon Health & Science University →Providence St. Vincent Medical Center
Unincorporated Washington County
Wikipedia says Providence St. Vincent is licensed for 523 beds and has over 3,500 employees.
An acute care teaching campus with a 13-story tower and parking needs HVAC, cleaning, life-safety and pavement work.
Wikipedia →Portland State University
Portland, Multnomah County
Portland State reports total enrollment of 19,687 for Fall 2025, including 15,426 undergraduates.
A downtown campus of classroom, lab and residence buildings needs HVAC service, cleaning, roofing and flooring work.
Portland State University →Portland International Airport (PDX)
Portland, Multnomah County
Wikipedia lists 18,563,132 passengers at PDX in 2025 and says the airport covers 3,000 acres of land.
The terminal, parking garages, cargo buildings and airfield support facilities need cleaning, HVAC service, electrical work and pavement upkeep.
Wikipedia →Intel Corporation (Hillsboro campuses)
Hillsboro, Washington County
Wikipedia, citing the City of Hillsboro's 2022 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, lists Intel as the city's largest employer with 20,000 employees.
Semiconductor fabs, offices and support buildings run heavy electrical, mechanical, fire protection and cleanroom-adjacent cleaning programs.
Wikipedia →Nike World Headquarters
near Beaverton, Washington County
Wikipedia says the Nike campus has more than 75 buildings on 286 acres, as of 2018, with a citation.
A corporate campus with offices, athletic facilities, a child development center and landscaped grounds needs janitorial, HVAC, landscape and flooring service.
Wikipedia →Port of Vancouver USA
Vancouver, Clark County, Washington
The Port of Vancouver USA reports 7.49M metric tons of cargo in 2024 and 20,000 supported regional jobs.
Marine terminals, warehouses and the port's industrial park need paving, roofing, electrical and fire protection work.
Port of Vancouver USA → The local business base
Who the buyers are in Portland-Vancouver
Compared with the national mix, Portland-Vancouver over-indexes on churches and religious organizations, senior living and nursing and apartment and residential property managers. The fastest-growing categories over the past year: medical, dental and outpatient offices (+58), senior living and nursing (+49) and hosting and data processing companies (+39).
| Category | Sites with 20+ | All establishments | vs. U.S. mix | 1-yr change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Restaurants | 1,678 | 6,499 | 1.12x | -86 |
| Retail stores | 1,231 | 7,036 | 0.81x | -263 |
| Manufacturing plants | 917 | 3,084 | 1.24x | -142 |
| Medical, dental and outpatient offices | 628 | 5,590 | 0.92x | +58 |
| Wholesale distributors | 589 | 3,245 | 1.13x | -252 |
| Senior living and nursing | 352 | 1,764 | 2.60x | +49 |
| Grocery stores | 252 | 1,150 | 0.91x | -7 |
| Hotels | 161 | 344 | 0.74x | 0 |
| Trucking companies | 141 | 1,334 | 0.71x | -74 |
| Bank and credit union offices | 136 | 1,190 | 0.87x | -33 |
| Auto dealerships | 113 | 322 | 0.78x | -26 |
| Churches and religious organizations | 109 | 1,220 | 5.03x | -15 |
| Private K-12 schools | 107 | 206 | 1.36x | 0 |
| Apartment and residential property managers | 68 | 996 | 1.90x | -49 |
| Warehousing and distribution | 48 | 186 | 0.88x | -11 |
| Hosting and data processing companies | 31 | 156 | 1.19x | +39 |
| Golf courses and country clubs | 26 | 49 | 0.57x | +1 |
| Hospitals | 20 | 23 | 0.54x | +9 |
| Colleges and universities | 11 | 35 | 1.59x | -8 |
| Commercial property managers | 11 | 118 | 0.70x | +6 |
| Nonresidential building owners | 9 | 286 | 0.87x | -3 |
Territory
Where the business sites are
Multnomah County, Washington County and Clackamas County hold 80% of the metro's larger business sites. Most programs start in those counties and add the outer 3 counties for larger accounts, depending on how far your crews travel.
| County | Larger business sites |
|---|---|
| Multnomah County | 2,465 |
| Washington County | 1,642 |
| Clackamas County | 1,088 |
| Clark County, Washington | 1,011 |
| Yamhill County | 214 |
| Columbia County | 61 |
Climate and timing
Portland's year, month by month
Outdoor trades (roofing, paving, landscaping, exterior painting) work the months with lows of 40°F or above and sell in the months before. HVAC sells ahead of its heating and cooling peaks. Each trade page has its own calendar.
- Jan44° / 34°Off-season
- Feb47° / 34°Off-season
- Mar52° / 36°Off-season
- Apr57° / 38°Off-season
- May64° / 44°Outdoor season
- Jun69° / 48°Outdoor season
- Jul77° / 53°Outdoor season
- Aug78° / 53°Outdoor season
- Sep72° / 49°Outdoor season
- Oct60° / 42°Outdoor season
- Nov49° / 37°Off-season
- Dec43° / 33°Off-season
Working in Oregon
Contractor licensing in Oregon
Anyone who bids or performs construction work for others in Oregon must hold a Construction Contractors Board license with the right endorsement, including commercial general or specialty endorsements for commercial structures. Electrical contractors also need a Building Codes Division license, and landscaping is licensed by the separate Landscape Contractors Board.
Trade-by-trade rules are on each trade page. Confirm with Oregon Construction Contractors Board. Checked 2026-09-30.
Hiring locally
What an in-house SDR costs in Portland
Before you hire a sales development rep in Portland, price the whole job, not just the salary. Here is the local pay for sales representatives, and what a first year really costs once you add commission, payroll taxes and benefits, tools, recruiting and the manager time it takes to coach them.
- $74,900median pay for a sales rep in the Portland metro
- $49,730 to $100,750middle half of local pay (25th to 75th percentile)
- 7,530people in the role locally, all competing for the same hires
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services and travel (SOC 41-3091).
In-house SDR, first year$138,975
Abstrakt Growth program, full-time SDR, 12 months$102,000
In-house adds $15,000 commission, 25% payroll taxes and benefits, $500/month tools, $5,000 recruiting and 4 manager hours a week at $75/hour, before ramp time or turnover. Abstrakt includes the SDR, management, tools and data.
How Abstrakt works in Portland
Outsourced appointment setting, one trade per market
Abstrakt's U.S.-based business development reps build a Portland target list around your trade, service area and ideal buildings, work it by phone, email, LinkedIn and direct mail, and book meetings with the people who sign. We will not run the same program for a direct competitor in your territory.
Selling into Oregon? See the Oregon outbound calling rules: do-not-call lists, calling hours and registration, so you know what a program here has to handle.
Portland commercial trades, answered
Does Abstrakt set appointments for commercial contractors in Portland?
Yes. Abstrakt runs outsourced appointment setting for commercial trades across the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro: our U.S.-based business development reps call the buildings, qualify the opportunity and book meetings with the person who signs. We run one program per trade per market.
Which commercial trades have the most room to grow in Portland?
Measured by larger buildings per contractor against the 100 markets we track (where a trade has at least 10 local contractors), commercial Roofing (#5), commercial Painting & Coatings (#12) and commercial Flooring (#11) rank best in Portland.
What kinds of businesses are concentrated in Portland?
Compared with the national mix, Portland-Vancouver has more churches and religious organizations (5.03x), senior living and nursing (2.60x) and apartment and residential property managers (1.90x). Those industries are the best-represented buyers for trades that serve them.
Which counties make up the Portland market?
The metro covers 6 counties. Multnomah County, Washington County and Clackamas County hold 80% of the larger business sites, so most programs start there.
Sources and method
- Contractors and business-category change and concentration: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, private ownership, 2025 Q2, Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA.
- Business sites by size and county: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023. Suppressed size classes count as zero.
- Climate: NOAA NCEI nClimDiv county monthly series, 1991-2020 averages.
- Projects: sources linked on each project card.
- Anchor owners: sources linked on each card, read 2026-10.
- Eligible targets: Abstrakt territory record counts, 2026-10; estimated decision-maker records Abstrakt can prospect per program, shown for HVAC, roofing, construction and cleaning.
- Photo: Downtown Portland with Mount Hood in the distance, by Trang Nguyen on Unsplash.
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