Pilot Salary in Oregon (2026)

Worth knowing: 49 USC 40116(f)(2) federal preemption is the structural feature most national pilot-market surveys understate for OR — and for OR-resident pilots it cuts the OTHER way vs WA/NV/TX pilots. 49 USC 40116(f)(2) federal preemption routes airline pilot wages through legal-residence-state taxation only, regardless of where the pilot is based — so OR-resident pilots flying any major US carrier (Delta MSP/ATL, American DFW/LAX, United ORD/DEN, Alaska SEA, Southwest LAS, FedEx Memphis) pay the full OR 9.9% top bracket on senior captain TC, while WA/NV-resident pilots flying out of PDX pay 0% state income tax on the same comp. For a senior PDX-based Alaska captain at $385K TC, OR state tax adds ~$32-35K/year vs WA residency. Portland-metro pilots face additional Multnomah PFA + Metro SHS pushing combined Portland-resident top to 13.9%+ — substantial residency-arbitrage opportunity for OR-based pilots willing to relocate to Vancouver WA (just across the Columbia River, 5-15 minute commute to PDX) where WA's 0% state income tax + estate tax exemption $2.193M provides substantial late-career retention. Alaska Airlines focus city PDX (~70+ daily departures, ~700 PDX-based Alaska pilots) is among Alaska's most important non-hub markets. Boeing Portland Gresham anchors OR cleared aerospace flight test work.