Commercial Pilots pay range in Houston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $61,600 a year or less, while the top 10% make $205,450 or more. The middle half of commercial pilots in Houston earn between $96,580 and $172,230.
- $62K10th
- $97K25th
- $131KMedian
- $172K75th
- $205K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $140,580 | $11,715 | — |
| Median | $131,420 | $10,952 | — |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $96,580 | $8,048 | — |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $172,230 | $14,352 | — |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year (BLS publishes this job's pay as annual only). Hourly to annual salary.
Commercial Pilots pay in Houston vs. Texas and the U.S.
Commercial pilots in Houston earn 8% less than the Texas average ($152,090) and 4% less than the U.S. average ($146,080). At the median the gap is +7% against the U.S. median of $123,220.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston | $140,580 | $131,420 | $61,600 | $205,450 | 790 |
| Texas | $152,090 | $137,960 | $68,460 | $259,990 | 4,120 |
| United States | $146,080 | $123,220 | $58,850 | $266,620 | 47,630 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Commercial Pilots salary after taxes in Houston
On the average salary of $140,580, a single filer in Houston takes home about $107,352 a year, or $8,946 a month and $4,129 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Houston a good place for commercial pilots? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Houston area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 98.6), so the average $140,580 buys what about $142,534 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Houston ($49,410). A typical home costs $308,306, or 2.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Commercial Pilots salary in other Texas cities
Houston ranks 5th of 7 Texas metro areas for this job; Dallas pays the most ($171,660).
- Dallas$171,660
- Midland$160,280
- Austin$141,740
- San Antonio$141,380
- Houston$140,580
- Corpus Christi$113,320
- El Paso$104,990
Highest-paying cities for commercial pilots
Waterbury, CT pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($267,680).
- Waterbury, CT$267,680
- Kiryas Joel, NY$226,850
- Bridgeport, CT$226,590
- Santa Rosa, CA$218,810
- Louisville, KY$210,350
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Commercial Pilots salary in Houston: questions
What is the entry-level commercial pilots salary in Houston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $61,600 a year and the 25th percentile is $96,580, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the commercial pilots take-home pay in Houston?
About $107,352 a year ($8,946 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $140,580. Texas has no state income tax.
Do commercial pilots earn more in Houston than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% less than the U.S. average for this job ($146,080).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 53-2012; area Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX (26420). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.7%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.79, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.79).
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