Chief Executive Salary in Houston, TX
Chief Executives in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn a median $275,270 a year — 29% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $199,683 take-home, or $16,640 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median chief executive salary in Houston, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$59,479
- Social Security (6.2%)$11,439
- Medicare (1.45%)$4,669
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$199,683
Marginal rate: 35% federal + 0.00% state
Chief Executive pay by experience in Houston, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $121,650 | $58.49 | $94,411 | $7,868 |
| 25th percentile | $182,990 | $87.98 | $136,340 | $11,362 |
| Median (50th) | $275,270+ | $132.34 | $199,683 | $16,640 |
| 75th percentile | $435,040+ | $209.15 | $299,779 | $24,982 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $633,110+ | $304.38 | $423,870 | $35,323 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $275,270 buys in Houston, TX
Prices in Houston, TX are 1.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median chief executive's $199,683 take-home pay has the buying power of $202,459 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Chief Executive jobs are less concentrated in Houston, TX than nationally (location quotient 0.44), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for chief executives, adjusted for cost of living
Houston, TX ranks #11 of 55 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $239,200+ | $259,032 | $233,083 |
| 2 | Bridgeport, CT | $239,200+ | $247,855 | $231,935 |
| 3 | Charlotte, NC | $239,200+ | $220,744 | $226,758 |
| 4 | Dallas, TX | $239,200+ | $227,744 | $220,918 |
| 5 | Chicago, IL | $239,200+ | $226,413 | $218,556 |
| 6 | Richmond, VA | $239,200+ | $213,626 | $218,302 |
| 7 | Des Moines, IA | $239,200+ | $199,056 | $217,070 |
| 8 | Portland, OR | $239,200+ | $227,767 | $216,055 |
| 11 | Houston, TX | $275,270 | $199,683 | $202,459 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 55 metros →
Chief Executive salaries elsewhere in Texas
- Dallas, TX — $239,200+
- Austin, TX — $239,200+
- San Antonio, TX — $239,200+
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chief executive make in Houston, TX?
The median chief executive salary in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $275,270 a year, or about $132.34 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $182,990 and $239,200+.
What is a chief executive’s take-home pay in Houston, TX?
On the median $275,270 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $199,683 a year ($16,640 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Houston, TX a good place to work as a chief executive?
Pay here is 29% above the national median of $213,990. Local prices are 1.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $202,459 would in a typical U.S. city. Houston, TX ranks #11 of 55 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a chief executive afford rent in Houston, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Houston, TX is $1,316 a month ($1,558 for two bedrooms) — 8% of a median chief executive’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Houston, TX
- Computer and Information Systems Manager — $172,160
- Architectural and Engineering Manager — $172,020
- Financial Manager — $166,910
- Marketing Manager — $153,030
- Compensation and Benefits Manager — $148,870
- Managers, All Other — $144,820
- Human Resources Manager — $142,110
- Purchasing Manager — $139,050
- Sales Manager — $135,880
- Industrial Production Manager — $133,870
- Natural Sciences Manager — $132,860
- Public Relations Manager — $130,530