Commercial Pilot Salary in Houston, TX
Commercial Pilots in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn a median $131,420 a year — 7% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $101,092 take-home, or $8,424 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median commercial pilot salary in Houston, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$20,275
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,148
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,906
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$101,092
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 0.00% state
Commercial Pilot pay by experience in Houston, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $61,600 | $29.62 | $51,676 | $4,306 |
| 25th percentile | $96,580 | $46.43 | $76,774 | $6,398 |
| Median (50th) | $131,420 | $63.18 | $101,092 | $8,424 |
| 75th percentile | $172,230 | $82.80 | $128,985 | $10,749 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $205,450 | $98.77 | $152,941 | $12,745 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $131,420 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 commercial pilot's $101,092 take-home pay has the buying power of $102,497 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Commercial Pilot jobs are less concentrated in Houston, TX than nationally (location quotient 0.79), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for commercial pilots, adjusted for cost of living
Houston, TX ranks #7 of 17 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $225,900 | $155,049 | $137,744 |
| 2 | Columbus, OH | $175,690 | $127,301 | $133,343 |
| 3 | Cleveland, OH | $166,520 | $121,285 | $129,133 |
| 4 | Dallas, TX | $160,160 | $120,735 | $117,116 |
| 5 | Chicago, IL | $157,420 | $111,215 | $107,356 |
| 6 | Atlanta, GA | $146,880 | $104,658 | $104,598 |
| 7 | Houston, TX | $131,420 | $101,092 | $102,497 |
| 8 | Ann Arbor, MI | $126,400 | $92,539 | $91,732 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 17 metros →
Commercial Pilot salaries elsewhere in Texas
- Dallas, TX — $160,160
Frequently asked questions
How much does a commercial pilot make in Houston, TX?
The median commercial pilot salary in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $131,420 a year, or about $63.18 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $96,580 and $172,230.
What is a commercial pilot’s take-home pay in Houston, TX?
On the median $131,420 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $101,092 a year ($8,424 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Houston, TX a good place to work as a commercial pilot?
Pay here is 7% above the national median of $123,220. Local prices are 1.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $102,497 would in a typical U.S. city. Houston, TX ranks #7 of 17 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a commercial pilot 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) — 16% of a median commercial pilot’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Houston, TX
- Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers — $239,200+
- Ship Engineer — $131,260
- Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels — $118,830
- Transportation Inspector — $92,570
- Wellhead Pumper — $79,720
- Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers — $76,670
- Crane and Tower Operator — $75,500
- Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders — $61,220
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $60,760
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $56,840
- Sailor and Marine Oiler — $55,610
- Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity — $50,430