Commercial Pilot salary in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX
Commercial Pilots in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn a median of $131,420 a year, based on BLS data for 790 workers.
Pay ranges from $61,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $205,450 for the top 10%. That is 7% higher than the national median of $123,220. Pay here is 5% lower than the Texas statewide median of $137,960. There are 0.24 commercial pilots per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.79). The average (mean) salary is $140,580, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for commercial pilots in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX
| Pay level | Yearly |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $61,600 |
| 25th percentile | $96,580 |
| Median | $131,420 |
| 75th percentile | $172,230 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $205,450 |
| Average (mean) | $140,580 |
Half of commercial pilots earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $10,951.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,475.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,054.62 |
| Weekly | $2,527.31 |
BLS publishes only yearly pay for this job, because commercial pilots are usually paid a salary and may not work a full 2,080-hour year. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $131,420 salary, see how much house you can afford in Texas at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Commercial Pilot salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Midland, TX | $198,480 | 50 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $160,160 | 1,810 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $132,400 | 200 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $118,190 | 240 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $107,810 | 50 |
| El Paso, TX | $94,690 | 80 |
Highest-paying states for commercial pilots
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Connecticut | $232,160 |
| New Jersey | $226,710 |
| New York | $177,430 |
| California | $165,590 |
| Delaware | $163,600 |
| Ohio | $150,330 |
| Georgia | $145,100 |
| Colorado | $139,680 |
| Texas | $137,960 |
| Vermont | $137,810 |
See Commercial Pilot pay in every state or the Texas statewide figures.
Related jobs in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | $307,690 | — |
| Airfield Operations Specialist | $47,550 | $22.86 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $36,890 | $17.74 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $38,000 | $18.27 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $56,840 | $27.33 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $45,990 | $22.11 |
| Light Truck Driver | $43,920 | $21.12 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $60,760 | $29.21 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $28,880 | $13.88 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $43,570 | $20.95 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $29,650 | $14.26 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $30,690 | $14.76 |
| Wellhead Pumper | $79,720 | $38.33 |
| Sailors and Marine Oilers | $55,610 | $26.74 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 53-2012. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a commercial pilot make in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX?
The median salary for commercial pilots in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $131,420 a year. Pay ranges from $61,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $205,450 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid commercial pilots make in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX?
The top 10% of commercial pilots in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn at least $205,450 a year. The top 25% earn $172,230 or more.
What is the starting pay for commercial pilots in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $61,600 a year, and a quarter of commercial pilots earn $96,580 or less.
How many commercial pilots work in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX?
About 790 commercial pilots are employed in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area, not counting the self-employed.