Commercial Pilot salary in Texas
Commercial Pilots in Texas earn a median of $137,960 a year, based on BLS data for 4,120 workers.
Pay ranges from $68,460 for the lowest-paid 10% to $259,990 for the top 10%. That is 12% higher than the national median of $123,220. Texas ranks 9th of 48 states for commercial pilots pay. There are 0.29 commercial pilots per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $152,090, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for commercial pilots in Texas
| Pay level | Yearly |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $68,460 |
| 25th percentile | $101,090 |
| Median | $137,960 |
| 75th percentile | $196,400 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $259,990 |
| Average (mean) | $152,090 |
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 | $11,496.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,748.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,306.15 |
| Weekly | $2,653.08 |
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.
Commercial Pilot salary in cities in Texas
| 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 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $131,420 | 790 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in Texas
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Flight Attendant | $58,220 | — |
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | $215,150 | — |
| Air Traffic Controller | $170,080 | $81.77 |
| Airfield Operations Specialist | $60,910 | $29.28 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $36,840 | $17.71 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $37,540 | $18.05 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $56,290 | $27.06 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $45,450 | $21.85 |
| Light Truck Driver | $42,500 | $20.43 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $60,000 | $28.84 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $33,090 | $15.91 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $35,850 | $17.24 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $29,450 | $14.16 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $44,490 | $21.39 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Texas
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 Texas?
The median salary for commercial pilots in Texas is $137,960 a year. Pay ranges from $68,460 for the lowest-paid 10% to $259,990 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid commercial pilots make in Texas?
The top 10% of commercial pilots in Texas earn at least $259,990 a year. The top 25% earn $196,400 or more.
What is the starting pay for commercial pilots in Texas?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $68,460 a year, and a quarter of commercial pilots earn $101,090 or less.
How many commercial pilots work in Texas?
About 4,120 commercial pilots are employed in Texas, not counting the self-employed.