Commercial Pilots Salary
Commercial Pilots in Texas make a median of $137,960 a year. The range runs from $68K at the entry level to $260K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.49), which stretches that salary to about $150,792 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,415/month, or 15.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Texas. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $138K get you in Texas?
About commercial pilots
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What this looks like in Texas
Texas sits well above the national pay line for commercial pilots, local pay runs about 12% higher than the U.S. median of $123K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,415/month, 16.2% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.49 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Texas offers a genuinely strong financial position for commercial pilotss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Texas
Entry-level commercial pilots (10th percentile) start around $68K. Mid-career wages sit at $138K. Top earners bring in $260K or more, a $192K spread from bottom to top.
Commercial Pilots salary by metro in Texas
7 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midland | $198K | +44% | 50 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | $160K | +16% | 1,810 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos | $132K | -4% | 200 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | $131K | -5% | 790 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels | $118K | -14% | 240 |
| Corpus Christi | $108K | -22% | 50 |
| El Paso | $95K | -31% | 80 |
Compare to other states
Track commercial pilots salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Texas numbers change.
Related careers in Transportation
Frequently asked questions
Can a commercial pilot afford a 2BR apartment alone in Texas?
Yes — at the median salary of $138K, rent takes 16.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,415/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for commercial pilots in Texas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new commercial pilots typically earn — is $68K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,108/month. At HUD’s $1,415/month FMR, rent would take 34% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is commercial pilot a high-paying job in Texas?
Local pay is 12% above the national median — $138K here vs. $123K nationally.
How does Texas compare to the national average for commercial pilots?
Texas pays $138K median vs. the U.S. average of $123K — that’s +12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.49), the purchasing-power equivalent is $151K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do commercial pilots make in Texas?
The median is $137,960 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $68,460, and experienced commercial pilots can clear $259,990. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $138K enough to live in Texas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,754/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,415/month, which eats 16.2% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a commercial pilots salary go in Texas?
Texas has a Regional Price Parity of 91.49 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median commercial pilots salary is worth about $150,792 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do commercial pilots get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.