CFO.
Houston.
$255,000
median salary, 2% below the national average
$191,000 to $338,000. Last updated August 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
CFO pay in Houston ranges from $191,000 to $338,000 in 2026. The median is $255,000, 2% below the national average. Houston's economy is deeply rooted in energy, with a growing presence in healthcare, aerospace, and technology. Every dollar in that range is negotiable if you come prepared. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page.
Salary range.
Where do you fall?
Orbyt estimate for CFO in Houston, modelled from national occupation wages adjusted for local cost of living. The published government benchmark for this occupation is below.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $275,270 for Chief Executives (SOC 11-1011) in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metropolitan area, based on 1,920 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$121,650
25th percentile
$182,990
Median
$275,270
75th percentile
$435,040
90th percentile
$633,110
Workers surveyed
1,920
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Chief Executives (SOC 11-1011) rather than CFO specifically. The Houston range at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.
View the BLS source for SOC 11-1011Salary by experience.
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $229,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$166,000
to $204,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$217,000
to $268,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$281,000
to $332,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$319,000
to $395,000
Total compensation.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $67,000 to the total package.
Base
$255,000
Equity
$38,000
Bonus
$24,000
Signing
$5,000
Estimated total: $322,000
How Houston compares.
Houston, TX
$255,000
Cost of living: 3% below average
National Average
$260,000
Houston is $5,000 below
CFO salary by city.
Salary by role in Houston.
What you should know.
If you are interviewing for CFO roles in Houston, here is what you are walking into. Houston's economy is deeply rooted in energy, with a growing presence in healthcare, aerospace, and technology. The Texas Medical Center is the world's largest, driving massive demand for clinical and research roles. Houston's low cost of living and no state income tax make it an attractive destination for professionals seeking strong purchasing power. Company size measured by revenue and market capitalization drives the widest pay variation among CFOs. Fortune 500 CFOs earn three to five times more than mid-market counterparts. Industry also matters, with technology, financial services, and pharmaceutical CFOs commanding the highest packages. IPO and M&A transaction experience adds further premium.
VP of Finance roles pay $180,000 to $260,000 in base salary. CFOs at small companies ($10 million to $50 million revenue) earn $175,000 to $250,000. Mid-market CFOs ($50 million to $500 million) earn $250,000 to $400,000. Enterprise CFOs at $1 billion or more revenue companies command $400,000 to $800,000 base. In Houston, cost of living sits near the national average, so the numbers you see are roughly what you keep.
Base salary is not the full picture. CFO total compensation far exceeds base salary. Annual bonuses of 40 to 75% of base, equity grants worth $200,000 to $2 million or more at public companies, and long-term incentive plans are standard. Total compensation at large companies commonly reaches $800,000 to $5 million. And on the tax side: texas has no state income tax, giving Houston workers strong take home pay. The city's overall cost of living is below the national average, further stretching your salary. When someone quotes you $255,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Emphasize industry specialization in energy or healthcare. Houston employers pay significant premiums for domain expertise in these sectors over generalist candidates. The range for CFOs in Houston runs from $191,000 to $338,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: BLS OES, H-1B LCA (DOL). COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified July 1, 2026. Full methodology
Considering a related role?
- A General Counsel in Houston earns $263,000 (3% more)
- The highest-paying role in Houston is CTO at $285,000
Common questions.
CFO salary in other cities.
Other salaries in Houston.
Related salary pages
Jump to nearby roles and cities most relevant to CFOs in Houston.
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Cite this data
Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.
"CFO Salary in Houston, TX." Orbyt Salary Explorer, August 2026. https://www.orbytlabs.ai/orbyt-jobs/salaries/cfo/houston
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