Houston Mayor Raises Minimum Wage for Airport Contract Workers to $20 an Hour
HOUSTON, Texas – Great news for thousands of workers employed by air carriers, concessionaires and contractors at Houston’s three city airports. They are set to receive higher wages under a new executive order signed by Mayor John Whitmire.
Whitmire signed the order on Aug. 12, establishing a $20-per-hour living wage for covered airport workers in 2026, with scheduled increases that will bring the minimum to $23 per hour by October 2028.
The policy applies to qualifying contracts involving George Bush Intercontinental Airport, William P. Hobby Airport and Ellington Airport. It also includes some subcontractors and concessionaires operating under those agreements.
“Improving working conditions and the quality of life for airport workers benefits all Houstonians and our millions of visitors,” Whitmire said. “Houston is an international city that relies on our airports to run smoothly and provide a world class traveling experience for visitors.”
According to the city, the move will help to ensure that the salaries of contract workers employed by Houston airports are closer to what employees working at other large-city airports are earning. It will also help retain employees longer. This will result in savings since retraining news employees takes time and effort.
The major announcement marks the first wage increase for affected Houston airport workers since 2023.
Airport Wage Will Increase in Stages
Under the executive order, the minimum hourly living wage will increase on the following schedule:
- 2026: $20 per hour
- Jan. 1, 2027: $21 per hour
- Oct. 1, 2027: $22 per hour
- Oct. 1, 2028: $23 per hour
The new rate begins on the first day of the first full pay period following the applicable effective date in the information above.
The order defines covered employees as people working in connection with qualifying city airport contracts for air carriers, concessionaires and certain subcontractors. So the order excludes City of Houston employees.
The tip credit allowed by the Fair Labor Standards Act can be used for tipped workers. The employer should make up the shortfall in the event that the wages and tips received by the employee do not add up to the living wage.
The order also makes clear that employees and unions remain free to collectively bargain for wages exceeding the city’s living-wage requirement.
City Says Higher Pay Could Improve Worker Retention
Whitmire said the wage increase should benefit not only airport employees but also passengers by helping retain experienced workers.
“Throughout my career in public service, I have always advocated for workers across all sectors of our economy,” Whitmire said. “This wage increase will help Houston Airports keep its experienced workforce and ultimately deliver even better customer service.”
The city pointed to rising costs for rent, groceries, gasoline and utilities as part of the reasoning behind updating the wage policy.
Elsa Flores, president of SEIU Texas, called the executive order “a big victory for airport workers who have worked long and hard for a raise.”
Augusta Dillon, an SEIU member who works as a Toolroom Agent at Bush Intercontinental Airport, said the additional income would help ease pressure on her household finances.
“I am not going to have to worry so much about paying my bills,” Dillon said.
New Requirements Will Be Added to Airport Contracts
The executive order directs Houston’s chief procurement officer to begin incorporating the living-wage provisions into applicable competitive procurements and city contracts within 30 days.
The policy covers city contracts with air carriers and concessionaires and requires the wage provisions to flow down to applicable subcontractors and concessionaires.
The order applies to city contracts entered into after its effective date and provides language for incorporating the requirements into applicable contracts for which negotiations begin after the order takes effect.
The policy also acknowledges that federal or state law would supersede the executive order in the event of a legal conflict.
Whitmire’s order replaces a previous Houston airport living-wage executive order signed in February 2022.
