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Houston airport workers will receive a minimum wage increase of $5 for a new wage of $20 an hour starting in August, which will gradually rise to $23 an hour by 2028.
What this means
Mayor John Whitmire signed an executive order Aug. 12 alongside members of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), the labor union that represents airport workers, that will immediately begin the new wages.
Workers employed by air carriers, concessions and airport contractors will qualify for the raise.
“This helps, but this is just the beginning,” Whitmire said. “It's not going to be just wages. It's going to be working conditions.”
Before signing the executive order, the minimum wage was $15 an hour at Houston airports, including Hobby and IAH. This is the first salary increase for Houston workers since 2023, when former Mayor Sylvester Turner raised their minimum wage from $12 to $15 an hour.
Why it matters
Whitmire said that improving working conditions benefits the entire city and its visitors.
“Houston is an international city that relies on our airports to run smoothly and provide a world-class traveling experience for visitors,” he said in a statement. “This wage increase will help Houston airports keep their experienced workforce and ultimately deliver even better customer service.”
The raises will go across all three Houston airports: Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), William P. Hobby Airport and Ellington Airport.
Elsa Flores, president of SEIU Texas, said the wage increase is considered a “victory” for its workers.
“This wage increase is the product of workers coming together as a union and having the unwavering support of pro-labor leaders like Mayor John Whitmire and council member Joaquin Martinez,” Flores said.
Martinez is chair of the labor committee.
“One job should be enough,” Martinez said. “We know that there's a cost of rising, right? Whether it's rent, whether it's groceries. This allows you to have one job, get paid enough, spend time with family, because that's also public safety as well. This is making Houston a better place for everyone, specifically our working families.”
One more thing
The increase is scheduled to go up to $21 in January 2027, $22 in October 2027 and by 2028 it will be $23 an hour, Whitmire said. The new wages of $20 an hour took effect immediately.
