Have you ever wondered how much the friendly flight attendants who serve you drinks and keep you safe on airplanes actually get paid? The life of a flight attendant seems pretty glamorous – traveling the world, exploring new cities, and meeting people from all walks of life. But what about the paycheck? Is being a flight attendant really as lucrative as it seems?
In this detailed blog post, we’ll dive deep into the world of flight attendant salaries. We’ll look at how much they make on average, what factors affect their pay, and which airlines offer the highest salaries. Plus, we’ll answer some common questions about pursuing this career path.
But first, let me share a quick story that shows just how well (or not so well) some flight attendants get paid…
The $16,000 Per Year Flight Attendant A few years ago, I was chatting with a friendly flight attendant named Sarah on a cross-country United Airlines flight. After some small talk, the conversation turned to her job and how much she made.
To my surprise, Sarah revealed that as a new-hire flight attendant with United, she was making just $16,000 per year! I could hardly believe my ears. For a job that requires intense training, dealing with difficult passengers, and being away from home for days at a time, $16,000 seemed like peanuts.
Sarah explained that it would take her years of working for United to get anywhere near a decent living wage as a flight attendant. Her story really opened my eyes to how little some flight attendants can make, especially when first starting out.
But Sarah’s situation is far from the norm. As you’ll see, flight attendant salaries can actually be quite high with the right airline and enough experience under your belt.
So let’s take a closer look at the typical salaries and pay ranges for flight attendants across the industry.
What is the Average Flight Attendant Salary?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for flight attendants in 2020 was $59,050. But there’s a pretty wide range when it comes to flight attendant pay.
For example, here are the average salaries from some of the major U.S. airlines:
- Delta Air Lines: $57,000
- United Airlines: $54,000
- American Airlines: $45,000
- Southwest Airlines: $58,000
- JetBlue: $42,000
As you can see, flight attendant salaries across the U.S. airline industry can vary quite a bit. Someone making $42,000 per year at JetBlue would be taking home $16,000 less per year than their counterpart at Southwest Airlines.
Factors That Affect Flight Attendant Pay
So why is there such a big difference in pay between airlines? There are a few key factors that impact how much flight attendants make:
- Experience & Seniority Like most careers, experience and time with the company play a huge role in a flight attendant’s salary. New hires start at the bottom of the pay scale, often making in the $20,000 to $30,000 range.
But senior flight attendants who have been with an airline for 10+ years can make $60,000 to $80,000 or more per year. These flight attendants get first dibs on higher-paying routes and schedules.
For example, a senior flight attendant at American Airlines can expect to make around $70,000 per year, according to insiders.
- Airlines & Job Perks The airline you work for makes a massive difference in your potential earnings as a flight attendant. Major airlines like Delta, United and American tend to pay more than smaller, budget carriers.
Flight attendants at major airlines also tend to get better job perks, like free or discounted airfare for friends and family.
- Location Where you’re based as a flight attendant impacts your salary too. Flight attendants based in major cities like New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco tend to make more than those based in smaller markets.
- Union Contracts Whether or not flight attendants are unionized at a particular airline plays a role in their pay and benefits too. Union flight attendants tend to have better job protections, salaries and benefits.
For example, the Association of Flight Attendants union represents flight attendants at 20 airlines including United, Alaska and Hawaiian. Their union contracts help ensure decent pay and benefits for members.
Top-Paying Airlines for Flight Attendants
So which airlines pay their flight attendants the most? Here are some of the highest-paying airlines based on available data:
- Delta Air Lines Average Flight Attendant Salary: $57,000
As one of the world’s largest airlines, Delta has deep pockets to pay its 25,000 flight attendants very well. Senior flight attendants at Delta can make over $65,000 per year.
- United Airlines Average Flight Attendant Salary: $54,000
United flight attendants start in the $30,000 range but can work their way up to around $70,000 per year after a decade or more with the airline.
- Southwest Airlines Average Flight Attendant Salary: $58,000
Southwest is one of the highest-paying airlines for flight attendants, especially when you factor in the low-cost airline’s profit-sharing plan that can pay out big bonuses.
Highest Paid Flight Attendants
While most flight attendants with major airlines top out in the $70,000 to $80,000 range, some can make well over $100,000 per year in total compensation.
For example, senior flight attendants with United who fly international routes have the opportunity to earn over $100,000 per year between their salary and per diem payments.
At Delta Air Lines, veteran Atlanta-based flight attendants flying international routes can make upwards of $90,000 to $110,000 per year or more, according to reports.
How Do I Become a Flight Attendant?
So how do you actually become a flight attendant and qualify for these higher salaries down the road? Here’s a quick overview of the steps:
- Meet the Basic Requirements To even be considered for flight attendant jobs, you must:
- Be at least 20-21 years old
- Have a high school degree or GED
- Be able to pass a background check and drug test
- Meet vision, hearing, height and weight requirements
- Have the legal right to work in the United States
- Get the Right Training & Education While no formal college degree is required, many airlines prefer candidates who have taken college-level courses in hospitality, tourism or customer service. You’ll also need to complete an FAA-certified flight attendant training program, which can cost up to $5,000.
- Get Hired and Start at the Bottom Once you meet all the requirements, you’ll apply for open flight attendant jobs. If hired, you’ll start off making around $20,000 to $30,000 per year in your first 1-3 years on the job. Stick with it, work your way up, and your salary can double, triple or more over time.
- Consider Getting Additional Licenses To increase your earnings potential as a flight attendant, you may want to get additional licenses like: A aircraft dispatcher license (to coordinate flight operations); A flight instructor license (to train other flight attendants). Having one of these licenses can add $10,000+ to your base flight attendant salary.
Pros & Cons of Being a Flight Attendant
As with any career, there are pros and cons to being a flight attendant. Here are some of the biggest ones:
Pros:
- Free/discounted travel
- Visiting new places
- Diverse social interactions
- Good benefits like health insurance and retirement plans
- Relatively high salaries compared to education level required
Cons:
- Odd schedules and long hours
- Dealing with unruly passengers
- Jet lag and being away from home frequently
- Stressful job during emergencies
- Pay isn’t great when first starting out
FAQs on Flight Attendant Salaries
Do flight attendants make good money?
Yes, flight attendants can make very good money once they gain enough experience and seniority with a major airline. While starting salaries are low, senior flight attendants can make $70,000 to over $100,000 per year.
How much is a flight attendant’s salary in Nigeria?
In Nigeria, the typical salary range for flight attendants is around 150,000 to 600,000 Nigerian Naira per year. That translates to roughly $400 to $1,600 USD per year. Flight attendant pay is quite low compared to other countries. For example, a senior flight attendant with a major airline in the United States can make the equivalent of 20 million to 40 million Nigerian Naira or more per year.
What is the highest paid flight attendant?
The highest paid flight attendants work for major airlines like United, Delta and American. Senior flight attendants flying international routes can make over $100,000 per year in total compensation at these airlines. For example, reports indicate that some veteran Atlanta-based flight attendants at Delta flying international routes can make up to $110,000 per year or higher between their base salary and additional payments.
How hard is it to become a flight attendant?
Becoming a flight attendant is quite competitive. Major airlines can receive hundreds or even thousands of applications for just a handful of open flight attendant positions. In addition to meeting basic age, education, and legal requirements, you’ll need to complete flight attendant training, pass background checks, interviews and exams. Competition is intense due to the desirable travel benefits and potentially high salaries for experienced flight attendants.
Summary
While being a flight attendant may seem glamorous, the pay can start off quite low, especially for those just starting their career at a major airline.
However, flight attendants who stick with it can see their salaries rise quickly with experience and seniority. Senior flight attendants at top airlines like Delta, United and American can make $70,000 to over $100,000 per year in total compensation.
In addition to potentially high salaries down the road, flight attendants get great travel benefits that allow them to see the world. If you have the patience, people skills and flexibility to deal with the challenging schedule, being a flight attendant can be a rewarding career, both professionally and financially.