Flight attendant salary
BLS occupation: Flight Attendants · Transportation and material moving · data for May 2025
How much does a flight attendant make?
- The median flight attendant salary in the US is $63,580 a year: half of the 131,650 flight attendants BLS counts earn more and half earn less. The average (mean) is $77,440.
- The middle half earn between $51,760 and $95,640. The lowest-paid 10% earn less than $35,110 and the top 10% more than $136,430.
- That is 25% more than the median for all US workers ($50,980).
- New York pays flight attendants the most (median $126,650), followed by Utah ($82,730) and California ($82,170). Pennsylvania pays the least ($39,520).
- After adjusting for prices, the pay goes furthest in New York, where the median is worth $117,354 in typical US prices, then Utah and Georgia.
- In 6 of the 27 metro areas with data, the median flight attendant salary is enough to rent a typical home without spending more than 30% of income on rent.
- BLS projects the number of flight attendants to grow 8.8% from 2025 to 2035 (all jobs: 3.5%), with about 18,500 openings a year. The typical entry education is a high school diploma or equivalent.
official From BLS's survey of employers: what flight attendants are actually paid, not job ads or self-reports. Adjusted figures are derived. How we calculate.
How does your pay compare?
Flight attendant salary range
Half of flight attendants earn between $51,760 and $95,640 a year
Yearly pay at each point of the range, US, May 2025. For comparison, the median for all US jobs is $50,980.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
Show the numbers
| Yearly pay | |
|---|---|
| Lowest 10% earn under | $35,110 |
| Lowest 25% earn under | $51,760 |
| Median | $63,580 |
| Top 25% earn over | $95,640 |
| Top 10% earn over | $136,430 |
Where flight attendant pay goes furthest
A salary buys more where prices are low. We divide each state's median by its price level from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, so every figure is in typical US prices. derived
Flight attendants' pay goes furthest in New York once prices are counted
Median pay ÷ the state's price level (BEA, 2024; US = 100), shown in typical US prices. Top 10 states.
US median
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025; BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. Our calculation.
Show the numbers
| Worth, in US prices | |
|---|---|
| New York | $117,354 |
| Utah | $83,681 |
| Georgia | $81,335 |
| Connecticut | $75,456 |
| California | $74,214 |
| Washington | $69,235 |
| Ohio | $67,303 |
| Idaho | $65,135 |
| Michigan | $64,947 |
| Illinois | $62,146 |
Flight attendant pay in every state
| State | Median a year | Lowest 10% | Top 10% | Employed | After cost of living |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $126,650 | $52,430 | $163,750 | 12,060 | $117,354 |
| Utah | $82,730 | $49,830 | $133,230 | 2,490 | $83,681 |
| California | $82,170 | $48,130 | $129,290 | 15,840 | $74,214 |
| Georgia | $78,320 | $62,410 | $127,390 | – | $81,335 |
| Connecticut | $78,180 | $53,990 | $134,050 | 250 | $75,456 |
| Washington | $74,090 | $48,050 | $135,320 | – | $69,235 |
| Michigan | $62,490 | $61,270 | $129,070 | – | $64,947 |
| Ohio | $62,440 | $26,590 | $95,510 | 990 | $67,303 |
| Idaho | $62,200 | $62,200 | $130,060 | – | $65,135 |
| Illinois | $62,120 | $40,040 | $98,810 | 9,350 | $62,146 |
| Arizona | $61,780 | $32,390 | $81,860 | 4,590 | $61,365 |
| Massachusetts | $61,510 | $31,730 | $99,390 | 4,390 | $58,162 |
| Oregon | $61,480 | $30,930 | $96,790 | 980 | $59,481 |
| Minnesota | $61,230 | $30,010 | $96,710 | 4,050 | $62,086 |
| Colorado | $59,500 | $31,510 | $95,640 | 7,110 | $57,738 |
| Texas | $58,220 | $28,800 | $77,740 | 13,470 | $59,985 |
| Nevada | $51,800 | $31,120 | $75,130 | 4,040 | $51,811 |
| Florida | $47,320 | $27,790 | $90,260 | 13,220 | $45,758 |
| Pennsylvania | $39,520 | $25,960 | $65,370 | 2,290 | $40,503 |
BLS does not publish pay for flight attendants in 32 states (too few workers to estimate reliably). After cost of living = median ÷ (BEA price level ÷ 100).
Flight attendant salary by city
Metro areas where BLS publishes flight attendant pay: 27 of 387. Rent share = typical rent (September 2026, Zillow) × 12 ÷ the median salary; under 30% is affordable by the usual rule.
Highest-paying metro areas
- New York, NY $127,740
- San Francisco, CA $89,430
- Columbus, OH $83,450
- Salt Lake City, UT $82,730
- Los Angeles, CA $79,390
- Atlanta, GA $78,320
- Tucson, AZ $75,610
- Seattle, WA $75,100
- Richmond, VA $72,600
- Atlantic City, NJ $67,140
Where the pay goes furthest
- New York, NY $113,483
- Columbus, OH $87,411
- Salt Lake City, UT $82,018
- Atlanta, GA $78,275
- Tucson, AZ $78,032
- San Francisco, CA $77,353
- Richmond, VA $74,189
- Los Angeles, CA $69,906
- Atlantic City, NJ $67,916
- Seattle, WA $67,577
All 27 metro areas
| Metro area | Median a year | Employed | After cost of living | Rent share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | $127,740 | 18,030 | $113,483 | 33% |
| San Francisco, CA | $89,430 | 4,420 | $77,353 | 46% |
| Columbus, OH | $83,450 | 290 | $87,411 | 22% |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $82,730 | – | $82,018 | 24% |
| Los Angeles, CA | $79,390 | 10,080 | $69,906 | 44% |
| Atlanta, GA | $78,320 | – | $78,275 | 28% |
| Tucson, AZ | $75,610 | – | $78,032 | 24% |
| Seattle, WA | $75,100 | – | $67,577 | 36% |
| Richmond, VA | $72,600 | 40 | $74,189 | 28% |
| Atlantic City, NJ | $67,140 | – | $67,916 | 37% |
| Charlotte, NC | $64,890 | 1,440 | $66,658 | 32% |
| Washington, DC | $63,580 | 3,750 | $58,392 | 45% |
| Hartford, CT | $62,770 | 150 | $61,092 | 38% |
| Detroit, MI | $62,490 | – | $62,304 | 29% |
| Boise, ID | $62,200 | – | $63,217 | 37% |
| Chicago, IL | $62,120 | 9,240 | $59,964 | 42% |
| Phoenix, AZ | $61,780 | 4,510 | $59,797 | 33% |
| Boston, MA | $61,510 | 4,310 | $56,814 | 58% |
| Portland, OR | $61,480 | 950 | $58,319 | 35% |
| Minneapolis, MN | $61,230 | 4,060 | $58,413 | 34% |
| Dallas, TX | $61,100 | 7,680 | $59,269 | 33% |
| Tampa, FL | $60,840 | 510 | $60,303 | 39% |
| Denver, CO | $59,500 | 6,930 | $56,248 | 38% |
| Orlando, FL | $59,400 | 3,410 | $58,569 | 39% |
| Las Vegas, NV | $51,800 | 3,960 | $51,689 | 40% |
| Miami, FL | $47,320 | 8,100 | $41,452 | 67% |
| Philadelphia, PA | $39,520 | 1,810 | $38,536 | 58% |
What the median flight attendant salary pays per paycheck
| Period | Before taxes |
|---|---|
| Year | $63,580 |
| Month | $5,298 |
| Every two weeks | $2,445 |
| Week | $1,223 |
Gross pay, 52 weeks a year. Hourly to salary calculator.
Becoming a flight attendant: education and job outlook
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent |
|---|---|
| Work experience needed | Less than 5 years |
| On-the-job training | Moderate-term on-the-job training |
| Projected change in jobs, 2025–35 | +8.8% (all jobs: +3.5%) |
| Openings a year (average) | 18,500 |
| Self-employed | 0.4% |
official BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35. Openings include workers who retire or change jobs. What the work involves: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Similar jobs
| Job | Median a year | Typical education |
|---|---|---|
| Truck driver | $58,640 | Postsecondary certificate |
| Train conductor | $78,000 | High school diploma |
| Air traffic controller | $148,080 | Associate's degree |
| Airline pilot | $232,140 | Bachelor's degree |
| Forklift operator | $46,420 | No formal education |
| Warehouse worker | $40,240 | No formal education |
| Bus driver | $59,050 | High school diploma |
| School bus driver | $47,920 | High school diploma |
Questions about flight attendant pay
How much does a flight attendant make an hour?
BLS publishes only yearly pay for flight attendants, because they are usually paid a salary for a school or contract year rather than by the hour. The median is $63,580 a year.
How much does a flight attendant make a month?
About $5,298 a month before taxes at the median salary of $63,580, or $2,445 every two weeks.
What state pays flight attendants the most?
New York, with a median of $126,650. Utah ($82,730), California ($82,170), Georgia ($78,320) and Connecticut ($78,180) follow.
Where do flight attendants make the most after cost of living?
New York: its median of $126,650 is worth $117,354 at typical US prices. Utah, Georgia and Connecticut come next.
How much do entry-level flight attendants make?
BLS does not report pay by experience. The lowest-paid 10% of flight attendants earn under $35,110 a year, and the lowest-paid quarter under $51,760, which is a reasonable guide to starting pay.
What education do you need to become a flight attendant?
BLS lists the typical entry-level education as a high school diploma or equivalent. Work experience in a related job: less than 5 years. On-the-job training: moderate-term on-the-job training.
Sources and limits
- Pay and employment: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation 53-2031 (Flight Attendants). Downloaded 2026-10-24.
- OEWS counts wage and salary workers at employers, including tips and commissions but not overtime pay, bonuses that are not tied to production, or benefits. It leaves out the self-employed. BLS does not publish figures above $239,200 a year or for states and metro areas with too few workers.
- Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (US = 100). Rents: Zillow Observed Rent Index, September 2026; Data Provided by Zillow Group.
- Outlook and education: BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35.
- Pay is not broken down by experience, employer or specialty (for example, ER or pediatric nursing); BLS does not publish those splits.