SOC 53-2031 · May 2025
Flight Attendant Salary
Flight Attendants in the US earn a median of $63,580 a year, according to the BLS May 2025 wage survey. The top 10% earn $136,430 or more, 3.9 times the $35,110 at the 10th percentile.
Median annual
$63,580
Half of all Flight Attendants in the United States earn more than this figure, half earn less. From the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release.
Wage trend
Hourly
–
Job growth 2025-35
+8.8%
US workers
131,650
BLS series
Annual median wage for Flight Attendants in All Industries in the United States
Salary range
From entry to top decile
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread for Flight Attendants is $35,110 – $136,430.
Percentile distribution
USD · annual
10th
$35,110
25th
$51,760
Median
$63,580
75th
$95,640
90th
$136,430
Percentile bands
Where your pay would sit
Percentile bands
Annual wages at each point of the BLS distribution for Flight Attendants. Where you sit depends on experience, employer, location and credentials.
| Percentile | What it means | Annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | 10% earn less. Common for new entrants | $35,110 |
| 25th percentile | A quarter earn less | $51,760 |
| Median | Half earn more, half earn less | $63,580 |
| 75th percentile | A quarter earn more | $95,640 |
| 90th percentile | 10% earn more. Often senior or specialist staff | $136,430 |
Geography
Flight Attendant pay by state
Flight Attendants earn the most in New York ($126,650, +99% against the national median) and the least in Pennsylvania ($39,520). BLS publishes a May 2025 estimate for this occupation in 19 of 51 states and D.C.
National median
$63,580
Highest-paying states for flight attendants
| State | Annual median | vs national | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $126,650 | +99% | 12,060 |
| Utah | $82,730 | +30% | 2,490 |
| California | $82,170 | +29% | 15,840 |
| Georgia | $78,320 | +23% | – |
| Connecticut | $78,180 | +23% | 250 |
| Washington | $74,090 | +17% | – |
| Michigan | $62,490 | -2% | – |
| Ohio | $62,440 | -2% | 990 |
| Idaho | $62,200 | -2% | – |
| Illinois | $62,120 | -2% | 9,350 |
All 19 states, highest to lowest
| State | Annual median | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $126,650 | 12,060 |
| Utah | $82,730 | 2,490 |
| California | $82,170 | 15,840 |
| Georgia | $78,320 | – |
| Connecticut | $78,180 | 250 |
| Washington | $74,090 | – |
| Michigan | $62,490 | – |
| Ohio | $62,440 | 990 |
| Idaho | $62,200 | – |
| Illinois | $62,120 | 9,350 |
| Arizona | $61,780 | 4,590 |
| Massachusetts | $61,510 | 4,390 |
| Oregon | $61,480 | 980 |
| Minnesota | $61,230 | 4,050 |
| Colorado | $59,500 | 7,110 |
| Texas | $58,220 | 13,470 |
| Nevada | $51,800 | 4,040 |
| Florida | $47,320 | 13,220 |
| Pennsylvania | $39,520 | 2,290 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state estimates, May 2025, all industries.
What affects this salary
Pay drivers for Flight Attendants
Flight attendants (BLS SOC 53-2031) provide safety and customer service to passengers on commercial aircraft. The role requires high school education plus airline-specific training (3–6 weeks) and FAA certification. Pay structures combine hourly flight pay with per-diem allowances and seniority-based scheduling preferences. Senior flight attendants at legacy carriers (Delta, United, American) substantially exceed the OEWS figure; regional and budget-carrier crews typically fall closer to it.
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread is $35,110 – $136,430. That gap reflects experience, certification, employer type, geographic cost of living, and shift differentials where applicable.
Geography matters. The best-paying states for this role are New York, Utah and California. Pay in New York runs 3.2 times the level in Pennsylvania, before any adjustment for cost of living.
Getting in. BLS lists the typical entry-level education as high school diploma or equivalent, and projects about 18,500 openings a year over 2025-35. Employment is projected to grow 8.8% over the same period, against 3.5% for all occupations.
Frequently asked
Questions readers ask
Frequently asked
What is the average Flight Attendant salary in the US?
How much do Flight Attendants make at the low and high end?
Which state pays Flight Attendants the most?
Is the average Flight Attendant salary higher than the median?
Is Flight Attendant a growing career?
Open positions
Open Flight Attendant roles hiring now
Browse current Flight Attendant listings on Indeed and ZipRecruiter, filtered to your role.
Source & methodology
Wage and employment figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2025 release. Standard Occupational Classification: 53-2031. Figures represent the national median, mean, and percentile distribution across all employers and industries. Hourly equivalents assume a 2,080-hour work year. Job growth, annual openings and typical education are from the BLS Employment Projections program, 2025-35; see the Occupational Outlook Handbook entry. Read our methodology for details on how the data is sourced, transformed, and refreshed.