On top of their wages, flight attendants can receive a per diem - or, pay per hour - to help compensate for expenses on the job.Īt SkyWest, a regional airline, flight attendants make $1.95 per diem for every hour they are on duty. Other major airline carriers like American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines pay attendants upwards of $64,000. The average flight attendant salary varies widely from major aircraft carriers to smaller, regional ones, as well.įlight attendants for United Airlines make around $82,404, according to PayScale, while flight attendants for Skywest Airlines make about half that: $47,461. Airlines based in San Francisco and Houston pay 10 percent and 9 percent, respectively, above the national average, while those based in Atlanta and Miami both earn 15 percent less than the national average.įlight attendants also receive benefits, ranging from medical, dental and vision, according to PayScale. The average salary for a late-career flight attendant is around $61,000.Ī flight attendant's airport base plays a part in determining how much he or she makes. The average entry-level flight attendant - with zero to five years of experience - makes around $38,000 in total compensation, according to PayScale. The range in flight attendants' salaries depends on their level of experience.

PayScale estimates the average pay for a flight attendant is a bit lower - landing around $39,000 a year. The median salary for a flight attendant in May 2016 was $48,500, according to the Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics. Here's more on what we know about how much flight attendants' salaries and what it's like to work from 30,000 feet above the ground. Still, flight attendants have reported satisfactory job reviews to PayScale. (Shawn Kathleen asked Money not to include her last name due to online threats she received for running the Passenger Shaming Instagram account.)Īnd while being a flight attendant may come with the perk of free air travel, that benefit can only be done through stand-by, which means flight attendants can't expect to score the flight they want all the time. She flew from Ohio to New York just to prepare for the start of her shift - that is, once the flight took off. Shawn Kathleen, a former flight attendant Money spoke with, lived in Ohio while her base was in New York. In addition to their pay, flight attendants are often compensated for meals and accommodations while they are away from home - something that happens frequently, especially if they live in a different city than where they are based. (Some flight attendants, however, have shared online and in an interview with Money that they make as low as $18,000 a year.)Īccording to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, flight attendants work between 75 to 100 hours a month in the air and another 50 hours a month preparing for flights. So how much does the average flight attendant make? Salaries for flight attendants - it doesn't matter if their flight is domestic or international - are between $23,000 or $25,00 a year to upwards of $80,000 a year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics and PayScale, a salary and compensation information company. This means how much a flight attendant makes does not incorporate boarding, taxiing, flight delays, flight cancellations, or anything else that prevents a flight from taking off. For others, it may signal an emotional trip home.įor flight attendants, it marks the beginning of their paid hours because their salary completely depends on the number of hours an aircraft is in flight. For some, it could be the beginning of an international trip. You’ll also get discounts on hotels, car rentals, other airlines’ flights, and vacation packages.A flight's take-off can mean different things to different people. As a flight attendant, you’ll be eligible for free flights – sometimes for your friends or family, too! – and maximum time off to enjoy the destinations of your choice during your free time. You’ll also be in line for some valuable perks.

But you have to hang in there because the first five years you don’t get paid much. It’s a high-paying job, and the longer you’re there the less you work. It’s also possible to earn extra money during busy periods by working extra hours.Īs a longtime flight attendant points out, the longer you stay on the job, the better the pay: In addition, flight attendants get far more time off than typical employees, usually between ten and twenty-one days per month.

Flight Attendant Salary | More details for Flight Attendant Jobs | SalaryĪlthough the pay starts out low, all expenses on the road are paid for, and most airlines are noted for their excellent medical, retirement, vacation, and overtime benefits.

Flight attendant work schedule