Flight Attendant Salary in Chicago, IL
Flight Attendants in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $62,120 a year — 2% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $49,163 take-home, or $4,097 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median flight attendant salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,274
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,851
- Medicare (1.45%)$901
- Illinois income tax$2,930
- Take-home pay$49,163
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.95% state
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro spans Illinois, Indiana. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Flight Attendant pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,040 | $19.25 | $32,515 | $2,710 |
| 25th percentile | $60,320 | $29.00 | $47,806 | $3,984 |
| Median (50th) | $62,120 | $29.87 | $49,163 | $4,097 |
| 75th percentile | $77,720 | $37.37 | $59,804 | $4,984 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $98,940 | $47.57 | $73,682 | $6,140 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $62,120 buys in Chicago, IL
Prices in Chicago, IL are 3.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median flight attendant's $49,163 take-home pay has the buying power of $47,457 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Chicago, IL has 2.4× the national concentration of flight attendant jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for flight attendants, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #7 of 13 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $127,740 | $92,080 | $81,803 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $89,430 | $66,494 | $57,514 |
| 3 | Los Angeles, CA | $79,390 | $60,495 | $53,269 |
| 4 | Dallas, TX | $61,100 | $51,274 | $49,737 |
| 5 | Orlando, FL | $59,400 | $49,908 | $49,210 |
| 6 | Phoenix, AZ | $61,780 | $50,484 | $48,864 |
| 7 | Chicago, IL | $62,120 | $49,163 | $47,457 |
| 8 | Minneapolis, MN | $61,230 | $48,738 | $46,496 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 13 metros →
About the job: flight attendants
Monitor safety of the aircraft cabin. Provide services to airline passengers, explain safety information, serve food and beverages, and respond to emergency incidents.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +8.8% (much faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a flight attendant make in Chicago, IL?
The median flight attendant salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $62,120 a year, or about $29.87 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $60,320 and $77,720.
What is a flight attendant’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $62,120 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $49,163 a year ($4,097 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,930 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a flight attendant?
Pay here is 2% below the national median of $63,580. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $47,457 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #7 of 13 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a flight attendant afford rent in Chicago, IL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Chicago, IL is $1,534 a month ($1,743 for two bedrooms) — 37% of a median flight attendant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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