Flight Attendant Salary
Flight Attendants earn a median $63,580 a year nationally. Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
What flight attendants do
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)
- Openings per year
- 18,500
Employment of flight attendants is projected to grow 8.8% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 18,500 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Flight Attendant take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,450
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,942
- Medicare (1.45%)$922
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$53,267
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,110 | $16.88 | $30,391 |
| 25th percentile | $51,760 | $24.88 | $43,769 |
| Median (50th) | $63,580 | $30.57 | $53,267 |
| 75th percentile | $95,640 | $45.98 | $76,113 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $136,430 | $65.59 | $104,516 |
Best cities for flight attendants (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $127,740 | $92,080 | $81,803 | 18,030 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $89,430 | $66,494 | $57,514 | 4,420 |
| 3 | Los Angeles, CA | $79,390 | $60,495 | $53,269 | 10,080 |
| 4 | Dallas, TX | $61,100 | $51,274 | $49,737 | 7,680 |
| 5 | Orlando, FL | $59,400 | $49,908 | $49,210 | 3,410 |
| 6 | Phoenix, AZ | $61,780 | $50,484 | $48,864 | 4,510 |
| 7 | Chicago, IL | $62,120 | $49,163 | $47,457 | 9,240 |
| 8 | Minneapolis, MN | $61,230 | $48,738 | $46,496 | 4,060 |
| 9 | Washington, DC | $63,580 | $50,580 | $46,453 | 3,750 |
| 10 | Denver, CO | $59,500 | $48,079 | $45,451 | 6,930 |
| 11 | Boston, MA | $61,510 | $48,748 | $45,026 | 4,310 |
| 12 | Las Vegas, NV | $51,800 | $43,801 | $43,707 | 3,960 |
| 13 | Miami, FL | $47,320 | $40,202 | $35,217 | 8,100 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- New York, NY — $127,740
- San Francisco, CA — $89,430
- Los Angeles, CA — $79,390
- Washington, DC — $63,580
- Chicago, IL — $62,120
- Phoenix, AZ — $61,780
- Boston, MA — $61,510
- Minneapolis, MN — $61,230
- Dallas, TX — $61,100
- Denver, CO — $59,500
- Orlando, FL — $59,400
- Las Vegas, NV — $51,800
- Miami, FL — $47,320
Flight Attendant salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $126,650 | −1.1% | $91,399 | $52,430 – $163,750 | 12,060 |
| Utah | $82,730 | +67.7% | $64,274 | $49,830 – $133,230 | 2,490 |
| California | $82,170 | +5.5% | $62,156 | $48,130 – $129,290 | 15,840 |
| Georgia | $78,320 | +2.6% | $60,486 | $62,410 – $127,390 | — |
| Connecticut | $78,180 | −9.2% | $61,105 | $53,990 – $134,050 | 250 |
| Washington | $74,090 | −28.7% | $60,952 | $48,050 – $135,320 | — |
| Michigan | $62,490 | +1.8% | $49,986 | $61,270 – $129,070 | — |
| Ohio | $62,440 | +9.2% | $51,416 | $26,590 – $95,510 | 990 |
| Idaho | $62,200 | +2.8% | $49,969 | $62,200 – $130,060 | — |
| Illinois | $62,120 | +0.0% | $49,163 | $40,040 – $98,810 | 9,350 |
| Arizona | $61,780 | +62.0% | $50,484 | $32,390 – $81,860 | 4,590 |
| Massachusetts | $61,510 | −10.4% | $48,748 | $31,730 – $99,390 | 4,390 |
| Oregon | $61,480 | +3.3% | $47,029 | $30,930 – $96,790 | 980 |
| Minnesota | $61,230 | +20.7% | $48,738 | $30,010 – $96,710 | 4,050 |
| Colorado | $59,500 | −2.5% | $48,079 | $31,510 – $95,640 | 7,110 |
| Texas | $58,220 | +1.8% | $48,960 | $28,800 – $77,740 | 13,470 |
| Nevada | $51,800 | +30.2% | $43,801 | $31,120 – $75,130 | 4,040 |
| Florida | $47,320 | −38.1% | $40,202 | $27,790 – $90,260 | 13,220 |
| Pennsylvania | $39,520 | −4.9% | $32,721 | $25,960 – $65,370 | 2,290 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airfield Operations Specialist | $56,850 | High school diploma or equivalent | +7.8% |
| Commercial Pilot | $123,220 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +5.2% |
| Air Traffic Controller | $148,080 | Associate's degree | +1.7% |
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | $232,140 | Bachelor's degree | +8.3% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $62,890 | High school diploma or equivalent | +3.0% |
| Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers | $61,770 | High school diploma or equivalent | +4.3% |
| Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers | $60,600 | High school diploma or equivalent | +0.8% |
| Traffic Technician | $59,090 | High school diploma or equivalent | +4.0% |
| Crane and Tower Operator | $68,080 | High school diploma or equivalent | +3.8% |
| Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity | $59,050 | High school diploma or equivalent | +4.1% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a flight attendant make?
The national median salary for flight attendants is $63,580 a year ($30.57 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $35,110 and the top 10% earn over $136,430. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays flight attendants the most?
New York has the highest median pay at $126,650. After taxes and local prices, New York, NY offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many flight attendants are there in the U.S.?
About 131,650 people work as flight attendants nationwide.