Flight Attendant Salary in Washington, DC
Flight Attendants in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median $63,580 a year — 0% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $50,580 take-home, or $4,215 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median flight attendant salary in Washington, DC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,450
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,942
- Medicare (1.45%)$922
- District of Columbia income tax$2,686
- Take-home pay$50,580
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.50% state
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro spans District of Columbia, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Flight Attendant pay by experience in Washington, DC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $25,810 | $12.41 | $22,476 | $1,873 |
| 25th percentile | $25,810 | $12.41 | $22,476 | $1,873 |
| Median (50th) | $63,580 | $30.57 | $50,580 | $4,215 |
| 75th percentile | $78,690 | $37.83 | $60,468 | $5,039 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $99,220 | $47.70 | $73,166 | $6,097 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, District of Columbia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $63,580 buys in Washington, DC
Prices in Washington, DC are 8.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median flight attendant's $50,580 take-home pay has the buying power of $46,453 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Washington, DC has 1.4× 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
Washington, DC ranks #11 of 17 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 | Charlotte, NC | $64,890 | $52,239 | $53,662 |
| 4 | Los Angeles, CA | $79,390 | $60,495 | $53,269 |
| 5 | Tampa, FL | $60,840 | $51,065 | $50,614 |
| 6 | Dallas, TX | $61,100 | $51,274 | $49,737 |
| 7 | Orlando, FL | $59,400 | $49,908 | $49,210 |
| 8 | Phoenix, AZ | $61,780 | $50,484 | $48,864 |
| 11 | Washington, DC | $63,580 | $50,580 | $46,453 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 17 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a flight attendant make in Washington, DC?
The median flight attendant salary in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $63,580 a year, or about $30.57 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $25,810 and $78,690.
What is a flight attendant’s take-home pay in Washington, DC?
On the median $63,580 salary, a single filer living in District of Columbia takes home about $50,580 a year ($4,215 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,686 in District of Columbia taxes in 2026.
Is Washington, DC a good place to work as a flight attendant?
Pay here is 0% above the national median of $63,580. Local prices are 8.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $46,453 would in a typical U.S. city. Washington, DC ranks #11 of 17 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a flight attendant afford rent in Washington, DC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Washington, DC is $1,990 a month ($2,223 for two bedrooms) — 47% of a median flight attendant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Washington, DC
- Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers — $209,750
- Air Traffic Controller — $174,870
- Commercial Pilot — $125,850
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $67,960
- Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity — $65,220
- Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other — $64,600
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $59,820
- Bus Drivers, School — $57,610
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $49,710
- Passenger Attendant — $49,190
- Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector — $46,530
- Light Truck Driver — $46,360