Passenger Attendant Salary in Washington, DC
Passenger Attendants in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median $49,190 a year — 30% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $39,919 take-home, or $3,327 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
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- Federal income tax$3,723
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,050
- Medicare (1.45%)$713
- District of Columbia income tax$1,785
- Take-home pay$39,919
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% 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.
Passenger Attendant pay by experience in Washington, DC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,440 | $18.00 | $31,183 | $2,599 |
| 25th percentile | $43,670 | $21.00 | $35,815 | $2,985 |
| Median (50th) | $49,190 | $23.65 | $39,919 | $3,327 |
| 75th percentile | $54,180 | $26.05 | $43,629 | $3,636 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $54,810 | $26.35 | $44,097 | $3,675 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, District of Columbia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $49,190 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 passenger attendant's $39,919 take-home pay has the buying power of $36,662 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 passenger attendant jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for passenger attendants, adjusted for cost of living
Washington, DC ranks #1 of 12 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $49,190 | $39,919 | $36,662 |
| 2 | Orlando, FL | $38,250 | $32,914 | $32,454 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $43,350 | $35,064 | $32,387 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $41,760 | $35,734 | $32,154 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $44,800 | $36,813 | $31,842 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $41,590 | $33,949 | $30,160 |
| 7 | Denver, CO | $37,550 | $31,408 | $29,691 |
| 8 | Los Angeles, CA | $39,460 | $32,805 | $28,887 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 12 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a passenger attendant make in Washington, DC?
The median passenger attendant salary in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $49,190 a year, or about $23.65 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $43,670 and $54,180.
What is a passenger attendant’s take-home pay in Washington, DC?
On the median $49,190 salary, a single filer living in District of Columbia takes home about $39,919 a year ($3,327 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,785 in District of Columbia taxes in 2026.
Is Washington, DC a good place to work as a passenger attendant?
Pay here is 30% above the national median of $37,720. Local prices are 8.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $36,662 would in a typical U.S. city. Washington, DC ranks #1 of 12 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a passenger 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) — 60% of a median passenger 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
- Flight Attendant — $63,580
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $59,820
- Bus Drivers, School — $57,610
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $49,710
- Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector — $46,530
- Light Truck Driver — $46,360