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Flight Attendants: Job Description
Monitor safety of the aircraft cabin. Provide services to airline passengers, explain safety information, serve food and beverages, and respond to emergency incidents.
The Daily Work of Flight Attendants Perform?
Typical responsibilities of flight attendants span:
- Verify that first aid kits and other emergency equipment, including fire extinguishers and oxygen bottles, are in working order.
- Announce and demonstrate safety and emergency procedures, such as the use of oxygen masks, seat belts, and life jackets.
- Monitor passenger behavior to identify threats to the safety of the crew and other passengers.
- Walk aisles of planes to verify that passengers have complied with federal regulations prior to takeoffs and landings.
- Direct and assist passengers in emergency procedures, such as evacuating a plane following an emergency landing.
- Prepare passengers and aircraft for landing, following procedures.
- Administer first aid to passengers in distress.
- Determine special assistance needs of passengers, such as small children, the elderly, or persons with disabilities.
What Flight Attendants Need to Know
Top flight attendants combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
The competencies most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Types of Flight Attendants Jobs
Common job titles for this role include:
- Aircraft Cabin Agent
- Airline Attendant
- Airline Flight Attendant
- Airline Hostess
- Airline Stewardess
- Airplane Flight Attendant
- Cabin Attendant
- Door and Arrival Attendant
Job Outlook
The U.S. employs around 195,381 flight attendants working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +0.0% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Flight Attendants
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $36,135 |
| Hourly median | $17.37 |
| 10th percentile | $21,470 |
| 25th percentile | $28,803 |
| 75th percentile | $43,468 |
| 90th percentile | $50,801 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
Flight Attendants Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $128,050 |
| Washington | $103,950 |
| Connecticut | $86,140 |
| California | $77,870 |
| Florida | $76,410 |
| Georgia | $76,340 |
| Massachusetts | $68,650 |
| North Carolina | $64,100 |
| Virginia | $62,280 |
| Illinois | $62,120 |
| Michigan | $61,370 |
| Colorado | $61,050 |
| Idaho | $60,480 |
| Oregon | $59,520 |
| Ohio | $57,170 |
| Texas | $57,170 |
| Minnesota | $50,740 |
| Utah | $49,330 |
| Pennsylvania | $41,560 |
| Nevada | $39,790 |
| Arizona | $38,130 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Earnings for flight attendants shift depending on where you work. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Atlantic | $105,222 | 14.8% | 1.15 |
| Southeast | $71,375 | 20.2% | 1.26 |
| Far Western US | $69,581 | 21.7% | 1.42 |
| New England | $68,650 | 3.7% | 1.17 |
| Great Lakes | $61,631 | 10.7% | 1.64 |
| Rocky Mountains | $61,028 | 8.2% | 2.99 |
| Southwest | $52,779 | 17.9% | 1.21 |
| Plains States | $50,740 | 2.8% | 1.08 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $128,050 | 16,500 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $103,950 | |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | CA | $94,650 | 910 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | FL | $80,000 | 3,600 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | FL | $78,440 | 440 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | CA | $77,870 | 9,850 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | CT | $76,490 | |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | GA | $76,340 |
Industry Breakdown
Most flight attendants work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Transportation and Warehousing | 128,630 | n/a |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Tools and Technology
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Operating system software: Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
Work Environment
Daily working conditions for flight attendants tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Health and Safety of Other Workers
- Public Speaking
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Contact With Others
- Deal With External Customers or the Public in General
Education and Training
Most flight attendants positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Security Guards (Supplemental)
- Transportation Security Screeners (Primary-Long)
- Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers (Primary-Long)
- Locker Room, Coatroom, and Dressing Room Attendants (Primary-Long)
- Baggage Porters and Bellhops (Primary-Short)
- Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks (Primary-Short)
- Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance (Supplemental)
- Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors (Primary-Long)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Aspiring flight attendants often complete programs in:
Transportation and Materials Moving
1 programs across 1 majors
About the Data
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 53-2031.00 (Flight Attendants).
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