What Do Flight Attendant Do?

Job Description & Duties Provide personal services to ensure the safety, security, and comfort of airline passengers during flight. Greet passengers, verify tickets, explain use of safety equipment, and serve food or beverages.

Life As a Flight Attendant: What Do They Do?

• Announce flight delays and descent preparations.
• Walk aisles of planes to verify that passengers have complied with federal regulations prior to takeoffs and landings.
• Operate audio and video systems.
• Determine special assistance needs of passengers such as small children, the elderly, or disabled persons.
• Announce and demonstrate safety and emergency procedures, such as the use of oxygen masks, seat belts, and life jackets.
• Conduct periodic trips through the cabin to ensure passenger comfort and to distribute reading material, headphones, pillows, playing cards, and blankets.

What a Flight Attendant Should Know

These are the skills Flight Attendants say are the most useful in their careers:

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.

Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.

Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Related Job Titles for this Occupation:

• Flight Attendant
• Purser
• Ramp Flight Attendant
• Flight Hostess
• Flight Attendant/Inflight Manager

Is There Going to be Demand for Flight Attendants?

There were about 116,600 jobs for Flight Attendant in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 10.2% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 11,900 new jobs for Flight Attendant by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 14,200 job openings in this field each year.

The states with the most job growth for Flight Attendant are Florida, Oregon, and Washington. Watch out if you plan on working in Idaho, Alaska, or Connecticut. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

How Much Does a Flight Attendant Make?

The salary for Flight Attendants ranges between about $28,950 and $80,870 a year.

Flight Attendants who work in Oregon, Texas, or Arizona, make the highest salaries.

Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Flight Attendants in different U.S. states.

State	Annual Mean Salary
Arizona	$65,680
California	$51,990
Colorado	$47,150
Florida	$62,610
Illinois	$53,220
Indiana	$60,080
Massachusetts	$61,610
Michigan	$55,310
Minnesota	$50,560
Nevada	$57,190
New York	$48,960
North Carolina	$54,190
Ohio	$52,760
Oregon	$80,410
Pennsylvania	$68,410
Texas	$58,820
Utah	$48,250
Washington	$77,450

What Tools & Technology do Flight Attendants Use?

Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Flight Attendants:

• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Office
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Microsoft Windows
• SBS International Maestro Suite

How to Become a Flight Attendant

What kind of Flight Attendant requirements are there?

How many years of work experience do I need?

Flight Attendants Sector

Flight Attendants work in the following industries:

References:

• Bureau of Labor Statistics
• College Factual
• O*NET Online

Image Credit: Tech. Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol via U.S. Air Force photo

More about our data sources and methodologies.