Life As a Flight Attendant
Job Description: 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
- Verify that first aid kits and other emergency equipment, including fire extinguishers and oxygen bottles, are in working order.
- Sell alcoholic beverages to passengers.
- Announce flight delays and descent preparations.
- Collect money for meals and beverages.
- Determine special assistance needs of passengers such as small children, the elderly, or disabled persons.
- Prepare passengers and aircraft for landing, following procedures.
Featured schools near , edit
Qualities of a Flight Attendant
When polled, Flight Attendants say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
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.
Other Flight Attendant Job Titles
- Lead Instructor/Flight Attendant
- Flight Steward
- Flight Crew Member
- Purser
- Flight Attendant/Air Transportation Supervisor
Job 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.
Do Flight Attendants Make A Lot Of Money?
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?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Flight Attendants may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Windows
- SBS International Maestro Suite
Becoming a Flight Attendant
Are there Flight Attendants education requirements?

How Long Does it Take to Become a Flight Attendant?

Where Flight Attendants Work

Below are examples of industries where Flight Attendants work:

References:
Image Credit: Tech. Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol via U.S. Air Force photo
More about our data sources and methodologies.
Featured Schools
![]() |
Southern New Hampshire University You have goals. Southern New Hampshire University can help you get there. Whether you need a bachelor's degree to get into a career or want a master's degree to move up in your current career, SNHU has an online program for you. Find your degree from over 200 online programs. Learn More > |