Flight Attendants Career, Salary and Skills
Flight Attendants have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $63,580 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 131,650. Wage data is published for 43 locations.
Occupation description
Monitor safety of the aircraft cabin. Provide services to airline passengers, explain safety information, serve food and beverages, and respond to emergency incidents.
O*NET code
53-2031.00
Job zone
2
Typical education
High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
Experience
None
National salary and employment
Median annual
$63,580
Hourly median
Not published
Employment
131,650
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Speaking | 4.12 | 3.75 |
| Active Listening | 3.88 | 3.25 |
| Monitoring | 3.88 | 3.38 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.75 | 3.25 |
| Service Orientation | 3.75 | 3.62 |
| Coordination | 3.62 | 3.25 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.12 | 3.62 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.12 | 3.50 |
| Active Learning | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Time Management | 3.12 | 3.00 |
Typical tasks
- 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.
- Reassure passengers when situations, such as turbulence, are encountered.
Technology
- AD OPT Altitude
- Arkitektia Flight Itinerary
- Bid Assistant
- IBM Lotus LearningSpace
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Windows
- Microsoft Word
- SBS International Maestro Suite
- ValtamTech Flight Crew Log
Flight Attendants salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Flight Attendants Salary in New York, NYMedian $127,740 · Employment 18,030
- Flight Attendants Salary in CAMedian $82,170 · Employment 15,840
- Flight Attendants Salary in TXMedian $58,220 · Employment 13,470
- Flight Attendants Salary in FLMedian $47,320 · Employment 13,220
- Flight Attendants Salary in NYMedian $126,650 · Employment 12,060
- Flight Attendants Salary in Los Angeles, CAMedian $79,390 · Employment 10,080
- Flight Attendants Salary in ILMedian $62,120 · Employment 9,350
- Flight Attendants Salary in Chicago, ILMedian $62,120 · Employment 9,240
- Flight Attendants Salary in Miami, FLMedian $47,320 · Employment 8,100
- Flight Attendants Salary in Dallas, TXMedian $61,100 · Employment 7,680
- Flight Attendants Salary in COMedian $59,500 · Employment 7,110
- Flight Attendants Salary in Denver, COMedian $59,500 · Employment 6,930
Related careers
- Security GuardsNational median $38,020
- Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical TechniciansNational median $35,450
- Subway and Streetcar OperatorsNational median $86,380
- Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and AmbulanceNational median $50,340
- Railroad Conductors and YardmastersNational median $78,000
- Shuttle Drivers and ChauffeursNational median $37,290
- Aircraft Service AttendantsNational median $40,450
- Bus Drivers, Transit and IntercityNational median $59,050
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.