Once they complete training and meet the airline’s requirements, flight attendants start at approximately $22.00/hour. Follow your dream of working on board a commercial airline by having the right training and education for the job in hand.
The starting salary for flight attendants can vary widely depending on the airline and employer that you choose to take your first job with. As a general rule, smaller regional carriers offer lower starting wages than larger national airlines. Some of the largest U.S. based airlines pay their flight attendants well over $100,000 per year and provide health benefits to employees.
Starting Salary For Flight Attendants Overview
Flight attendants’ salaries vary depending on the airline, the size of the plane, and the number of hours they work. The average monthly flight attendant salary in Nigeria is about N30,000 ($100), but this can be as low as N13,000 ($50) or as high as N25,000 ($100).
The biggest factor that determines a flight attendant’s salary is how many years they’ve been working with an airline. For example, if a flight attendant has been working with Emirates for 10 years and has achieved their Gold status, then they will earn more than someone who has just started working there.
Another factor that can affect a flight attendant’s salary is where in Africa they work. For example, if you’re based in South Africa then your monthly salary will be higher than if you were based in Nigeria because South African salaries are generally higher than those in Nigeria.
who is a flight a Flight Attendant
Flight attendants are those employees on a plane who move their arms in certain directions while guiding you through all the safety exits and directions for what to do during an emergency. They’re pretty important. Plus they bring the pretzels and soda so that’s extra points right there.
In addition to flying all over the world, flight attendants have a varying schedule. Sometimes you might get caught on an overnight flight, but other times you’ll work a 2-hour flight. From riding in airplanes all the time to getting to stay in cities around the world, becoming a flight attendant is definitely not a bad gig.
What Flight Attendants Do
Flight attendants provide routine services and respond to emergencies to ensure the safety and comfort of airline passengers.
Duties of Flight Attendants
Flight attendants typically do the following:
- Participate in preflight briefings with the pilots, to discuss cabin conditions and flight details
- Conduct preflight inspections of emergency equipment
- Demonstrate the use of safety equipment and emergency equipment
- Ensure that passengers have their seatbelts fastened when required and that all other safety requirements are observed
- Serve and sell beverages, meals, or snacks
- Take care of passengers’ needs, particularly those with special needs
- Reassure passengers during the flight, such as when the aircraft hits turbulence
- Administer and coordinate emergency medical care, as needed
- Provide direction to passengers, including how to evacuate the aircraft in an emergency
Airlines are required by law to provide flight attendants for the safety and security of passengers. The primary job of flight attendants is to keep passengers safe, ensuring that everyone follows security regulations and that the flight deck is secure. Flight attendants also try to make flights comfortable and stress free for passengers. At times, they may deal with passengers who display disruptive behavior.
About 1 hour before takeoff, the captain (pilot) may conduct a preflight briefing with flight attendants about relevant flight information, including the number of hours the flight will take, the route the plane will travel, and weather conditions. Flight attendants check that emergency equipment is working, the cabin is clean, and there is an adequate supply of food and beverages on board. Flight attendants greet passengers as they board the aircraft, direct them to their seats, and provide assistance as needed.
Flight attendants demonstrate the proper use of safety equipment to all passengers, either in person or through a video recording before the plane takes off. They also check that seatbelts are fastened, seats are locked in the upright position, and all carry-on items are properly stowed in accordance with federal law and company policy.
A flight attendant’s most important responsibility, however, is to help passengers in the event of an emergency. This responsibility ranges from dealing with unruly passengers to performing first aid, fighting fires, protecting the flight deck, and directing evacuations. Flight attendants also answer questions about the flight, attend to passengers with special needs, and generally assist all passengers as needed.
Before the plane lands, flight attendants once again ensure that seatbelts are fastened, seats are locked in the upright position, and all carry-on and galley items are properly stowed.
Before they leave the plane, flight attendants survey the condition of the cabin. They submit reports on any medical, safety, or security issues that may have occurred during the flight.
Is Being a Flight Attendant Worth It?
For many, being a flight attendant is a rewarding job, but it can come with some downsides. One of the biggest is the schedule. Generally, flight attendants work varying hours that include holidays, nights and weekends. For people searching for a regular work schedule, being a flight attendant is probably not the answer.
There are also other factors to consider, such as being away from home for long stretches of time. Even when not on a flight, attendants might find themselves stuck in another state for days, waiting to go back to work. This can be exciting for those who love to travel and explore, but it can be difficult if you have a family you long to be home with.
One more thing to consider is the changing world. There are times when travel bans can impact the airline industry. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 30% growth in demand for flight attendants between 2020 and 2030, but the demand could always change.
Overall, if you love to travel, enjoy working with people, and don’t mind being away from home, being a flight attendant can be a great job. The compensation and benefits make it a worthy career
Which Airlines Pay Flight Attendants the Most?
Have you ever wondered how much each of the airlines pays their flight attendants? Maybe you’re already a flight attendant and want to make sure your pay is competitive in the industry. Or, perhaps you are hoping to become a flight attendant for the first time and want to know how much you can expect to make.
Look no further. We have compiled info to cover how much each of the major airlines pays their flight attendants based on where they are in their career. We’ve also included info on additional pay like bonuses, commissions, and other profit sharing.
Note: We’ve used a variety of sources for this guide including the airlines themselves, self-reporting sites like Payscale and Glassdoor, as well as information gathered directly from flight attendants themselves. We’ve done all the research so you don’t have to.
We’ve put our information into an easy to read table for your convenience in addition to the write-up below.
Below is a list of the 13 largest airlines in the United States (and Canada) along with their salary and additional pay information.
American Airlines
The average annual salary for a flight attendant at American Airlines is $43,460. The most experienced flight attendants (top 10%) can expect to make an average of $86,000 annually while beginners can expect to average under $30,000 per year.
American Airlines does also have programs in place to pay their flight attendants bonuses, commissions, and profit sharing. These additional forms of pay average $2,825 per year.
Delta Airlines
The average annual salary for a flight attendant at Delta Airlines is $40,236. The most experienced flight attendants (top 10%) can expect to make an average of $91,000 annually while beginners can expect to average around $24,000 per year. Something you’ll notice on this list is that the larger carriers tend to pay more than the smaller regional sized airlines. Delta is no exception.
Delta Airlines does also have a very generous programs in place to pay their flight attendants bonuses, commissions, and profit sharing. These additional forms of pay average $6,400 per year. This is among the highest of the airlines we looked at.
Southwest Airlines
The average annual salary for a flight attendant at Southwest Airlines is $42,000. The most experienced flight attendants (top 10%) can expect to make an average of $65,000 annually while beginners can expect to average under $30,000 per year. In addition to having one of the highest average salaries, Southwest is considered to have among the happiest employees of any airline.
Southwest Airlines does also have programs in place to pay their flight attendants bonuses, commissions, and profit sharing. These additional forms of pay average $4,800 per year. This is also one of the better programs for additional pay in the industry.
United Airlines
The average annual salary for a flight attendant at United Airlines is $44,219. The most experienced flight attendants (top 10%) can expect to make an average of $100,000 annually while beginners can expect to average under $28,000 per year. United pays their most senior flight attendants better than any other airlines on our list. If you have a lot of experience and love your job as a flight attendant, this is a great place to consider working.
United Airlines does also have programs in place to pay their flight attendants bonuses, commissions, and profit sharing. These additional forms of pay average $5,200 per year. This is also one of the better programs for flight attendants to earn money in addition to their regular pay.
Air Canada
The average annual salary for a flight attendant at Air Canada Airlines is C$39,000. The most experienced flight attendants (top 10%) can expect to make an average of C$65,000 annually while beginners can expect to average under $24,000 per year.
Air Canada does also have programs in place to pay their flight attendants bonuses, commissions, and profit sharing. These additional forms of pay average $2,825 per year.
Like many of the smaller airlines, Air Canada pays less than some of the bigger airlines. That being said, it has a great reputation for treating employees well.
Alaskan Airlines
The average annual salary for a flight attendant at Alaskan Airlines is $53,000. The most experienced flight attendants (top 10%) can expect to make an average of $113,000 annually while beginners can expect to average under $27,000 per year. As you can see, sticking around at Alaskan Airlines really pays off. They pay their most senior flight attendants a very large rate.
Alaskan Airlines does also have programs in place to pay their flight attendants bonuses, commissions, and profit sharing. These additional forms of pay average $3,400 per year.
JetBlue Airways
The average annual salary for a flight attendant at Jetblue Airways is $42,500. The most experienced flight attendants (top 10%) can expect to make an average of $103,000 annually while beginners can expect to average under $32,000 per year.
JetBlue Airways does also have programs in place to pay their flight attendants bonuses, commissions, and profit sharing. These additional forms of pay average $2,350 per year.
Spirit Airlines
The average annual salary for a flight attendant at Spirit Airlines is $39,000. The most experienced flight attendants (top 10%) can expect to make an average of $68,000 annually while beginners can expect to average under $25,000 per year.
Spirit Airlines does also have programs in place to pay their flight attendants bonuses, commissions, and profit sharing. These additional forms of pay average $1,500 per year.
WestJet
The average annual salary for a flight attendant at West Jet Airlines is $35,000. The most experienced flight attendants (top 10%) can expect to make an average of $46,000 annually while beginners can expect to average under $24,000 per year.
WestJet Airlines does also have programs in place to pay their flight attendants bonuses, commissions, and profit sharing. These additional forms of pay average $2,825 per year.
Frontier Airlines
The average annual salary for a flight attendant at Frontier Airlines is $29,400. The most experienced flight attendants (top 10%) can expect to make an average of $45,000 annually while beginners can expect to average under $27,000 per year.
Frontier Airlines does also have programs in place to pay their flight attendants bonuses, commissions, and profit sharing. These additional forms of pay average $1,100 per year.
Allegiant Air
The average annual salary for a flight attendant at American Airlines is $32,000 The most experienced flight attendants (top 10%) can expect to make an average of $71,000 annually while beginners can expect to average under $26,000 per year.
Allegiant Air does also have programs in place to pay their flight attendants bonuses, commissions, and profit sharing. These additional forms of pay average $2,825 per year.
Hawaiian Airlines
The average annual salary for a flight attendant at American Airlines is $39,000. The most experienced flight attendants (top 10%) can expect to make an average of $88,000 annually while beginners can expect to average under $29,000 per year.
Hawaiian Airlines does also have programs in place to pay their flight attendants bonuses, commissions, and profit sharing. These additional forms of pay average $2,500 per year.
Sun Country Airlines
The average annual salary for a flight attendant at Sun Country Airlines is $37,000. The most experienced flight attendants (top 10%) can expect to make an average of $85,000 annually while beginners can expect to average under $22,000 per year.
Sun Country Airlines does also have programs in place to pay their flight attendants bonuses, commissions, and profit sharing. These additional forms of pay average $1,900 per year.
