What Flight Attendants do
The U.S. Department of Labor's O*NET database describes the work of Flight Attendants this way: "Monitor safety of the aircraft cabin. Provide services to airline passengers, explain safety information, serve food and beverages, and respond to emergency incidents."
The core tasks O*NET records for this occupation include: "Direct and assist passengers in emergency procedures, such as evacuating a plane following an emergency landing"; "Announce and demonstrate safety and emergency procedures, such as the use of oxygen masks, seat belts, and life jackets"; "Walk aisles of planes to verify that passengers have complied with federal regulations prior to takeoffs and landings"; "Verify that first aid kits and other emergency equipment, including fire extinguishers and oxygen bottles, are in working order"; "Administer first aid to passengers in distress".
Education, experience and training
According to the BLS Employment Projections, the typical education needed to enter this occupation is high school diploma or equivalent. Work experience in a related occupation is typically less than 5 years. Typical on-the-job training to reach competency is moderate-term on-the-job training.
Job outlook for Flight Attendants
The Bureau of Labor Statistics counted 133,700 jobs in this occupation in 2025 and projects 145,500 in 2035, an increase of 11,800 jobs (+8.8%). That is faster than the 3.5% projected for all occupations.
About 18,500 openings a year are projected on average, counting both new positions and positions vacated by workers who retire or switch occupations. Relative to today's employment that is 13.8% a year, against 10.3% for all occupations. BLS lists a national median annual wage of $63,580, compared with $50,980 for all occupations.
Where Flight Attendants earn the most
Across the 8 states with published data, the employment-weighted average of local median wages for this occupation ranges from $51,321 in Florida to $127,740 in New York, a gap of $76,419 (2.49 times). 3 of those 8 states average above the BLS national median of $63,580 and 5 average at or below it.
New Jersey employs the most people in this occupation among the states covered, 19,840, which is 20.4% of the 97,480 counted across them. New York follows with 18,030.
Highest-paying states
New York ($127,740), New Jersey ($119,692) and California ($82,450) lead the ranking, while Florida ($51,321) and Colorado ($59,500) are at the bottom. The table below lists every state with a link to its county-level detail.
Flight Attendants: pay against the cost of living
We compare 8 labor markets, each represented by its most populous county. After federal, Social Security, Medicare and state taxes and the four basics (a one-bedroom rental, food, home energy and gasoline), the largest yearly margin is in Bergen County, NJ (New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ) at $60,971. The smallest margin is $7,337 in Miami-Dade County, FL.
The median wage for this occupation covers all four basics in 8 of the 8 markets. A one-bedroom apartment takes between 25.8% and 63.4% of take-home pay, depending on the market.
Occupations related to Flight Attendants
Other occupations in the same SOC minor group (53-2000) include Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers.
Frequently asked questions about Flight Attendants
How much do Flight Attendants earn in the United States?
BLS lists a national median annual wage of $63,580. Across the states covered here the average local median ranges from $51,321 to $127,740.
Which state pays Flight Attendants the most?
New York, with an employment-weighted average local median wage of $127,740. New Jersey is next at $119,692.
Is Flight Attendants a growing occupation?
BLS projects employment to grow by 8.8% between 2025 and 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations, with about 18,500 openings a year.
What education do Flight Attendants need?
The typical entry-level education is high school diploma or equivalent, with work experience in a related occupation of less than 5 years and moderate-term on-the-job training, according to BLS.
Where can Flight Attendants afford to live best?
Among the markets covered, Bergen County, NJ leaves the largest yearly margin after taxes, rent, food, energy and gasoline: $60,971 on a median wage of $127,740.