Flight Attendants
Monitor safety of the aircraft cabin. Provide services to airline passengers, explain safety information, serve food and beverages, and respond to emergency incidents.
Also called: Aircraft Cabin Agent, Airline Attendant, Airline Flight Attendant, Airline Hostess, Airline Stewardess, Airplane Flight Attendant
Median pay
$63,580
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$35,110 – $136,430
People employed
131,650
Holland code
CSR
Conventional · Social · Realistic
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Do you enjoy serving customers or the public?
- 2.Are you OK with hours that change?
- 3.Are you happy talking and working with people most of the day?
- 4.Do you work well under tight deadlines?
- 5.Do you want a lot of freedom to make your own decisions?
- 6.Are you OK with physical risk, such as hazardous equipment or conditions, with proper training?
- 7.Do you want to stay at 40 hours a week or less?
- 8.Are you OK repeating the same tasks most of the day?
The hard parts
- Tight deadlines are common
- Mistakes can have serious consequences
- Dealing with conflict is part of the job
Flight Attendants pay by state
Annual median pay by state (19 states with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What flight attendants do
- 01Verify that first aid kits and other emergency equipment, including fire extinguishers and oxygen bottles, are in working order.
- 02Announce and demonstrate safety and emergency procedures, such as the use of oxygen masks, seat belts, and life jackets.
- 03Monitor passenger behavior to identify threats to the safety of the crew and other passengers.
- 04Walk aisles of planes to verify that passengers have complied with federal regulations prior to takeoffs and landings.
- 05Direct and assist passengers in emergency procedures, such as evacuating a plane following an emergency landing.
- 06Prepare passengers and aircraft for landing, following procedures.
Skills that matter most
- Speaking
- Monitoring
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
Knowledge
- Customer and Personal Service
- Public Safety and Security
- English Language
- Transportation
- Psychology
Work styles that stand out
- Attention to Detail
- Integrity
- Cautiousness
- Cooperation
- Social Orientation
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a high school diploma (O*NET Job Zone 2).
- Related work experience: none.
- On-the-job training: anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month.
- A certification can help.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from flight attendants
- Transportation Security Screeners80% · +5%
- Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors74% · −9%
- Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks73% · −30%
- Postal Service Clerks72% · −2%
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers72% · +20%
Change into flight attendants
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Passenger Attendants88% · $37,720
- Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks85% · $44,390
- School Bus Monitors85% · $35,100
- Baggage Porters and Bellhops83% · $37,080
- Transportation Security Screeners83% · $66,770
Majors that lead here
- Airline Flight Attendant
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.