Being a flight attendant might seem like a dream job to someone who loves to travel, especially by plane. They get paid to fly all over the country or the world. The question is whether or not they are paid well. Read on to find out how much a flight attendant gets paid.
This is the annual salary of a flight attendant ?
Salary.com says that as of the end of October 2022, the median annual salary for a flight attendant was $81,157. The top 90% of flight attendants make more than $118,347 per year, while the bottom 10% make about $50,557 per year.
What affects the pay of a flight attendant?
There are many things that affect how much a flight attendant makes. Here are some of the most important ones.
What you know and what you can do
To become a flight attendant for most airlines, you only need a high school diploma, but you must be certified by the Federal Aviation Administration. Things like emergency landings, evacuations, and medical emergencies are covered by the certification.
Also, flight attendants have to go through training for each type of plane they work on. The more types of music they know how to play, the more valuable they are. This could lead to more money and more chances.
Seniority and Years of Service
Customer service is an important part of being a flight attendant. Because of this, most airlines require applicants to have some kind of customer service experience. This can be a year or more of work in retail, restaurants, or sales, for example. Even if the experience isn’t required, it can lead to a higher starting salary.
Pay can also depend on how long you’ve been a flight attendant. When you work in a field for a long time, you should get more raises and bonuses.
Which airline and where
In general, when you work in a big city, you get paid more. For example, a flight attendant who lives and works in New York City usually makes more than one who lives and works in Alabama.
How much a flight attendant makes also depends on the airline itself. Glassdoor gives salary estimates for a number of airlines, including:
- $41,000 to $66,000 per year for American Airlines
- $37,000 to $87,000 per year for SkyWest Airlines
- Ravn Alaska: $37,000 to $81,000 per year
- $33,000 to $77,000 per year for Endeavor Air
- $39,000 to $88,000 per year at United Airlines
- $45,000 to $112,000 per year for Delta Airlines
Do you get any other perks?
There are some extra perks that flight attendants get, but they vary from airline to airline. These are the most common perks:
Flights that are free or cheap
Most flight attendants get to travel for personal reasons for free or at a discount. Often, this also includes family members.
401(k)s and insurance (k)
Many airlines give flight attendants and their families health and retirement plans. What happens depends on the airline.
Reimbursement for Expenses
Most airlines pay for flight attendants’ food costs between flights. This can be nice because it gives the attendants a chance to try out local food while they wait to go back to work.
Hotel Compensation
Between flights, flight attendants often stay in hotels. The airline pays for the room, so they don’t have to take money out of their checks to pay for it.
Is it Worth It to Be a Flight Attendant?
Flight attendant is a job that many people enjoy, but it can also have some bad parts. The schedule is one of the most important. Most of the time, flight attendants work different hours, including nights, holidays, and weekends. If you want a regular schedule at work, being a flight attendant is probably not the job for you.
There are also other things to think about, such as how long you are away from home. Even when they’re not on a flight, flight attendants may be stuck in another state for days while they wait to go back to work. This can be fun for people who like to travel and see new things, but it can be hard if you want to be with your family.
One more thing to think about is how the world is changing. Travel bans can sometimes have an effect on the airline business. Between 2021 and 2031, the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the number of jobs for flight attendants will grow by 21%, but the number of jobs could always change.
Overall, being a flight attendant can be a great job if you like to travel, like working with people, and don’t mind being away from home. Because of the pay and benefits, it’s a good job.
