Flight Attendant Salaries

In the instant cult classic Snakes on a Plane, Samuel L. Jackson's FBI agent character may get most of the attention, but it is the cabin crew of the beleaguered plane that contribute the most to getting their snake-riddled vessel to a safe touchdown. While few people would argue that Snakes on a Plane is a realistic depiction of airborne emergency, the film does illustrate the lesser-seen duties of a cabin crew: taking charge and assisting passengers to safety in times of crisis. In an ideal situation, a flight attendant's duties will extend to getting passengers on and off the plane in a timely manner, explaining safety procedures, and in-flight passenger service. However, should extreme weather, equipment malfunction, or passenger action endanger the plane's safety, it is up to the cabin crew to keep passengers calm and safe. There are numerous examples of flight attendants rising to the occasion to assist and protect the people in their care in life-threatening situations, and it is this inherent responsibility and risk that raises flight attendant salaries. But what is a flight attendant salary like?

Flight Attendant Salary Data

Even though a cabin crew will spend much of their work time in the air, flight attendants are still based out of specific cities, and like most careers, location affects flight attendant salaries. The Flight Attendant Salary by State chart shows that the median flight attendant salary is currently highest in Texas, Illinois and California, all of which are home to several hub airports for flights in the U.S. and overseas. A look at the Flight Attendant Salary by City chart shows similar results, with the median flight attendant salary in Dallas and San Francisco beating flight attendant salaries in other cities. Of course, while these two cities may both offer a high flight attendant salary, they differ significantly when it comes to cost of living. Using the PayScale Cost of Living Calculator to compare the Cost of Living and Flight Attendant Salary Range in Dallas and San Francisco, we can see that the cost of housing alone is 76 percent higher in San Francisco. Regional variation in salary is one reason flight attendant salary research is so important; having all the facts allows a flight attendant to make the best decisions when it comes to accepting a job or negotiating salary offers.

Researching flight attendant salary using the Flight Attendant Salary by Years Experience report, it's clear that flight attendant salaries receive a significant boost after several years on the job. It's a field that requires a cool head in times of crisis, and the ability to calmly and politely deal with people at all levels of stress, but crew members with tenacity and drive will see salary increases in due time - ideally, a due time that will be entirely snake-free.

Flight Attendant Salary - An Insider's Perspective

Expand your flight attendant salary research by reading a personal account of what it takes to join the cabin crew, "Becoming a Flight Attendant," in the Salary Stories blog. It's the real-life story of Sherri Blaise, flight attendant for Mesaba Airlines.