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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteU.S. flight attendants had a median annual wage of $63,580 in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). That is a national benchmark—not a starting salary, guaranteed pay, or a prediction of what an individual will take home. BLS estimates that the lowest-paid 10 percent earned less than $35,110, while the highest-paid 10 percent earned more than $136,430.
What was the median flight attendant salary in 2025?
The BLS reports a $63,580 median annual wage for flight attendants in May 2025. The median is the midpoint: half of workers earned more than that amount and half earned less. It is not an average, nor does it mean a new hire can expect to earn that much. The figure is a national occupational estimate compiled through the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. BLS: Flight Attendants
The reported wage distribution shows how much individual earnings can differ:
- Lowest 10 percent: less than $35,110 a year.
- Median: $63,580 a year.
- Highest 10 percent: more than $136,430 a year.
The two thresholds describe the ends of the distribution, not what most flight attendants earn. They also do not identify a particular airline’s starting or top-of-scale rate.
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How do scheduled and nonscheduled airline wages compare?
BLS reported different May 2025 median wages by air-transportation category:
| Industry category | Median annual wage, May 2025 |
|---|---|
| Nonscheduled air transportation | $70,700 |
| Scheduled air transportation | $63,570 |
These are industry estimates, not pay scales for named airlines. Scheduled air transportation accounted for 97 percent of flight-attendant employment in 2025, according to BLS. The category figures therefore provide context, but they should not be read as a direct comparison of specific carriers or as a guarantee of an individual’s pay.
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Why an individual flight attendant may earn more or less
Airline contract and pay scale
Airline agreements can establish wage scales and other compensation. The applicable agreement, its effective dates, and an employee’s position on the scale matter; the national median does not substitute for checking those terms.
For example, the American Airlines flight-attendant agreement provides domestic meal per diem of $2.90 and international meal per diem of $3.45 per trip hour beginning October 1, 2025. Those are expense allowances tied to trip hours, not annual wages or a component that should be casually added to the BLS median. APFA: American Airlines 2024 CBA
Contract changes can also bundle several kinds of compensation. In February 2025, the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA) reported that Alaska Airlines attendants ratified an agreement with immediate pay-scale increases of 18.6–28.3 percent, boarding pay, retroactive pay, and two additional raises over the contract. That is a union report about one carrier’s agreement, not an industrywide raise or a measure of all Alaska attendants’ annual earnings. AFA-CWA: Alaska Airlines flight attendants ratify contract
In September 2025, AFA-CWA reported that ATI flight attendants ratified a four-year agreement with an immediate double-digit wage increase and a signing bonus. The announcement does not provide a like-for-like national salary figure. AFA-CWA: ATI flight attendants ratify contract
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Seniority, assignments, and schedules
BLS says seniority affects assignments, including bases and routes, and that most new flight attendants start on reserve. Schedules can vary and include nights, weekends, holidays, and overnight stays away from home. These working arrangements help explain why an occupational median cannot tell a reader what a particular new hire will earn or how much time that person will spend away. BLS also notes that attendants may receive meal and accommodation allowances while away from home.
Annual wages are not the same as take-home pay
The BLS statistic is an annual wage estimate. It is not a take-home-pay calculation and does not incorporate an individual’s taxes or deductions. Per diem is a separate expense allowance, while boarding pay or other negotiated premiums may be separate contract components. To compare two airlines, examine each agreement’s dated wage scale by seniority, definition of paid time, premium pay, per diem, reserve guarantees, benefits, and schedule rules. The available examples above do not provide a complete, like-for-like pay table across U.S. airlines.
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What should someone considering the job know?
Salary is only one part of the career decision. BLS says candidates typically have one or two years of related service-work experience before their first flight-attendant job. Airlines provide initial training after hiring, generally lasting several weeks or a few months; the training is required for Federal Aviation Administration certification. BLS does not establish that candidates need to pay for an outside academy.
The work can involve irregular hours and time away from home. BLS notes that airlines may require an initial purchase of uniforms and luggage, while usually paying for replacements and upkeep. Those costs are distinct from wages and vary with an individual’s circumstances.
Are flight attendant salaries expected to rise?
BLS projects flight-attendant employment to grow 9 percent from 2025 to 2035, with about 18,500 openings per year on average over that period. These are employment projections, not wage forecasts; they do not show that salaries will increase by a particular amount. BLS: Flight Attendants
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