How Much Money are Flight Attendants Making Compared to a Few Years Back?

May 10,2010

 

A few years ago, Jetemployment.com did research on average salaries of flight attendants. At that time we reported that the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average yearly earnings of flight attendants (in 2006) were $56,150. We also looked at payscale.com and reported salaries in two states at the 50% mark – meaning 50% of job seekers did better and 50% did worse.  We reported on salaries for a flight attendant with three years employment in states of New York and Illinois, which were $42,972 and $40,317 respectively.

 

How have salaries changed for Flight Attendants?

 

From the numbers JetEmployment.com has available, flight attendants are making less than they did only a few years back. 

 

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Median annual wages of flight attendants were $35,930 in May 2008. The middle 50 percent earned between $28,420 and $49,910. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $20,580, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $65,350. Earnings (source – The above wage data are from the Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) survey program, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics – http://www.bls.gov/oco/)

 

Jetemployment.com expanded our research and looked at average salaries for flight attendants in four states:  New York, Illinois, California, and Georgia.  The criteria was the same as our last search:  we were looking at flight attendants with three years experience working for a “company” or corporation. As college education is not required for this position, we did not enter any education-related data.

Our Findings (source payscale.com):

 

-      For the state of New York, the average salary is $38.631 for flight attendant job seekers.  75% of the job seekers make at least  $37.698 and  25% of job seekers with at least this level of experience have jobs with a salary at or above  $52.395

-      For the state of Illinois, the average salary is $33,113 for flight attendant job seekers.  75% of the job seekers make at least  $32,413 and  25% of job seekers with at least this level of experience have jobs with a salary at or above  $44,403

-     For the state of Georgia, the average salary is $30,951 for flight attendant job seekers.  75% of the job seekers make at least  $30,332 and  25% of job seekers with at least this level of experience have jobs with a salary at or above  $41,173

-      For the state of California, the average salary is $35,972 for flight attendant job seekers.  75% of the job seekers make at least  $36,270 and  25% of job seekers with at least this level of experience have jobs with a salary at or above  $49,025

 

More information from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

 

According to data from the Association of Flight Attendants, beginning attendants had median earnings of $16,191 a year in 2009. Beginning pay scales for flight attendants vary by carrier, however. New hires usually begin at the same pay scale, regardless of experience; all flight attendants receive the same future pay increases based on an established pay scale.

Some airlines offer incentive pay for working holidays, night and international flights, or taking positions that require additional responsibility or paperwork.

Flight attendants and their immediate families are entitled to free or discounted fares on their own airline and reduced fares on most other airlines. Some airlines require that the flight attendant be with an airline for 3 to 6 months before taking advantage of this benefit. Other benefits may include medical, dental, and life insurance; 401K or other retirement plan; sick leave; paid holidays; stock options; paid vacations; and tuition reimbursement. Flight attendants also receive a “per diem” allowance for meal expenses while on duty away from home. Flight attendants are required to purchase uniforms and wear them while on duty. The airlines usually pay for uniform replacement items, and may provide a small allowance to cover cleaning and upkeep of the uniforms.

The majority of flight attendants hold union membership, primarily with the Association of Flight Attendants. Other unions that represent flight attendants include the Transport Workers Union of America and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.

 

What are significant job points for flight attendants?

 

-                   Competition for positions is expected to remain keen because the opportunity for travel attracts more applicants than there are jobs.

-                     Job duties are learned through formal on-the-job training at a flight training center.

-                     A high school diploma is the minimum educational requirement, but airlines prefer applicants with a college degree and with experience in dealing with the public.

 

How much do flight attendants work?

 

Attendants usually fly 65 to 90 hours a month and generally spend another 50 hours a month on the ground preparing planes for flights, writing reports following completed flights, and waiting for planes to arrive. Most airlines guarantee a minimum of 65 to 85 flight hours per month, with the option to work additional hours. Flight attendants receive extra compensation for additional hours.

How much are flight attendants away from home?

Flight attendants may be away from their home base at least one-third of the time. During this period, the airlines provide hotel accommodations and an allowance for meal expenses.

Do flight attendants relocate?

Flight attendants must be flexible and willing to relocate. However, many flight attendants elect to live in one place and commute to their assigned home base. Home bases and routes worked are bid for and awarded on a seniority basis, so the longer the flight attendant has been employed, the more likely he or she is to work on their preferred flights. Almost all flight attendants start out working on reserve status, or on call. Flight attendants on reserve status usually live near their home base, because they are required to be able to report to their home base on short notice. On small corporate airlines, flight attendants often work on an as-needed basis and must adapt to varying environments and passengers.

Employment

Flight attendants held about 98,700 jobs in 2008. Commercial airlines employed the vast majority of flight attendants, and most attendants lived near major metropolitan airports or airports operating as hubs for the major airlines. A small number of flight attendants worked for companies that offered chartered flights.

Employment of flight attendants is expected to grow by 8 percent, which is about as fast as the average for all occupations over the 2008–18 period.