Career Profile • 53-2031

Flight attendants

Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent. 2025 median annual wage: $63580. Projected employment change, 2025–35: 8.8000000000000007%.

Flight attendants career field illustration
Typical EducationHigh school diploma or equivalent
Median Annual Wage$63,580
Projected Growth8.8%
Annual Openings18.5
Employment, 2025133.7
Projected Employment, 2035145.5
Related ExperienceLess than 5 years
On-the-Job TrainingModerate-term on-the-job training
Skills That Matter

Top Skills for This Career

BLS identifies these as the three highest-rated skills for this detailed occupation. TrustInEd adds the plain-language explanations so visitors understand what each skill means.

1
Customer service

Understanding customer needs and providing helpful, professional service.

2
Adaptability

Adjusting effectively when priorities, conditions, tools, or expectations change.

3
Interpersonal

Working effectively with people by building relationships, understanding others, and responding appropriately.

How do these skills connect to you?Use Hear From ED to reflect on your strengths, interests and work preferences.Explore with ED →
Education & Training Pathway

How Do You Prepare for This Career?

BLS describes the typical preparation for this occupation. Requirements can vary by employer, state, licensing rules and individual circumstances.

🎓Typical Entry EducationHigh school diploma or equivalent
🧰On-the-Job TrainingModerate-term on-the-job training
💼Related ExperienceLess than 5 years

How to Become One

Flight attendants typically receive on-the-job training from their employer and must be certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). PayThe median annual wage for flight attendants was $63,580 in May 2025. Job Outlook Employment of flight attendants is projected to grow 9 percent from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the average for all occupations. About 18,500 openings for flight attendants are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire. State & Area Data Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for flight attendants. Similar Occupations Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of flight attendants with similar occupations. More Information, Including Links to O*NET Learn more about flight attendants by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.

Your Next Step

Review training, certifications, apprenticeships, or employer-based preparation that may support entry into this career.

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Earnings

Pay

The median annual wage for flight attendants was $63,580 in May 2025. Job Outlook Employment of flight attendants is projected to grow 9 percent from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the average for all occupations. About 18,500 openings for flight attendants are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire. State & Area Data Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for flight attendants. Similar Occupations Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of flight attendants with similar occupations. More Information, Including Links to O*NET Learn more about flight attendants by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.

$63,5802025 median annual wage
Future Outlook

Job Outlook

Employment of flight attendants is projected to grow 9 percent from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the average for all occupations. About 18,500 openings for flight attendants are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire. State & Area Data Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for flight attendants. Similar Occupations Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of flight attendants with similar occupations. More Information, Including Links to O*NET Learn more about flight attendants by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.

What They Do

Flight attendants provide routine services and respond to emergencies to ensure the safety and comfort of airline passengers.

Work Environment

Flight attendants have variable work schedules, including evenings, weekends, and holidays, because airlines operate every day, and some offer overnight flights. Attendants work in an aircraft and may be away from home several nights per week.

How to Become a Flight Attendant

Flight attendants typically receive on-the-job training from their employer and must be certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Pay

The median annual wage for flight attendants was $63,580 in May 2025.

Job Outlook

Employment of flight attendants is projected to grow 9 percent from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the average for all occupations.

About 18,500 openings for flight attendants are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

State & Area Data

Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for flight attendants.

Similar Occupations

Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of flight attendants with similar occupations.

More Information, Including Links to O*NET

Learn more about flight attendants by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.

Work Environment

Flight attendants have variable work schedules, including evenings, weekends, and holidays, because airlines operate every day, and some offer overnight flights. Attendants work in an aircraft and may be away from home several nights per week.

How to Become a Flight Attendant

Flight attendants typically receive on-the-job training from their employer and must be certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Pay

The median annual wage for flight attendants was $63,580 in May 2025.

Job Outlook

Employment of flight attendants is projected to grow 9 percent from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the average for all occupations.

About 18,500 openings for flight attendants are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

State & Area Data

Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for flight attendants.

Similar Occupations

Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of flight attendants with similar occupations.

More Information, Including Links to O*NET

Learn more about flight attendants by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.

State & Area Data

Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for flight attendants.

Similar Occupations

Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of flight attendants with similar occupations.

More Information, Including Links to O*NET

Learn more about flight attendants by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.

More Information

Learn more about flight attendants by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.

Take the Next Step

Explore Training Options

Review training, certifications, apprenticeships, or employer-based preparation that may support entry into this career.

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Search Jobs

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Hear From ED

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Career data and occupational profile text are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook and Employment Projections program. Education requirements are typical entry-level requirements and may vary by employer, state, occupation or individual circumstance. View the official BLS profile.

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