What Do Flight Attendant Do?

Flight Attendant Job Description Provide personal services to ensure the safety, security, and comfort of airline passengers during flight. Greet passengers, verify tickets, explain use of safety equipment, and serve food or beverages.

Life As a Flight Attendant

• Check to ensure that food, beverages, blankets, reading material, emergency equipment, and other supplies are aboard and are in adequate supply.
• Collect money for meals and beverages.
• Direct and assist passengers in emergency procedures, such as evacuating a plane following an emergency landing.
• Walk aisles of planes to verify that passengers have complied with federal regulations prior to takeoffs and landings.
• Prepare passengers and aircraft for landing, following procedures.
• Assist passengers in placing carry-on luggage in overhead, garment, or under-seat storage.

Flight Attendant Needed Skills

These are the skills Flight Attendants say are the most useful in their careers:

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.

Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.

Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Types of Flight Attendant

• Flight Attendant
• Flight Attendant/Air Transportation Supervisor
• Lead Instructor/Flight Attendant
• Door and Arrival Attendant
• Airline Flight Attendant

Flight Attendant Job Outlook

In the United States, there were 116,600 jobs for Flight Attendant in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 10.2% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 11,900 new jobs for Flight Attendant by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 14,200 job openings in this field each year.

The states with the most job growth for Flight Attendant are Florida, Oregon, and Washington. Watch out if you plan on working in Idaho, Alaska, or Connecticut. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

What is the Average Salary of a Flight Attendant

The typical yearly salary for Flight Attendants is somewhere between $28,950 and $80,870.

Flight Attendants who work in Oregon, Texas, or Arizona, make the highest salaries.

How much do Flight Attendants make in different U.S. states?

State	Annual Mean Salary
Arizona	$65,680
California	$51,990
Colorado	$47,150
Florida	$62,610
Illinois	$53,220
Indiana	$60,080
Massachusetts	$61,610
Michigan	$55,310
Minnesota	$50,560
Nevada	$57,190
New York	$48,960
North Carolina	$54,190
Ohio	$52,760
Oregon	$80,410
Pennsylvania	$68,410
Texas	$58,820
Utah	$48,250
Washington	$77,450

Tools & Technologies Used by Flight Attendants

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Flight Attendants may use on a daily basis:

• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Office
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Microsoft Windows
• SBS International Maestro Suite

How do I Become a Flight Attendant?

Learn what Flight Attendant education requirements there are.

How many years of work experience do I need?

Where Flight Attendants Are Employed

The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.

References:

• Bureau of Labor Statistics
• College Factual
• O*NET Online

Image Credit: Tech. Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol via U.S. Air Force photo

More about our data sources and methodologies.