What Do Flight Attendant Do?

Occupation 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

• Inspect and clean cabins, checking for any problems and making sure that cabins are in order.
• Check to ensure that food, beverages, blankets, reading material, emergency equipment, and other supplies are aboard and are in adequate supply.
• Answer passengers' questions about flights, aircraft, weather, travel routes and services, arrival times, or schedules.
• Verify that first aid kits and other emergency equipment, including fire extinguishers and oxygen bottles, are in working order.
• Direct and assist passengers in emergency procedures, such as evacuating a plane following an emergency landing.
• Assist passengers in placing carry-on luggage in overhead, garment, or under-seat storage.

Flight Attendant Needed Skills

When polled, Flight Attendants say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:

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

• Airline Hostess
• Flight Steward
• Meal Attendant
• Airline Stewardess
• Door and Arrival Attendant

Flight Attendant Employment Estimates

In 2016, there was an estimated number of 116,600 jobs in the United States for Flight Attendant. 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.

Average Flight Attendants Salary

Flight Attendants make between $28,950 and $80,870 a year.

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 to Become a Flight Attendant

What kind of Flight Attendant requirements are there?

What work experience do I need to become a Flight Attendant?

Where do Flight Attendants Work?

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.