Flight attendants
Salary, job outlook, AI risk & career information
Median Salary
$67,130
~$32/hr · ~$5,594/mo
US Jobs
131K
Much faster than average
AI & Automation Risk
3/10
Low Risk
AI & Automation Risk
Low Risk 3/10
The core responsibilities of flight attendants are physical and interpersonal, involving safety enforcement, emergency medical response, and manual service tasks that AI cannot perform. While AI may assist with peripheral digital tasks like report writing or passenger manifest management, the role is largely defined by a physical presence required by law for passenger safety.
Salary by City — What You Actually Take Home
Real purchasing power = salary adjusted for cost of living. Higher = more money in your pocket.
| City | Local Salary | Cost of Living | Real Purchasing Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJBEST VALUE | $128,050 | Above avg (112.6) | $113,676 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $103,950 | Above avg (112.7) | $92,211 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $94,650 | Above avg (110.7) | $85,470 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $80,000 | Average (101.6) | $78,748 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $78,440 | Average (102.5) | $76,547 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $76,340 | Average (100.5) | $75,975 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $76,490 | Above avg (103.3) | $74,051 |
| Richmond, VA | $72,380 | Average (98.3) | $73,604 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $77,870 | Above avg (114.7) | $67,861 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $65,500 | Average (98.9) | $66,225 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $64,100 | Average (97.3) | $65,863 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $61,370 | Average (98.2) | $62,503 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $68,650 | Above avg (110.4) | $62,187 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $72,200 | Above avg (117.6) | $61,420 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $62,120 | Average (102.5) | $60,613 |
Cost of Living Index: 100 = US national average. Below 100 = cheaper. Above 100 = more expensive.
Education & Requirements
Education Required
High school diploma or equivalent
10-Year Growth
+9% (Much faster than average)
Hourly Rate
~$32/hr
Monthly Income
~$5,594/mo
Related Careers
Data: Bureau of Labor Statistics OOH (2024)