Do most flight attendants have a degree?

A high school diploma is typically required to become a flight attendant. Some airlines may prefer to hire applicants who have taken some college courses or who have a college degree. Those working on international flights may need fluency in a foreign language.



While a college degree is not a strict legal requirement for becoming a flight attendant—most airlines only require a high school diploma—the majority of modern flight attendants do hold a degree. Statistics from 2024–2026 indicate that approximately 55% to 65% of flight attendants have an Associate's or Bachelor’s degree. Major carriers like Delta, United, and American Airlines receive tens of thousands of applications for every few hundred openings, making the hiring process incredibly competitive. Consequently, having a degree in fields like hospitality, communications, psychology, or nursing often gives candidates a significant edge. Furthermore, many airlines prioritize applicants who are bilingual, which often correlates with higher education. While you can certainly get the job with just great customer service experience and a high school diploma, the professionalization of the role means that the "typical" new hire today is often a college graduate seeking an unconventional and adventurous career path.

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A high school diploma or equivalent is required. All flight attendants are required to obtain a certificate of demonstrated proficiency, which requires specific flight attendant training.

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According to AirlineCareer.com, approximately 40% of flight attendant trainees industry-wide don't make it through training. With Harvard's graduation rate falling around 98%, it's very likely that it's also much more difficult to graduate from Delta flight attendant training school than it is to graduate from Harvard.

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Flight Attendant school has become ever more important. Historically, there has been around a 1% hiring rate. In other words, your chances of getting hired is 1 out of 100.

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Most airlines require a 90% passing grade on all exams during new hire training. Only 60% of new-hire flight attendants make it through new-hire training. Only 50% survive the first year of employment. Each airline receives an average of 2,500 flight attendant job applications per month.

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Can you make a living as a flight attendant? Yes, you can make a decent living as a flight attendant. The median salary is $61,640 per year and there are many opportunities to make more than that based on your experience level, the airline you work for and even your geographic location.

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A business degree with an emphasis in customer service or public relations is another excellent option. If you are especially interested in international flights, you might consider getting a degree in a foreign language. Applicants with college-level education are often given preference in employment.

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It is possible for cabin crew members to become rich, but it usually depends on a few factors. Cabin crews have high salaries and are able to enjoy the perks that come with their jobs, like free travel. However, one of the biggest money mistakes they make is not investing wisely or saving enough for retirement.

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Aspiring cabin crew is also subjected to drug tests and sometimes alcohol tests to discover any substance abuse issues. Speech defects are not accepted. Any candidate with anemia, epilepsy, diabetes or such will not be considered fit to fly.

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The training process for flight attendants can be quite rigorous and time-intensive. New hires typically need to complete somewhere between three to six weeks of initial training, where they learn on-the-job skills such as safety procedures and emergency drills.

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You can apply for flight attendant positions if you're over 18 years old and have good health and vision. Train. If an airline hires you, you can train for weeks or months to prepare for FAA certification.

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At some airlines, the minimum age requirement to be a flight attendant is 18, but for most, it's 20-21. As a flight attendant, age is just a number. You can be too young to be a flight attendant but not too old if you are in good shape and can work long hours and do some heavy lifting.

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At some airlines, the minimum age requirement to be a flight attendant is 18, but for most, it's 20-21. As a flight attendant, age is just a number. You can be too young to be a flight attendant but not too old if you are in good shape and can work long hours and do some heavy lifting.

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For aspiring flight attendants, Delta Air Lines, ranked by its employees as one of the best places to work, is also one of the most difficult places to get a job. It's harder to get invited to Delta flight attendant training than it is to get into Harvard University.

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Yes, the process of becoming a flight attendant is challenging. There are up to 1.5 million job applications for 5,000 to 10,000 jobs hiring. It's very competitive and the training process is long, sometimes taking up to 3 to 6 months for the entire process.

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Sample Answers: Challenging Parts of the Flight Attendant Job
  • I find dealing with difficult passengers consistently challenging. ...
  • Working long hours and being away from loved ones can be tough to deal with. ...
  • The physical aspect of the job, like standing for long periods, can be quite challenging.


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Can you make a living as a flight attendant? Yes, you can make a decent living as a flight attendant. The median salary is $61,640 per year and there are many opportunities to make more than that based on your experience level, the airline you work for and even your geographic location.

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I could live well on my salary, I know that, but there are people who couldn't live with a similar salary, others could live with less. Also many airlines gave less and there are airlines that paid better. So, in my case: I had a house, a car, a wife and two daughters and we lived on my salary.

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Having someone to split the bills with will be the most effective way to save money. If you want to save on rent, you can either get a roommate(s), live in a crashpad, rent a room, or stay with family. You can usually find a few classmates in training to share a place with at your base.

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