What airline has the highest paid flight attendants?

When it comes to new flight attendants just starting out, the highest paying airlines are JetBlue, $32,000, and Southwest Airlines, $30,000. For seasoned flight attendants looking for earning potential, JetBlue, $103,000, and Alaskan Airlines, $113,000, are the highest paying airlines.



In 2026, United Airlines and Southwest Airlines are currently at the top of the pay scale following landmark contract negotiations. After the "critical phase" of bargaining in early 2026, United moved toward a "top-of-industry" pay scale that can see veteran flight attendants earning over $100,000 per year when including per diems and international premiums. Southwest remains highly competitive due to their unique "trip-based" pay structure and generous profit-sharing, which often results in higher take-home pay for junior staff compared to legacy carriers. Internationally, Emirates and Qatar Airways offer high "tax-free" salaries and provided housing, which can be more lucrative depending on your home country's tax laws. However, in the U.S. domestic market, the "Big Three" (Delta, United, American) are currently in a "pay war" to attract and retain staff, leading to some of the highest historical wages for cabin crew.

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Top companies for Flight Attendants in United States
  • Delta Air Lines. 4.2 $34.76per hour. 4,825 reviews162 salaries reported.
  • American Airlines. 3.9 $33.65per hour. ...
  • United Airlines. 3.9 $33.42per hour. ...
  • Alaska Airlines. 3.8 $31.30per hour. ...
  • Southwest Airlines. 4.2 $29.36per hour. ...
  • Show more companies.


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United Airlines
Like JetBlue, United has one of the highest potential salaries for a flight attendant. After years of service at United, a flight attendant can bring home six figures.

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On average, Emirates flight attendants make between $36,000 and $53,000 a year when they first start at the airline. Some differences between Emirates and other airlines is that Emirates provides free accommodations for all crew members, including flight attendants.

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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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Salary. Base pay can vary greatly depending on the airline as some pay better than others, but you can expect a starting salary in the region of £12,000 to £14,000. Once you have some experience you'll be able to earn a base rate of £15,000 to £19,000 a year.

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Do flight attendants get free hotel accommodation? Yes, flight attendants often receive complimentary hotel stays during layovers (also called a stopover) as part of their job benefits. However, this only applies when the flight attendants are on duty and are required to layover in a different city or country.

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It varies, but many flight attendants easily make six figures a year. This is because they fly a lot, are topped out in pay, and have great seniority at one of the highest-paying airlines.

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Steps to Take to be a Flight Attendant
It's difficult and can take a long time. Airlines can take 3-6 months to get through the hiring process, that's if your resume makes it through the first cut. Intense Competition. We estimate there are 1 – 1.5 million flight attendant applications for 5,000 – 10,000 jobs.

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It's competitive to get a job as a flight attendant, but a lot of that comes down to whether people actually want the job or if they're just doing it for the sake of it. There are a lot of applications for job roles - BA gets something like 25,000 applications for 2,000 job roles.

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The average British Airways salary ranges from approximately $38,143 per year for a Customer Service Agent to $98,214 per year for a Manager. The average British Airways hourly pay ranges from approximately $18 per hour for a Customer Service Agent to $23 per hour for a CSA.

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The estimated total pay for a Cabin Crew at Ryanair is $4,814 per month. This number represents the median, which is the midpoint of the ranges from our proprietary Total Pay Estimate model and based on salaries collected from our users. The estimated base pay is $4,814 per month.

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Job Outlook
Employment of flight attendants is projected to grow 21 percent from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations. About 18,100 openings for flight attendants are projected each year, on average, over the decade.

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At 21 years old, you can apply to be a flight attendant with any airline. Minimum age requirements typically apply at the time of training completion, so candidates who will reach an airline's minimum age during training can apply for flight attendant roles. There is no upper age limit for flight attendants.

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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.

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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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4 Tips to Survive on a Flight Attendant Salary
  1. Cut Unnecessary Expenses i.e. Spotify, Apple Music, beauty subscriptions Start by cutting all those unnecessary expenses. ...
  2. Get a Roommate or Crashpad. ...
  3. Save Money Before Going to Training. ...
  4. Meal Prep and Pack Your Lunch.


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