What is the lowest paid flight attendant?

$28,500 is the 25th percentile. Salaries below this are outliers. $46,500 is the 75th percentile.



In 2026, the lowest-paid flight attendants are typically entry-level recruits at regional airlines or ultra-low-cost carriers (ULCCs). In the United States, regional airlines like SkyWest, Mesa, or Republic—which operate smaller regional jets for major brands like Delta Connection or United Express—often have lower starting salaries than their "mainline" counterparts. Entry-level pay at these airlines can start as low as $25,000 to $30,000 per year before accounting for per diem and flight hour bonuses. Internationally, budget carriers in Southeast Asia or India, such as AirAsia India or SpiceJet, often have lower base pay scales compared to premium carriers like Singapore Airlines. However, it is important to remember that flight attendants are not paid for the time spent on the ground during boarding or delays; they are generally paid only for "block time" when the aircraft door is closed and the engines are running. This means that a low hourly rate can feel even lower during a month with significant ground delays or shorter flight routes.

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Height-wise, attendants should be between 5'2” and 6'3” without shoes.

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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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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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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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$28,500 is the 25th percentile. Salaries below this are outliers. $46,500 is the 75th percentile.

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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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They want you to present professionally, preferably have some sort of customer service experience, be personable, and be able to stand on your feet for long periods of time. Sound easy? It's much harder than you think. Any service industry job can be hard on your body, and being a flight attendant is no exception.

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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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They often work nights, weekends, and holidays because airlines operate every day and have overnight flights. They may spend several nights per week or per month away from home. In most cases, a contract between the airline and the flight attendant union determines the total daily and monthly workable hours.

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On-duty shifts per day may vary from 4 to 18 hours or longer, such as for international flights. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires specific hours of rest between duty periods based on the duration of a completed duty period.

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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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According to United's “Flight Attendant Uniform Appearance Standards“, tattoos must never be visible while you're in uniform. If your tattoo is on an area covered by the uniform, you do not violate the flight attendant's requirements.

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Retirees enjoy lifetime travel privileges if they have worked for at least 10 years and if, when they retire, their age and years of service combine to at least 65.

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Flight Attendants can live anywhere in the world, provided they can get to base for the start of their shift. CommuteAir pays for parking. Commuting By Plane: You can commute by plane for free on United, however, you will fly STANDBY. This means you are NOT GUARANTEED a seat and risk being late for your shift.

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Delta Airlines is one of the best airlines to work for in the US. They offer competitive salaries and benefits, excellent training programs, and a clear career progression path. Delta also has a strong safety record and a good reputation in the industry.

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Flight attendant side hustles are not uncommon at all stages of the flight attendant career. The flight attendant job is so flexible that you can have a business or second job while you are working as a full time flight attendant.

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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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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 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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Flight attendant's job gives you an opportunity to interact with different background people. Certainly, there will always be the crazy ones, but most of the passengers are interesting – each with their own story and destination. As well as it is a great chance to learn different cultures and customs.

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