There are over 89,677 flight attendants currently employed in the United States. 78.9% of all flight attendants are women, while 21.1% are men.

As of early 2026, approximately 20% to 25% of flight attendants globally are male, though this percentage varies significantly by region and airline. In the United States, the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that men make up about 21% of the cabin crew workforce, a figure that has seen a steady but slow increase over the last decade. Historically, the profession was overwhelmingly female due to mid-20th-century gender stereotypes and "stewardess" hiring requirements, but modern labor laws and a shift toward viewing the role primarily through a safety and security lens have encouraged more men to enter the field. Many international carriers, particularly in the Middle East and Europe (such as Emirates or Lufthansa), often have a higher proportion of male crew members, sometimes reaching 30-35% of the team. Regardless of gender, all flight attendants undergo the same rigorous FAA or EASA safety training, including firefighting, medical emergency response, and aircraft evacuation, ensuring that the "cabin crew" is a professional, diverse body of first responders.