Why is it so hard to get a job at Delta?

Yes, it is hard to get a job at Delta Air Lines. The company does have a high turnover rate, so they are consistently seeking new employees; however, they are selective in who they hire. The hiring process at the company is drawn out. Candidates with referrals almost guarantee a call from a Delta Air Lines recruiter.



In 2026, Delta Air Lines remains one of the most selective employers in the world, often receiving hundreds of thousands of applications for just a few thousand openings. For their flight attendant roles, the acceptance rate is historically lower than that of Harvard University, often hovering around 1% to 2%. This difficulty is driven by Delta’s obsession with "culture fit" and "emotional intelligence"; they don't just look for technical skills, but for people who can remain calm, empathetic, and professional under extreme pressure. The hiring process is a multi-stage marathon involving AI-driven video screenings, talent assessments, and rigorous "event days" where candidates are observed in group settings. Additionally, Delta is one of the few major US airlines that is not unionized for its flight attendants, which they argue allows them to maintain a unique "Delta family" culture that many applicants find highly desirable. In 2026, their focus on being a "premium" brand means they only hire those who perfectly embody their values of service and safety, making it a "career peak" for many in the aviation industry.

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Getting hired at Delta is about as difficult as it is at any Fortune 500 company. It may take several weeks for the process to be completed. As always, knowing someone inside the company never hurts. As a matter of fact, if you get a referral, it typically guarantees a call from a Delta recruiter.

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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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Under 1 percent acceptance rate And last year, sure enough, the Harvard comparison works out on one level: more than 270,000 applicants applied to Delta for just 1,700 positions. That works out to a .

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The hiring process at Delta Air Lines can take a few weeks after the application submission. If the applicant is called for a job interview, the company may take a couple of weeks to answer. You should note that Delta Air Lines' pilot selection is done through Delta Propel, so the process is different.

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Delta is hiring more flight attendants for 2023, adding to the 1,940 new faces that have come on board since February. “This is a historic year for flight attendant hiring, as we plan to grow our team by more than 4,000,” said Jennifer Martin, Managing Director – IFS CX, Learning and Hiring.

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Delta Air Lines Inc pays its employees an average of $23.68 an hour. Hourly pay at Delta Air Lines Inc ranges from an average of $15.30 to $53.87 an hour.

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The highest-paying job at Delta Air Lines is a Managing Director with a salary of $364,789 per year.

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Delta Airlines Weaknesses
  • Relies on one market. The nature of the business that Delta Airlines runs is that its biggest market is just North America, which accounted for around 82% of total revenue in 2021. ...
  • Higher attrition rate. ...
  • Aircraft concerns.


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As everyone at Delta knows, to become a flight attendant takes more than a desire to travel. It requires technical knowledge – like memorizing the configurations of nine different planes and learning how to operate 16 different door and window variations – and a desire to care for customers.

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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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Which airlines have the happiest flight attendants?
  • Alaska Airlines.
  • Delta Air Lines.
  • American Airlines.
  • United Airlines.
  • Southwest.


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Delta is one of the world's largest global airlines, helping more than 160 million travelers arrive safely at their destinations each year. This airline industry leader has approximately 76,000 employees and 170,000 members. The average age is 49.4 and the workforce is mixed 46% female and 54% male.

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There are 90,000+ reasons to join Delta—every one of our employees has their own. Some of us want to explore new places. Some are here to explore our own career potential. Some are curious about other cultures, while others want to make a difference where they are.

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American Airlines is most highly rated for Compensation and benefits and Delta is most highly rated for Work/life balance.

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Following another top year in nearly every performance category and profits, Delta Airlines expanded its company-wide bonus payouts to the equivalent of two months' pay, or what amounts to more than 16% of the average Delta worker's annual salary.

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When Delta management changed to a biweekly pay schedule in 2019, they took away the flexibility so many of us loved and the stability in our paychecks we counted on.

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