Transportation & Logistics
Flight Attendants
Also called: Flight Attendant, In-Flight Crew Member, Inflight Services Flight Attendant, International Flight Attendant
US median pay
$63,580
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+8.8%
faster than average
Openings a year (US)
18,500
133,700 employed
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
Preparation 2/5 · Some preparation
What this job is
Monitor safety of the aircraft cabin. Provide services to airline passengers, explain safety information, serve food and beverages, and respond to emergency incidents.
What they do day to day
- Verify that first aid kits and other emergency equipment, including fire extinguishers and oxygen bottles, are in working order.
- Announce and demonstrate safety and emergency procedures, such as the use of oxygen masks, seat belts, and life jackets.
- Monitor passenger behavior to identify threats to the safety of the crew and other passengers.
- Walk aisles of planes to verify that passengers have complied with federal regulations prior to takeoffs and landings.
- Direct and assist passengers in emergency procedures, such as evacuating a plane following an emergency landing.
- Prepare passengers and aircraft for landing, following procedures.
- Administer first aid to passengers in distress.
- Determine special assistance needs of passengers, such as small children, the elderly, or persons with disabilities.
- Attend preflight briefings concerning weather, altitudes, routes, emergency procedures, crew coordination, lengths of flights, food and beverage services offered, and numbers of passengers.
- Reassure passengers when situations, such as turbulence, are encountered.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Social Perceptiveness3.8/5
- Service Orientation3.8/5
- Coordination3.6/5
- Time Management3.1/5
- Persuasion3.0/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.0/5
- Negotiation2.9/5
- Instructing2.9/5
Knowledge
- Customer and Personal Service4.5/5
- Public Safety and Security4.5/5
- English Language4.5/5
- Transportation3.5/5
- Psychology3.3/5
- Geography3.3/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 2 of 5 — Some preparation. Usually a high school diploma; some previous work experience or training helps.
Typical entry education (BLS): High school diploma or equivalent, plus less than 5 years of related work experience.
Highest education of people in this job:
- High school diploma70%
- Bachelor's degree12%
- Some college10%
Who this job suits
Mostly Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Social
Helping, teaching and caring for people
Realistic
Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.