Flight attendants play a vital role in ensuring passenger safety and comfort aboard commercial airline flights. However, the job requires long hours, frequent travel, and dealing with stressed travelers in cramped cabins. As such, flight attendant pay and benefits are important factors for those considering this career path. But which airlines offer the most lucrative flight attendant salaries and benefit packages?
Major U.S. Airlines Flight Attendant Pay
There are various factors that impact how much major U.S. airlines pay their flight attendants. These include:
- Base pay rates
- Years of experience
- Number of flight hours
- International vs. domestic routes
- Union contracts
To compare, here are the average flight attendant salaries at some of the largest U.S. airlines:
| Airline | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Delta | $58,233 |
| United Airlines | $55,000 |
| American Airlines | $51,714 |
| Southwest Airlines | $49,336 |
| Alaska Airlines | $48,816 |
| JetBlue | $46,570 |
As the table shows, Delta Airlines has the highest average pay for flight attendants at around $58,000 annually. Factors contributing to Delta’s higher salaries include longer average tenure and greater proportions of international flights. Southwest Airlines flight attendants earn the least on average, reflecting the airline’s focus on domestic travel and lack of a unionized contract until recently.
International Airline Flight Attendant Salaries
For flight attendants looking to earn top pay packages, international carriers based outside the United States tend to offer the highest salaries. Here are average annual salaries at some major international airlines:
| Airline | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Emirates | $76,000 |
| Etihad Airways | $70,000 |
| Qatar Airways | $69,000 |
| Singapore Airlines | $64,000 |
| Cathay Pacific | $58,000 |
| British Airways | $56,000 |
Based in the United Arab Emirates, Emirates offers flight attendants the most lucrative packages with average salaries of around $76,000 per year. Other Middle Eastern carriers like Etihad and Qatar also pay very well. Meanwhile, Asian airlines Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific offer highly competitive flight attendant compensation. Even British Airways at around $56,000 annually tends to surpass major U.S. airlines.
Why International Airlines Pay More
There are several key reasons why major international carriers tend to offer higher flight attendant salaries:
- Many are based in countries with lower costs of living, so the pay goes further.
- Long haul international routes mean more paid flight hours.
- Prestige of serving luxury international travelers.
- Union bargaining power is stronger internationally.
- Benefit packages are more generous.
For instance, at Emirates flight attendants can enjoy perks like free company provided housing and transportation in Dubai. Health insurance, retirement contributions, profit-sharing bonuses, and flight duty hour limits also exceed U.S. standards.
Highest Paying Flight Attendant Jobs in the U.S.
For flight attendants wanting to earn top salaries while based in the United States, some airlines and flight paths still offer lucrative opportunities.
Hawaiian Airlines
Hawaiian Airlines flight attendants earn an average annual salary of around $66,000. This exceeds any major mainland U.S. carrier. The airline’s frequent flights between the Hawaiian islands and the U.S. mainland offer plenty of high wage flight hours.
Alaska Airlines
Recently unionized Alaska Airlines flight attendants now earn an average of $70,000 per year under a new contract. Alaska’s growing West Coast network provides plenty of potential flight time.
Delta International Routes
The highest paid flight attendants at Delta earn approximately $78,000 annually. These tend to be very senior attendants working lucrative transoceanic routes.
United Widebody Aircraft
The top tier pay rate at United Airlines for senior flight attendants staffing widebody aircraft is around $72 per flight hour. Over 2,000 flight hours annually, wages can exceed $100,000.
FedEx Pilot Rest Areas
Within the cargo airline industry, FedEx offers some of the most luxurious pilot rest areas in the world. The few flight attendants staffing these areas can earn over $100,000 annually.
Conclusion
In summary, major international airlines based in the Middle East and Asia currently offer flight attendants the highest average salaries and benefit packages. For U.S. based flight attendants, Hawaiian Airlines provides the most lucrative pay scale. More senior flight attendants working international routes at Delta and United also rank among the industry’s top wage earners. But regardless of the airline, flight attendant pay depends heavily on seniority, scheduled flight hours, and aircraft type. Those able to snag the most hours on long haul widebody routes will earn the most in the sky.