What Is the Beginning Salary for a Flight Attendant?
The beginning salary you earn as a flight attendant is determined by factors such as the number of flight hours you log and the airline you’re employed with. You can also receive perks like free travel and lodging benefits. If you enjoy meeting and serving people and visiting different cities, states and countries, you can excel as a flight attendant and earn higher wages as you gain additional experience.
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Beginning Annual Salary
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Although you generally only need a high school diploma to start working as a flight attendant, you must get certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) before you work airline flights. You’re also generally required to be at least 18 years old; some airlines might require you to be at least 21 years old. Depending on the airline you’re hired by, your formal training will range between three to six weeks. After you finish your training you’ll generally start with an annual salary of about $16,191, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). You can earn up to $23,000 a year, according to Flight Attendant Career.
Hourly Wages
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As a flight attendant you’ll work about 12 to 15 days a month, allowing you to increase your income by working a part-time job or starting your own business. Flight Attendant Career reports that you’ll work schedules that require you to fly three days and receive another three or more days off. Hourly wages you’ll earn as new flight attendant start at about $13 per flight hour. As you gain more experience and seniority, you can earn up to $40 per flight hour. Furthermore, the airline you work for might include a number of guaranteed monthly work hours into your contract. You’ll receive pay for these guaranteed hours whether you work them or not.
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Benefits
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In addition to receiving an hourly wage for all flight time you work, you may also receive a per diem to cover your meals and other expenses while you’re working. The airline you work for may also give you incentive pay if you work on holidays, international flights or during the night. Additionally, not only do you get to fly for free while you work as a flight attendant, depending on the policies at the airline you work for, your family members may also get to fly free. You and your family members can also receive up to 25 to 90 percent off on personal travel expenses according to Flight Attendant Career.
Job Outlook for Flight Attendants
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The BLS reports that jobs for flight attendants are expected to grow by approximately 8 percent from 2008 through 2018. Competition for the jobs is expected to remain intense. Average career length for flight attendants is 16 years. If you have prior experience working with the public you may be able to increase your chances of getting hired as a flight attendant.
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