A Look At The Salaries Of Flight Attendants In The US In 2025

In 2025, the question of how much flight attendants earn in the United States is once again drawing attention. With the rising cost of living, new union negotiations, and growing public interest in what cabin crew members actually take home, pay transparency has become a crucial topic. For anyone considering a career as a flight attendant, understanding how salaries are structured helps paint a clearer picture of life in the skies.

The reality is that Flight Attendant pay is not simple. Wages depend on several factors, including flight hours, airline contacts, per diem allowances, and even whether an airline pays for time spent on the ground. This article will take a closer look at what flight attendants can expect to earn in 2025, from entry-level starting pay to senior crew at the top of their scales, while highlighting the differences between airlines, contracts, and work schedules.

Base Pay and Average Earnings

Flight attendants work under detailed collective agreements that govern every aspect of their compensation and benefits. These contracts, typically negotiated by unions, outline step increases, duty pay, per diem, bonuses, and allowances. At United Airlines, new flight attendants earn US$28.88 per flight hour, rising to US$67.11 by year 13. A proposed update would boost starting pay to US$36.92 per hour, lift senior pay to US$96.58 per hour, and, for the first time, include boarding pay.

Regional carriers, while historically on the lower end, are catching up. Endeavor Air — a Delta Connection subsidiary — starts at US$25.84 an hour, reaching US$29.70 after two years of service. These airlines supplement base wages with daily per diems, essential for those spending nights away from home. Incremental rises and better duty protections have made regional flying more competitive in the past decade.

Modern contracts also reflect shifting workplace expectations. Airlines now offer compensation for reserve duty, ground delays, and leadership roles, plus incentives for holiday or international flights. As one United agreement shows, reserve attendants earn an extra $2 per hour, while premium pay applies to lead positions such as purser. These evolving contracts highlight a wider trend that airlines are finally quantifying all the hidden hours that make up a flight attendant's workday.

Read the full article at Simple Flying.