- Combat worker salaries vary greatly depending on seniority and number of hours worked.
- American Airlines pays the highest hourly rates for flight attendants, although pay at the Big 3 is quite similar.
- United Airlines flight attendant pay has been flat since 2021 as they negotiate a new contract.
Flight attendants at American, Delta and United don’t make as much as their pilot colleagues, but the highest-paid cabin crew can take home a base salary of more than $70,000 a year — with some in six figures.
But the job is far from your typical 9-5. It takes years of working grueling schedules and meeting high standards of customer service and safety to reach the top seniority levels at the Big 3 US airlines.
Flight attendants are paid a basic hourly rate, plus a per diem bonus if they are away from the airport where they are stationed. Some are paid to ride. They can also earn more money by working holidays, flying at night, or holding a specialized position. Airlines also typically pay profit-sharing bonuses.
Salary increases with each year of service up to the 13th year.
Most flight attendants are guaranteed a monthly minimum, which varies by airline — meaning they’ll be paid for at least a certain number of hours each month regardless of whether they fly it or not, barring certain circumstances. Many work beyond warranty.
Pay rates obtained and verified by Business Insider show American offers the highest hourly rates, followed closely by Delta. United’s pay rates are frozen through 2021 as the airline and union negotiate a new contract.
American Airlines
- First year: $35.82
- Year 13: $82.24
American offers the highest hourly rates thanks to a new contract ratified in September with the Professional Flyers Association.
The agreement, which took five years of negotiations in part because of the pandemic, increased pay by up to 20.5% on the date of signing. First-years start at about $36 an hour, while 13-year-old flight attendants earn about $82 an hour.
American guarantees 71 hours of pay per month for those who have a pre-planned “line” schedule. “Reserve” crew, or those on call, have a minimum of 75 hours.
That translates to at least $30,500 for first-year crew and $70,000 for thirteen-year veterans before taxes and other earnings.
As part of the new contract, wages will increase in October 2025 and again annually through 2029. Until then, hourly rates will increase to a starting base wage of about $40 an hour
American increased boarding pay in its latest contract to 50% of a flight attendant’s hourly rate, which is expected to take effect in March. This will further increase the annual cabin crew salary. Historically, crew were not paid for boarding time.
American has not historically paid a high profit-sharing bonus. In 2023, it was only 1.1%. The new contract increased the profit-sharing formula to match Delta’s, but the final amount will depend on American’s year-end earnings. For 2023, the airline was the least profitable of the Big 3.
Delta Air Lines
- First year: $35.50
- Year 13: $79.80
Delta flight attendants are non-union. Their most recent pay rise was in June, which increased cabin crew wages by around 5%.
First-year Delta flight attendants earn a base salary of $35.50 an hour, while 13-year crew members earn about $80 an hour.
Like American, Delta cabin crew receive boarding pay equal to half their hourly rate. In 2022, Delta became the first major US airline to offer surcharges.
Delta flight attendant salaries vary based on hours worked per month and there is no contractual minimum.
Some Delta flight attendants who are trying to unionize say the lack of guaranteed hours could lead to lower wages than competitors.
A Delta spokesman said flight attendants typically get 80 hours a month. That means first-year and 13-year flight attendants earn about $34,000 and $76,600 a year, before taxes and other earnings.
He added that cabin crew can earn up to an additional $1,200 annually for meeting monthly operating metrics.
Delta also consistently distributes the highest annual profit sharing. It paid $1.4 billion to employees in 2023, which amounted to a bonus of 10.4% of the employees’ eligible earnings.
United Airlines
- First year: $28.88
- Year 13: $67.11
United has the lowest first-year base pay at about $29 an hour. Thirteen-year-old flight attendants earn about $67 an hour.
United guarantees 71 hours of pay per month for those on a line schedule, while a backup crew member gets a minimum of 78 hours. United does not currently offer plane payments.
That means United first-years make at least $24,600 a year and 13-year-old flight attendants make at least $57,000 a year before taxes and other earnings.
Failed negotiations between United and its labor union, the Airline Waiters Association-CWA, have prevented wage increases, which is why the airline’s wages are relatively lower. Brokerage of a new contract has stalled until at least early this year, so United’s cabin crew are still being paid 2021 rates.
A United spokesman told BI that half of the airline’s cabin crew are at the top of the seniority pay scale, with the average annual salary in that group reaching about $80,000.
That likely counts toward over-guaranteed work hours, as United said crews have flexible schedules and can work whenever they want, or other ways to earn extra pay.
United said it has proposed a 22.5% raise and new cabin pay, among other offers, as part of contract negotiations.
The union told BI it wants industry-leading wages and better working hours and rules.
Despite comparatively lower base pay, United flight attendants have earned high profit-sharing bonuses. In 2023, this was about 9.2% of their eligible annual salary.
Other ways flight attendants earn money
Additional pay opportunities can add tens of thousands of dollars to flight attendants’ base pay and put older crew members into six figures.
This includes working overtime, flying on holidays or overnight, or if they have a qualifying position. Airlines also offer flight attendants free flights for personal use as part of their employment benefits.
Skilled positions may include being a “leader” or usher, working in a gallery, or speaking a second language. Premium pay ranges from an additional $1 to $7.50 per hour, depending on the aircraft and whether the flight is domestic or international.
Flight attendants also receive per diem wages, typically $2 to $4 for each hour of duty away from home, to cover work-related expenses such as food, laundry and transportation.
Senior flight attendants can earn $100,000 or more a year, depending on how many hours they work. Premium pay and special skills help increase this. They can fly more hours by bidding for more than their monthly minimum or by taking trips taken away by other crew members.
