How to hire a flight attendant

Flight attendant hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring flight attendants in the United States:

There are a total of 89,677 flight attendants in the US, and there are currently 45,878 job openings in this field.
The median cost to hire a flight attendant is $1,633.
Small businesses spend $1,105 per flight attendant on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
It takes approximately 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
HR departments typically allocate 15% of their budget towards recruitment efforts.
Los Angeles, CA, has the highest demand for flight attendants, with 13 job openings.

How to hire a flight attendant, step by step

To hire a flight attendant, you should clearly understand the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, and allocate a budget for the position. You will also need to post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a flight attendant:

Here's a step-by-step flight attendant hiring guide:

Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
Step 3: Make a budget
Step 4: Write a flight attendant job description
Step 5: Post your job
Step 6: Interview candidates
Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new flight attendant
Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a flight attendant do?

A flight attendant is known as a steward or stewardess, an air host or hostess, and works majority in airlines, some in private business jets, or a few other aircraft. Also commonly referred to as a cabin crew, flight attendants act as an ambassador between the airline they work with and the passengers by primarily taking charge of their safety and comfort during the entire flight. They do more than serving meals, refreshments, and drinks to passengers as they must also check the supplies and emergency equipment, secure sufficiency, and make sure everything is in order. They greet the travelers, help in their luggage being stowed properly, and ensure they are in their correct and assigned seats.

Learn more about the specifics of what a flight attendant does

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Identify your hiring needs

Before you start hiring a flight attendant, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

Determine employee vs contractor status

Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

Hiring the perfect flight attendant also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

The following list breaks down different types of flight attendants and their corresponding salaries.

Type of Flight Attendant	Description	Hourly rate
Flight Attendant	Flight attendants provide routine services and respond to emergencies to ensure the safety and comfort of airline passengers.	$12-20
Attendant	An attendant is responsible for ensuring excellent customer service by assisting customers with their needs and inquiries, managing complaints, and providing timely actions. Attendants duties include maintaining the cleanliness and orderliness of operational areas, monitoring product inventories and requesting necessary stocks and equipment, performing administrative tasks as needed, escalating concerns to the management for immediate resolution, and conducting maintenance services... Show more	$9-17

Create an ideal candidate profile
Common skills:
- Passenger Safety
- Customer Service
- Emergency Equipment
- Non-Emergency Situations
- CPR
- Medical Emergencies
- Safety Regulations
- Safety Equipment
- Federal Aviation Administration
- Aircraft Cabin
- International Flights
- Safety Checks
- Beverage Service
- Flight Deck
Check all skills
Responsibilities:
- Conduct flight operations dispatch in a fast pace FBO environment.
- Maintain F/A mailboxes, filing, expense and APIS reports.
- Check customers in, run cash register, clean the whole facility.
- Coordinate hotel reservations, car rentals, and arrange special event logistics.
- Initiate and cancels NOTAMS (notices to airmen) on airfield facilities/conditions.
- Coordinate and confirm customs, handling, APIS and landing and parking permits.
More flight attendant duties

Make a budget

Including a salary range in your flight attendant job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A flight attendant salary can vary based on several factors:

Location. For example, flight attendants' average salary in alaska is 33% less than in pennsylvania.
Seniority. Entry-level flight attendants earn 42% less than senior-level flight attendants.
Certifications. A flight attendant with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a flight attendant's salary.

Average flight attendant salary

$16.16hourly

$33,607 yearly

Entry-level flight attendant salary

$25,000 yearly salary

Updated January 15, 2026

Average flight attendant salary by state

Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
1	Pennsylvania	$36,804	$18
2	New York	$36,709	$18
3	Michigan	$36,526	$18
4	New Jersey	$36,522	$18
5	Virginia	$35,129	$17
6	Minnesota	$34,758	$17
7	California	$34,224	$16
8	Wisconsin	$33,786	$16
9	Oregon	$33,533	$16
10	Illinois	$33,305	$16
11	Massachusetts	$32,909	$16
12	North Carolina	$32,173	$15
13	Indiana	$31,918	$15
14	Arizona	$31,665	$15
15	Georgia	$31,663	$15
16	Texas	$31,597	$15
17	Utah	$31,540	$15
18	Washington	$31,201	$15
19	Alabama	$30,706	$15
20	Maryland	$30,589	$15

Average flight attendant salary by company

Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
1	Lockheed Martin	$38,031	$18.28	30
2	SkyWest Airlines	$35,993	$17.30	5
3	Spirit Airlines	$35,914	$17.27
4	Air Wisconsin Airlines	$35,864	$17.24
5	Endeavor Air	$35,787	$17.21	6
6	Republic Airways Holdings	$35,751	$17.19	23
7	PSA Airlines	$35,581	$17.11	10
8	United	$35,313	$16.98	54
9	Delta Air Lines	$35,237	$16.94	5
10	Bank of America	$34,947	$16.80
11	Mesa Airlines	$34,942	$16.80	3
12	NetJets	$34,241	$16.46	1
13	Swift Air	$33,611	$16.16
14	Envoy Air	$33,540	$16.13	5
15	Allegiant Air	$33,276	$16.00
16	Frontier Airlines	$32,709	$15.73	2
17	Hawaiian Airlines	$32,413	$15.58
18	Executive Jet Management	$31,928	$15.35	1
19	Contour Aviation	$31,390	$15.09	8
20	Solairus Aviation	$31,297	$15.05	3

Writing a flight attendant job description
A good flight attendant job description should include a few things:
- Summary of the role
- List of responsibilities
- Required skills and experience
Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a flight attendant job description:
Flight attendant job description example

1. Before each flight, thoroughly prepare by updating self with onboard updates and communications to ensure that all elements of safety and service are consistently delivered on every flight.

2. Welcome customers with a smile during boarding, greet by name where possible, assist them to their seats and help them with their baggage. Personally introduce self to customers in the assigned area. Ensure customers are familiar with the seat functionality and IFE system.

3. Create a warm, friendly and Customer Service oriented atmosphere during the flight. Maintain cabin presence by being visible and available in the cabin throughout the flight. Create opportunities to make a difference to the customers’ experience by always canvassing and anticipating their needs during the flight. Identify opportunities to demonstrate the Service Personality through being considerate, personal, and thorough.

4. Respond to call bells promptly and attend to customers’ needs in an efficient and friendly manner. If their requirements cannot be met, an explanation must be given, and an alternative offered.

5. Pay special attention to High Value customers and those with special needs such as mothers with infants and elderly customers.

6. Ensure customers’ safety and comfort throughout the flight by maintaining a clean cabin, keeping working areas tidy and by constant monitoring, tidying and replenishment of the toilets.

7. Provide information and clarification to customers of known delays, diversions, or disruptions.

8. Act as a brand ambassador by displaying immaculate image and uniform standards. Always demonstrate a positive and professional image with appropriate conduct and behavior.

9. Contribute as an active and supportive team member. Take direction from the SFS/Purser, support decisions and act in accordance with the chain of command. Be prepared to work out of grade at any given time and proactively volunteer to assist in other cabins whenever necessary.

10. Actively promote Duty Free sales to customers, support the duty-free operator and, if required, conduct the duty-free service. Ensure sales comply with company policies and regulations.

11. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS/EXPERIENCE/KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS Qualifications: 12 years of schooling or equivalent Experience: Previous experience in a customer service environment is an advantage.

Languages : Fluency in spoken and written English is essential. The ability to speak other languages is an advantage.

Company DescriptionEmirates connects the world to, and through, our global hub in Dubai. We operate modern, efficient and comfortable aircraft, and our culturally diverse workforce delivers award-winning services to our customers across six continents every day.
Post your job
To find flight attendants for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:
- Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
- Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any flight attendants they would recommend.
- Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level flight attendants with the right educational background.
- Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.
Post your job online:
- Post your flight attendant job on Zippia to find and recruit flight attendant candidates who meet your exact specifications.
- Use field-specific websites.
- Post a job on free websites.
Interview candidates
Your first interview with flight attendant candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.
You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.
The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.
Send a job offer and onboard your new flight attendant
Once you've selected the best flight attendant candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.
It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.
Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new flight attendant. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.
Go through the hiring process checklist
- Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
- Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
- Define job responsibilities and requirements
- Establish budget and timeline
- Determine hiring decision makers for the role
- Write job description
- Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
- Promote the job internally
- Process applications through applicant tracking system
- Review resumes and cover letters
- Shortlist candidates for screening
- Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
- Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
- Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
- Conduct background checks on top candidates
- Check references of top candidates
- Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
- Extend offer to top candidate(s)
- Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
- Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
- Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
- Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire a flight attendant?

Hiring a flight attendant comes with both the one-time cost per hire and ongoing costs. The cost of recruiting flight attendants involves promoting the job and spending time conducting interviews. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider the cost of flight attendant recruiting as well the ongoing costs of maintaining the new employee.

You can expect to pay around $33,607 per year for a flight attendant, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for flight attendants in the US typically range between $12 and $20 an hour.

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Updated January 15, 2026

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How to hire a flight attendant