One of the things that blew my mind when I worked for American Airlines was the pay. As a junior flight attendant, I made more money than my mom, who had worked as a college professor for over 25 years!
Airlines pay surprisingly well, but not all flight attendants are paid equally.
If you are not already part of the industry, figuring out which airlines pay the most can be tricky. To make things as easy as possible, I have ranked the highest-paying airlines in North America for you.
Our ranking is based entirely on average “flight pay” rates at each company.
Flight pay, is the hourly wage flight attendants earn while the aircraft is in motion.
Most companies offer flight attendants annual raises for the first 10–20 years of employment, until “top-out” pay is achieved.
It is important to pay attention to the starting and the top-out pay because some airlines pay more at the beginning and end up paying less overall.
With that clarification out of the way, let’s jump into the rankings.
#1: Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines is the highest paying airline in the US. It is also the first, and currently the only, US-based airline to pay flight attendants for boarding.
- Average flight pay: $52.29
- Starting flight pay: $32.20
- Top-out flight pay: $72.38
Delta flight attendants achieve top-out pay after 12 years of flying for the company.
Extras:
- Domestic Per diem: $2.20
- International Per diem: $2.70
- Boarding Pay: 50% flight pay
- Profit sharing: 5% of 2022 earnings
Read more: Delta Airlines Flight Attendant Salaries Complete Breakdown
#2: Southwest
Southwest is the second-highest paying airline in the US.
- Average flight pay: $50.85
- Starting flight pay: $28.91
- Top-out flight pay: $72.80
Southwest flight attendants achieve top-out pay after 13 years flying for the company.
Extras:
- Domestic per diem: $2.30
- International per diem: $2.85
- Longevity bonus: $1.50 after 25 years.
#3: American Airlines
American Airlines squeaks into the top three. AA’s union is currently fighting for a new contract, and boarding pay is on the docket, so stay tuned! AA might just move up a spot in the near future.
- Average flight pay: $49.30
- Starting flight pay: $30.35
- Top-out flight pay: $68.25
American Airlines flight attendants achieve top-out pay after 12 years flying for the company.
Extras:
- Domestic per diem: $2.20
- International per diem: $2.50
- Profit sharing: 1.4% of 2022 earnings
Read more: American Airlines Flight Attendant Salaries Complete Breakdown
#4: Hawaiian Airlines
Number four surprised me, but Hawaiian ranks #4 due to its high top-out pay. That said, Hawaiian does not pay its flight attendants per diem or grant them a layover allowance (that we could find).
- Average flight pay: $48.50
- Starting flight pay: $26.25
- Top-out flight pay: $70.75
Hawaiian Airlines flight attendants achieve top-out pay after 19 years flying for the company.
Extras:
- Profit sharing: 11% of 2022 earnings
If there are any Hawaiian flight attendants among our readership, please let us know whether you are paid per diem or not. We’d like to make sure this article is accurate.
#5: Alaska Airlines
Another surprise, Alaska Airlines beats United out of the top-five highest paying airlines. Alaska continues to offer occasional longevity bonuses even after top-out pay has been achieved.
- Average flight pay: $48.17
- Starting flight pay: $28.19
- Top-out flight pay: $68.15
Alaska Airlines flight attendants achieve top-out pay after 15 years flying for the company.
Extras
- Domestic per diem: $1.50
- International per diem: $2.60
- Longevity bonus: $1 after 16 years, $1.50 after 20 years, $2.00 after 25 years
#6: United Airlines
United Airlines falls a bit behind its major competitors in terms of flight attendant pay rates.
- Average flight pay: $47.99
- Starting flight pay: $28.88
- Top-out flight pay: $67.11
United Airlines flight attendants achieve top-out pay after 12 years of flying for the company.
Extras:
- Domestic per diem: $2.20
- International per diem: $2.70
- Profit sharing: TBD for 2023 (The last profit share recorded was 7% of 2019 earnings)
#7: Air Canada
Air Canada is Canada’s mainline airline. It offers a pay scale similar to the mainline, international carriers in the US.
- Average flight pay: $45.63 (CAD)
- Starting flight pay: $29.43 (CAD)
- Top-out flight pay: $61.83 (CAD)
Air Canada flight attendants achieve top-out pay after 10 years of flying with the company.
Air Canada has a separate pay scale for pursers. This pay scale is dependent on the aircraft being operated, so will vary from trip-to-trip, but the highest hourly pay a purser can achieve at Air Canada is $87.01.
Extras:
- Layover allowance: Up to $77.54 per layover.
#8: Frontier
Frontier is the highest paying budget airline in the US. It does take a full 20-years to scale the pay ladder, though.
- Average flight pay: $42.75
- Starting flight pay: $25.50
- Top-out flight pay: $60.00
Frontier flight attendants achieve top-out pay after 19 years of flying for the company.
Extras
- Per diem: $2.15
#9: Jet Blue
Jet Blue flight attendants earn a respectable amount of money.
- Average flight pay: $40.53
- Starting flight pay: $26.54
- Top-out flight pay: $57.53
Jet Blue flight attendants achieve top-out pay after 12 years of flying for the company.
Extras:
- Domestic per diem: $2.15
- International per diem: $2.70
Read more: Jetblue Flight Attendant Salaries Complete Breakdown
#10: Spirit Airlines
Spirit airlines flight attendants do earn competitive wages, though not the best in the industry.
- Average flight pay: $39.47
- Starting flight pay: $21.42
- Top-out flight pay: $57.53
Spirit Airlines flight attendants achieve top-out pay after 12 years of flying for the company.
Read more: Spirit Airlines Flight Attendant Salaries Complete Breakdown
#11: WestJet
WestJet is a Canadian regional carrier, that pays approximately the same as US-based regional carriers. We were unable to find any information about per diem or layover allowances granted to WestJet cabin crew members.
- Average flight pay: $41.24 (CAD)
- Starting flight pay: $28.88 (CAD)
- Top-out flight pay: $53.61 (CAD)
WestJet flight attendants achieve top-out pay after 11 years of flying for the company.
#12: Endeavor Air
Endeavor Air, the regional airline that operates Delta Connection flights, offers a pay scale that is attempting to compete with budget carriers.
- Average flight pay: $35.23
- Starting flight pay: $25.08
- Top-out flight pay: $45.46
Endeavor Air flight attendants achieve top-out pay after 20 years of flying for the company.
Extras:
- Per diem: $2.15
#13: Envoy Air
Envoy Air, the regional airline that operates American Eagle flights, is currently offering attractive bonuses to encourage would-be flight attendants to apply. They are offering a high starting-pay, and a first-year bonus of $3,000.
- Average flight pay: $36.08
- Starting flight pay: $28.16
- Top-out flight pay: $44.00
Envoy Air flight attendants achieve top-out pay after 16 years of flying with the company.
Extras:
- Per diem: $1.95
#14: PSA Airlines
PSA Airlines, which operates American Eagle flights, is also trying to attract new hire flight attendants. PSA Airlines is the only airline that offers a hotel reimbursement for registered commuters.
- Average flight pay: $35.28
- Starting flight pay: $27.06
- Top-out flight pay: $43.15
PSA Airlines flight attendants achieve top-out pay after 18 years of flying with the company.
Extras:
- Per diem: $2.00
- Commuter Hotel Reimbursement: $250 per month
#15: Allegiant Air
Allegiant Air pays slightly more than most regionals (Endeavor being a surprising exception). Allegiant pays a daily layover pay instead of per diem.
- Average flight pay: $34.25
- Starting flight pay: $23.51
- Top-out flight pay: $45.35
Allegiant Air flight attendants achieve top-out pay after 11 years of flying with the company.
Extras:
- Layover pay: $48.00 per day
Frequently Asked Questions
Now that we have covered the top 15 highest-paying airlines in North America, let me answer some of the most frequently asked questions regarding flight attendant pay.
➡️ How much do flight attendants typically earn in the United States?
Flight attendants’ salaries vary based on the amount of seniority they have at a given airline.
The average annual income of a US-based flight attendant is $83,896. Junior crew earns about $30,000 a year, while senior crew earns up to $120,000 a year.
➡️ Which US airlines pay the highest salaries to flight attendants?
Delta Air Lines, Southwest, and American Airlines are the top three highest-paying airlines in the United States.
These airlines also offer additional opportunities for flight attendants to make money, including credit card applications, profit shares, reward programs, and stock options.
➡️ Do flight attendants receive any additional benefits or perks?
Yes! Flight attendants receive typical job benefits, including health insurance, life insurance, and 401K matching programs.
Of course, they get flight benefits for themselves and their dependents.
And they also usually get access to a number of attractive travel industry discounts, including hotel, cruise, and rentals.
➡️ What factors influence the variation in flight attendant salaries?
Flight attendant salaries vary based on the airline one works for, and the seniority one has with the company.
Additionally, airlines often pay hourly bonuses to crew members with language skills, and flight attendants who receive purser qualifications.
These bonuses tend to only apply to specific flights, though.
➡️ Do flight attendants receive compensation for layovers and overnight stays?
Most airlines pay flight attendants per diem, a small hourly rate paid for each hour a flight attendant is signed in for a trip.
Per diem is meant to pay for meal expenses while away from home.
Other airlines will pay flight attendants a lump sum per layover.
➡️ Is there a difference in salary for domestic and international flight attendants?
Most US-based airlines do not differentiate between domestic and international flight attendants anymore.
Instead, crew members on international flights are paid more, including pursers, those working in the galley, and language interpreters.
Most airlines also pay a higher per diem for international trips.
➡️ Can flight attendants earn extra income through overtime or additional hours?
Yes! Most airlines pay extra for overtime, but how that is paid is dependent on each airline’s contract with their flight attendants.
Additionally, airlines often pay extra during the holidays to encourage crew members to fly and will allow flight attendants to pick up open trips to earn extra money.
➡️ What are the typical working hours and schedules for flight attendants?
Flight attendants will never fly the same schedule twice.
Schedules are determined by monthly bids, and since routes change year-round, it is rare for a schedule to repeat itself.
That said, most flight attendants work 3–6 days a week and 70–100 flight hours a month.
Read more: What Does a Flight Attendant Typical Schedule Look Like?
➡️ Are there opportunities for career advancement and salary growth for flight attendants?
There are a few opportunities for career advancement available to flight attendants.
Gaining seniority overtime will result in salary growth thanks to annual raises.
But crew members can become pursers, training instructors, or flight-service managers to earn additional money and advance their careers within the airline industry.
➡️ What are the main qualifications and training required to become a flight attendant?
To become a flight attendant in the US, you need to be older than 21 years old and have a high school finishing certificate (GED or diploma).
It helps if you have customer service experience and speak a foreign language, but these are not hard requirements.
You also need to pass training.
Conclusion
If you are thinking about becoming a flight attendant, this list is intended to help you prioritize which airlines to apply to first.
If you already work for one of the airlines on this list, knowledge is power, and we hope this information could help you fight for better pay the next time your contract comes up for negotiation.
