How Much Money An American Airlines Flight Attendant Makes In A Year

Under a 2024 collective bargaining agreement ratified by the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA), American Airlines flight attendants received immediate wage increases of up to 20.5% and retroactive pay, with total scale increases projected to reach about 33% over the life of the contract. The agreement also introduced boarding pay effective April 1, 2025, which made this the first unionized flight attendant workforce to lock in pay for time spent boarding. The APFA negotiates different rates with different airlines, so these rates are not representative of all flight attendants in the U.S. — only American Airlines.

For newly hired flight attendants working as lineholders (i.e., those with a monthly flying assignment), the base rate starts at $36.81 per hour in 2025 under the new contract. After about 13 years of service, senior flight attendants can reach a base rate close to $90 per hour, before adding various premiums. For instance, on long haul international flights to major destinations (known as IPD flights), there is an added $3.75 per hour premium; on non-IPD international flights, $3.00 per hour is added. Additional premium pay includes galley pay, which was raised to $2 per hour on international flights, as well as lead and position pay and other compensation for duties beyond just flying.

To estimate an annual income, suppose a flight attendant works full time with guaranteed minimum hours and overtime on an international assignment. If you factor in boarding pay premiums and bonuses, a new hire could earn a realistic range from $45,000 to $65,000 annually, while a senior over 13 years can comfortably earn $100,000 to over $120,000 per year — which puts this in the lower income range of upper-class jobs.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for flight attendants across all U.S. airlines was about $67,000 in 2024. That means half of the industry's workforce across the country earned less than that figure. With American Airlines' new contract, however, even new hires on full schedules can make close to that, not to mention the tenured flight attendants who can easily cross the $100,000 threshold, potentially even earning more than government-hired pilots. 

American Airlines now stands at the top of the industry in terms of pay. Delta pioneered boarding pay in 2022 and has a similar pay scale, starting at $36.92 per hour and topping out at $83 per hour. Because it isn't unionized, though, its work rules and raises are neither transparent nor guaranteed. United's attendants, represented by a different union, currently earn $28.88 in the first year and $67.11 by the 13th. But they are pushing for a new contract that would raise their starting pay to roughly $37 per hour and senior rates into the range of $80 to $90 per hour, with boarding pay included. If it's successful, that would put them on par with American.

Southwest and Alaska use a "Trips for Pay" system rather than hourly rates; their new agreements raised compensation by around 30%, but, when converted to hourly equivalents, they still lag behind the big three. Smaller carriers like JetBlue, Spirit, and Frontier start much lower at just over $20 per hour for new hires, topping out at around $55 to $60 per hour.

Flight attendants across all airlines have the primary responsibility of ensuring safety on board aircraft. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) mandates that attendants are trained and certified in emergency procedures, including evacuations, fire safety, CPR, and handling in-flight medical events. They also conduct pre-flight safety checks, ensure passengers comply with seatbelt and carry-on rules, and deliver those familiar safety briefings before takeoff. Beyond safety, they manage customer service tasks like handling boarding, serving food and beverages, assisting unaccompanied minors or passengers with disabilities, and de-escalating conflicts in the cabin.

At American Airlines specifically, there are special responsibilities that come with the job. For instance, the purser oversees the entire cabin crew and coordinates directly with the pilots. The galley flight attendant is responsible for managing food and beverage logistics and earns an additional "galley pay." American also assigns language of destination attendants on certain international routes, who receive extra pay for their language skills. And, thanks to the 2024 contract, boarding pay ensures attendants are compensated for the important and often stressful period before the aircraft takes off.

If you're wondering how to join, American Airlines requires flight attendants to be at least 20 years old, have a high school diploma or GED, and be able to pass the FAA safety certification. That makes this role one of the potentially high-paying jobs that don't require a college degree. However, American might be more competitive than other employers, so it's a good idea to apply with robust experience in customer service or a college education.