Occupation · SOC 53-2031
Flight Attendants
Monitor safety of the aircraft cabin. Provide services to airline passengers, explain safety information, serve food and beverages, and respond to emergency incidents.
Median wage
$67,130
$34,030–$138,040
Projected growth
—
—
Annual openings
—
per year
Employed (US)
130,110
Job Zone 2
Typical preparation
Some preparation
Stackable credential programs
7 mapped
Core skills
SpeakingMonitoringActive ListeningSocial PerceptivenessService OrientationCoordinationTime ManagementReading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingActive LearningWritingPersuasionJudgment and Decision MakingNegotiationInstructingComplex Problem SolvingLearning StrategiesManagement of Personnel ResourcesOperations MonitoringQuality Control AnalysisTroubleshootingSystems EvaluationSystems AnalysisOperation and ControlMathematicsManagement of Material ResourcesManagement of Financial ResourcesTechnology DesignOperations AnalysisScienceProgrammingRepairingInstallationEquipment SelectionEquipment Maintenance
Knowledge areas
Customer and Personal ServicePublic Safety and SecurityEnglish LanguageTransportationPsychologyGeographyComputers and ElectronicsPersonnel and Human ResourcesForeign LanguageLaw and GovernmentAdministration and ManagementTherapy and CounselingEducation and TrainingCommunications and MediaMedicine and DentistrySales and MarketingSociology and AnthropologyAdministrativeTelecommunicationsFood ProductionEngineering and TechnologyMathematicsEconomics and AccountingPhilosophy and TheologyDesignProduction and ProcessingPhysicsMechanicalHistory and ArcheologyChemistryFine ArtsBuilding and ConstructionBiology
Technology & tools
AD OPT AltitudeArkitektia Flight ItineraryBid AssistantIBM Lotus LearningSpaceMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft WindowsMicrosoft WordSBS International Maestro SuiteValtamTech Flight Crew Log
Representative tasks
Performing for or Working Directly with the PublicGetting InformationMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsAssisting and Caring for OthersResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsHandling and Moving ObjectsEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsPerforming General Physical ActivitiesInspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleProcessing InformationEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkScheduling Work and ActivitiesCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersAnalyzing Data or InformationEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationDocumenting/Recording InformationThinking CreativelyWorking with ComputersCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationTraining and Teaching OthersSelling or Influencing OthersInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesDeveloping and Building TeamsGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesControlling Machines and ProcessesMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersCoaching and Developing OthersPerforming Administrative ActivitiesOperating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentStaffing Organizational UnitsRepairing and Maintaining Mechanical EquipmentRepairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Emergency equipment inventory — verify completeness and working condition of first aid kits, fire extinguishers, and oxygen bottles before each flight under supervisor guidance.Safety demonstration procedures — follow scripted protocol to announce and demonstrate seat belt use, oxygen masks, and life jacket procedures to passengers on a commercial aircraft.Passenger compliance checks — walk aircraft aisles under direction to confirm passengers have complied with federal regulations prior to takeoff and landing.Special needs identification — recognize and report passengers requiring additional assistance, such as young children, elderly travelers, or persons with disabilities, to senior crew members.Basic first aid response — administer entry-level first aid to a passenger in distress using onboard medical supplies under the direction of a lead flight attendant.Pre-landing preparation — follow established checklists and crew instructions to prepare the cabin and passengers for landing procedures.Passenger behavior awareness — observe and report unusual or potentially threatening passenger behavior to senior crew during routine cabin monitoring.Active listening in service interactions — listen attentively to passenger requests and questions in order to provide accurate, timely responses on a commercial flight.Scheduling software navigation — access and review flight assignments and briefing materials using calendar and scheduling software provided by the airline.Emergency evacuation support — assist senior crew in directing passengers through emergency evacuation procedures following verbal instruction during a simulated or actual emergency.
developing
Pre-flight equipment checks — independently verify that all emergency equipment, including oxygen bottles and fire extinguishers, meets airworthiness requirements before each flight departure.Safety briefing delivery — confidently announce and demonstrate safety and emergency procedures to a full cabin of passengers with minimal reliance on scripted prompts.Cabin compliance monitoring — conduct pre-takeoff and pre-landing aisle walks routinely, identifying and correcting passenger non-compliance with federal aviation regulations.Passenger assistance coordination — assess and coordinate appropriate support for passengers with special needs, including mobility assistance and dietary accommodations, across a typical flight.First aid administration — administer first aid and manage common medical situations, such as allergic reactions or fainting, using onboard resources with limited supervisor involvement.Behavioral threat recognition — monitor passenger behavior throughout a flight and apply social perceptiveness skills to identify and appropriately escalate potential safety concerns.Emergency procedure guidance — direct passengers through emergency procedures, such as brace positions or evacuation routes, with calm authority during an unplanned event.Time-managed service delivery — coordinate meal and beverage service, passenger requests, and safety duties within strict flight time windows on a regional or long-haul aircraft.Electronic communication tools — use airline email and office suite software to communicate with ground staff, document incidents, and review updated crew procedures.Customer service conflict resolution — apply persuasion and active listening skills to de-escalate passenger complaints or disagreements in a professional, safety-conscious manner.
proficient
Emergency equipment accountability — autonomously inspect, document, and remediate discrepancies in all onboard emergency equipment across complex international flight operations.Advanced safety briefing adaptation — tailor safety and emergency procedure announcements to diverse passenger populations, including non-English speakers and passengers with disabilities, on full-service aircraft.Threat assessment and escalation — independently assess ambiguous passenger behavioral cues, apply critical thinking to determine threat levels, and coordinate appropriate responses with flight deck crew.Complex medical emergency management — lead onboard response to serious medical events, including coordinating with medical professionals via air-to-ground communication and managing multiple first responders.Full-cabin evacuation leadership — direct and execute complete passenger evacuations with composure and authority, adapting procedures to aircraft type and emergency conditions.Non-routine compliance resolution — identify and resolve unusual regulatory compliance issues during pre-flight inspections or in-flight situations without supervisor intervention.Special needs service planning — proactively evaluate and arrange individualized assistance plans for high-need passengers, integrating coordination with gate agents and ground services.Passenger psychology application — apply understanding of stress responses and group dynamics to maintain calm, orderly cabin behavior during turbulence, delays, or security incidents.Procedural documentation accuracy — produce precise written incident reports and safety logs using word processing and office suite software in compliance with airline and FAA standards.Cross-functional crew coordination — synchronize duties across a multi-member cabin crew on wide-body aircraft, ensuring consistent safety compliance and service standards throughout all flight phases.
advanced
Safety program standards leadership — establish and champion cabin safety standards and emergency preparedness protocols across an airline's flight attendant workforce at the organizational level.New crew training development — design and deliver computer-based and in-person training curricula covering emergency procedures, first aid, and service protocols for newly hired flight attendants.Organizational emergency policy guidance — advise senior airline leadership on updates to evacuation, first aid, and security response policies based on regulatory changes and operational experience.Mentorship and performance coaching — mentor junior and mid-level flight attendants by observing in-flight performance, providing structured feedback, and guiding professional development plans.Cross-departmental safety coordination — lead cross-functional collaboration between cabin crew, flight operations, and ground services to align safety practices and reduce systemic risk across the airline.Regulatory compliance strategy — interpret evolving FAA and TSA regulations and translate requirements into actionable crew procedures and compliance monitoring frameworks for a large flight operation.Critical incident analysis and debrief — lead post-incident reviews of onboard emergencies or security events, synthesizing lessons learned into updated training materials and operational guidelines.Workforce scheduling optimization — oversee the development and refinement of crew scheduling systems using calendar and scheduling software to balance regulatory rest requirements and operational coverage.Presentation-based stakeholder communication — develop and deliver executive-level presentations on cabin safety performance metrics, incident trends, and crew readiness to airline leadership and regulatory bodies.Culture of service and safety promotion — model and institutionalize a professional culture that integrates passenger service excellence with rigorous safety discipline across the entire cabin crew organization.
Also known as
20 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Aircraft Cabin AgentAirline AttendantAirline Flight AttendantAirline HostessAirline StewardessAirplane Flight AttendantCabin AttendantDoor and Arrival AttendantFlight AttendantFlight CrewFlight Crew MemberFlight HostessFlight StewardIn-Flight Crew MemberInflight Services Flight AttendantInternational Flight AttendantMeal AttendantPurserRamp Flight AttendantSteward