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
SpeakingActive ListeningMonitoringSocial PerceptivenessService OrientationCoordinationReading ComprehensionTime Management
Knowledge areas
Customer and Personal ServicePublic Safety and SecurityEnglish LanguageTransportationPsychology
Technology & tools
Calendar and scheduling softwareComputer based training softwareSpreadsheet softwareOffice suite softwareElectronic mail software
Representative tasks
Verify that first aid kits and other emergency equipment, including fire extinguishers and oxygen bottles, are in working order.Announce and demonstrate safety and emergency procedures, such as the use of oxygen masks, seat belts, and life jackets.Monitor passenger behavior to identify threats to the safety of the crew and other passengers.Walk aisles of planes to verify that passengers have complied with federal regulations prior to takeoffs and landings.Direct and assist passengers in emergency procedures, such as evacuating a plane following an emergency landing.Prepare passengers and aircraft for landing, following procedures.Administer first aid to passengers in distress.Determine special assistance needs of passengers, such as small children, the elderly, or persons with disabilities.Attend preflight briefings concerning weather, altitudes, routes, emergency procedures, crew coordination, lengths of flights, food and beverage services offered, and numbers of passengers.Reassure passengers when situations, such as turbulence, are encountered.Check to ensure that food, beverages, blankets, reading material, emergency equipment, and other supplies are aboard and are in adequate supply.Announce flight delays and descent preparations.Prepare reports showing places of departure and destination, passenger ticket numbers, meal and beverage inventories, the conditions of cabin equipment, and any problems encountered by passengers.Greet passengers boarding aircraft and direct them to assigned seats.Assist passengers entering or disembarking the aircraft.Conduct periodic trips through the cabin to ensure passenger comfort and to distribute reading material, headphones, pillows, playing cards, and blankets.Inspect and clean cabins, checking for any problems and making sure that cabins are in order.Operate audio and video systems.Answer passengers' questions about flights, aircraft, weather, travel routes and services, arrival times, or schedules.Collect money for meals and beverages.Heat and serve prepared foods.Inspect passenger tickets to verify information and to obtain destination information.Assist passengers in placing carry-on luggage in overhead, garment, or under-seat storage.Take inventory of headsets, alcoholic beverages, and money collected.Sell alcoholic beverages to passengers.
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
311 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Special Mission Aviator Helper (Air Force 1A911)Mobility Force Aviator Apprentice, E-8 Flight Engineer (Air Force 1A132K)Naval Aircrewman (Helicopter) (Navy AWS)Aircraft Loadmaster Craftsman, C-130J (Air Force 1A271C)Mobility Force Aviator Senior Enlisted Leader, C-17 Loadmaster (Air Force 1A192C)Mobility Force Aviator, C-130J Loadmaster (Air Force 1A1X2D)Executive Mission Aviator Journeyman (Air Force 1A158)Special Mission Aviator Senior Enlisted Leader, MH-139 Flight Engineer (Air Force 1A193G)Mobility Force Aviator Helper, KC-135 Boom Operator (Air Force 1A112H)Mobility Force Aviator Senior Enlisted Leader, EC-130H Flight Engineer (Air Force 1A192O)Executive Mission Aviator Senior Enlisted Leader, C-37 Flight Attendant (Air Force 1A198C)C-130 Second Loadmaster (Navy G51A)Mobility Force Aviator Helper, C-17 Loadmaster (Air Force 1A112C)Mobility Force Aviator Journeyman, Data Mask Mobility Force Aviator (Air Force 1A152Z)Aircraft Loadmaster Apprentice, C-130H (Air Force 1A231E)Aircraft Loadmaster Apprentice, C-146 (Air Force 1A231R)Aircraft Loadmaster Journeyman, EC-130J (Air Force 1A251H)Executive Mission Aviator Senior Enlisted Leader, E-4 Flight Attendant (Air Force 1A198H)Mobility Force Aviator Helper, WC-130J Loadmaster (Air Force 1A112E)Special Mission Aviator Journeyman (Air Force 1A153)Special Mission Aviator Craftsman, UH-1/MH-139 (Air Force 1A971P)Special Mission Aviator Apprentice, AC-130W (Air Force 1A931W)Mobility Force Aviator Journeyman, C-130J Loadmaster (Air Force 1A152D)Flight HostessFlight StewardExecutive Mission Aviator Craftsman, E-4 Flight Attendant (Air Force 1A178H)Airplane Flight AttendantAirline AttendantSpecial Mission Aviator Craftsman, MC-130J Loadmaster (Air Force 1A173E)Special Mission Aviator Craftsman, HH-60 (Air Force 1A971M)Special Mission Aviator Senior Enlisted Leader, C-146 Loadmaster (Air Force 1A193H)Aviation Survival Technician (Coast Guard AST)Special Mission Aviator Apprentice, HC-130J Loadmaster (Air Force 1A133D)Executive Mission Aviator Craftsman, Presidential Airlift Group, Flight Attendant (Air Force 1A178K)Air Warfare Systems Engineer (Navy 001595)Special Mission Aviator Apprentice, AC-130J (Air Force 1A931V)Special Mission Aviator Journeyman, MC-130J Loadmaster (Air Force 1A153E)Mobility Force Aviator Journeyman (Air Force 1A152)Mobility Force Aviator Helper, KC-46 Boom Operator (Air Force 1A112G)Special Mission Aviator Journeyman, MH-139 Flight Engineer (Air Force 1A153G)