How Much Do flight Attendants Make in California

How much do flight attendants make in California? Flight attendants are in charge of an aircraft's cabin and are responsible for the passengers' safety and comfort. They spend more time with passengers than any other airline employee, and they strive to provide the most customized service to each and every passenger during the trip.

Flight attendants can work in either first-class or economy class, providing more extensive service to a smaller number of passengers. Service entails attending to a wide range of requirements and requests, and flight attendants are only given a limited amount of time throughout the trip to provide the most customized service to each and every customer.

What is a flight attendant?

For the safety and security of passengers, airlines are obligated by law to have flight attendants. Flight attendants' major responsibility is to keep passengers safe by ensuring that everyone follows security procedures and that the flight deck is secure. Passengers can expect flight attendants to make their trips as comfortable and stress-free as possible. They can have to deal with passengers who are unruly at times.

The captain (pilot) can provide a preflight briefing with flight attendants regarding essential flight information, such as the number of hours the flight will take, the plane's itinerary, and weather conditions, roughly an hour before takeoff. Flight attendants make sure that emergency equipment is functional, that the cabin is clean, and that there is enough food and drink on board. As passengers enter the plane, flight attendants greet them, lead them to their seats, and help them as required.

Before the plane takes off, flight attendants instruct correct usage of safety equipment to all passengers, either in person or by video recording. They also make that seat belts are buckled, seats are locked upright, and all carry-on items are securely stored in line with federal law and business policy.

How much do flight attendants make in California

In California, the average annual income for a flight attendant is about $53,860.

How much do flight attendants make per hour in California?

In California, the average hourly salary for a flight attendant is $25.89.

Average flight attendant salary by state

• Arizona: $60,981 per year.
• California: $53,860 per year.
• Colorado: $48,640 per year.
• Florida: $58,780 per year.
• Georgia: $46,860 per year.
• Illinois: $45,112 per year.
• Indiana: $63,860 per year.
• Massachusetts: $57,560 per year.
• Michigan: $55,400 per year.
• Minnesota: $50,870 per year.
• North Carolina: $60,950 per year.
• Nevada: $58,760 per year.
• New York: $46,570 per year.
• Ohio: $58,230 per year.
• Oregon: $70,850 per year.
• Pennsylvania: $62,031 per year.
• Puerto Rico: $18,270 per year.
• Texas: $66,120 per year.
• Utah: $47,320 per year.
• Virginia: $45,220 per year.
• Washington: $65,030 per year.

Information provided by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (source).

Wages by airline

Not all airlines pay flight attendants the same wages.

• JetBlue Airlines: $21 per hour.
• Delta Airlines: $31 per hour.
• American Airlines: $34 per hour.
• Hawaiian Airlines: $35 per hour.
• Southwest Airlines: $37 per hour.
• United Airlines: $48 per hour.
• Frontier Airlines: $20 per hour.
• Delta AirElite: $18 per hour.
• Spirit Airlines: $17 per hour.
• Skywest Airlines: $21 per hour.
• Alaska Airlines: $26 per hour.

Job market outlook

In the United States, there are around 116,600 flight attendants. Between 2016 and 2026, the job market for flight attendants is anticipated to expand by 10.2%.

Requirements to be a flight attendant

A high school diploma is the minimum qualification for flight attendants, but a post-secondary degree, particularly in public relations, communications, or hotel administration, is preferable.

Attendants train for six weeks to six months after being employed by an airline and completing background checks and drug testing, depending on the nation and airline regulations. They are often trained at the airline's hub or headquarters, and upon successful completion of the program, they get a Certificate of Demonstrated Proficiency.

The emphasis in training is on safety for both the crew and the passengers. Attendants have received first-aid training and can administer CPR and defibrillation if necessary. They can manage minor injuries, nosebleeds, and sickness after receiving training. In addition, procedures for dealing with onboard births and fatalities, hazardous substances or gasses discharged into the cabin, and inebriated passengers are described.

Flight attendants know how to safely remove people off the plane and battle flames in the case of an emergency. In the case of a decompression emergency or a distant emergency landing in a jungle, sea, or desert environment, they are taught survival techniques. Attendants are frequently trained self-defense and, in certain circumstances, the use of lethal force in the event of a terrorist assault or hijacking.

Learn how to become a flight attendant.

Common questions

Frequently asked questions about flight attendant careers.

How long does it take to become a flight attendant?

Airlines give basic training to flight attendants when they are recruited, which can take anywhere from six weeks to three months, depending on the country. The training is often conducted at the airline's flight training facility and must be approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

New flight attendants are then placed on call (or reserve status), which requires them to be prepared to report to the airport on short notice to staff extra flights or fill in for absent crew members. Flight attendants are generally placed on reserve for at least a year, but in some places, they can be placed on reserve for up to several years. Flight attendants earn enough seniority after this period to bid on monthly assignments.

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