Flight Attendant Salary: Pay and Take-Home by State
The typical (median) flight attendant in the US earns $63,580 a year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates for 131,650 jobs (May 2025). The middle half earn between $51,760 and $95,640 a year, and the top 10% earn more than $136,430.
After federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare, the median salary leaves a single filer about $53,266 a year ($4,439 a month) in a state with no income tax. Using each state's own median pay for this job, take-home is highest in New York ($90,473 a year) and lowest in Pennsylvania ($32,694).
Flight Attendant pay range
| Pay level | Yearly | Take-home a year* |
|---|---|---|
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $35,110 | $30,391 |
| 25th percentile | $51,760 | $43,769 |
| Median (half earn more) | $63,580 | $53,266 |
| 75th percentile | $95,640 | $76,113 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $136,430 | $104,516 |
The average (mean) is $77,440 a year, above the median because a minority of high earners pull it up. *Take-home after federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare for a single filer in a state with no income tax (2026). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, occupation 53-2031. Source
Flight Attendant salary by state
The highest median pay for flight attendants is in New York ($126,650), Utah ($82,730), California ($82,170), Connecticut ($78,180), Ohio ($62,440). The lowest is in Pennsylvania ($39,520), Florida ($47,320), Nevada ($51,800).
The most flight attendants work in California (15,840), Texas (13,470), Florida (13,220).
After each state's taxes, the most take-home at the local median is in New York ($90,473), Utah ($63,338), California ($61,832), Connecticut ($59,764), Ohio ($50,865). A state with no income tax can come out ahead of a state that pays more before tax.
Median pay in each state for this job (BLS, May 2025), and take-home at that pay. Take-home is after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and the state's income tax and payroll programs, for a single filer with a 2026 W-4 and no deductions. Local taxes are not included. *District of Columbia: federal taxes only (DC income tax is not modeled yet). Not shown, because BLS did not publish an estimate or it was flagged as unreliable: Georgia, Idaho, Michigan, Virginia, Washington.
| State | Median yearly | Take-home a year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | $61,780 | $50,585 | 4,590 |
| California | $82,170 | $61,832 | 15,840 |
| Colorado | $59,500 | $47,351 | 7,110 |
| Connecticut | $78,180 | $59,764 | 250 |
| Florida | $47,320 | $40,202 | 13,220 |
| Illinois | $62,120 | $49,163 | 9,350 |
| Massachusetts | $61,510 | $48,700 | 4,390 |
| Minnesota | $61,230 | $47,748 | 4,050 |
| Nevada | $51,800 | $43,801 | 4,040 |
| New York | $126,650 | $90,473 | 12,060 |
| Ohio | $62,440 | $50,865 | 990 |
| Oregon | $61,480 | $47,061 | 980 |
| Pennsylvania | $39,520 | $32,694 | 2,290 |
| Texas | $58,220 | $48,960 | 13,470 |
| Utah | $82,730 | $63,338 | 2,490 |
Overtime and pay rules for flight attendants
Airline employees are exempt from federal overtime rules; pay is set by employer policy or a union contract, so there is generally no federally required overtime to deduct. Source BLS publishes only yearly pay for this job, as it does for jobs that are usually not paid by the hour or not worked full time all year.
How the exemptions work across jobs: who gets overtime pay.
Taxes on a flight attendant's pay
On the median $63,580, federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare take about 16.2% of pay for a single filer: $5,450 of income tax and $4,864 of Social Security and Medicare a year.
Tax bracket. After the $16,100 standard deduction, taxable income is $47,480, so the top federal rate is 12%. Each extra dollar from a raise or extra shifts is taxed at about 19.65% before state tax: 12% income tax plus 7.65% Social Security and Medicare. Source
401(k). Putting 5% ($3,179 a year) into a traditional 401(k) lowers federal income tax by about $381, so it costs about $2,798 of take-home pay.
Self-employed or contract work
BLS pay figures cover employees only; self-employed flight attendants are not counted. If you work as a contractor (1099), you pay both halves of Social Security and Medicare (15.3% self-employment tax) and usually make quarterly estimated payments. Use the 1099 Tax Calculator to see what to set aside, and see 1099 vs W-2 take-home pay for how much more a contractor needs to earn.
Jobs with similar pay
| Job | Median yearly | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teacher | $63,970 | — |
| Plumber | $63,800 | $30.67 |
| Electrician | $63,190 | $30.38 |
| Medical Lab Technologist | $62,930 | $30.26 |
| Paralegal | $62,890 | $30.24 |
Flight Attendant salary questions
How much does a flight attendant make?
The median pay is $63,580 a year (May 2025, Bureau of Labor Statistics). The bottom 10% earn less than $35,110 and the top 10% more than $136,430.
How much does a flight attendant make after taxes?
About $53,266 a year, or $2,049 every two weeks, on the median salary for a single filer in a state with no income tax. In Pennsylvania, at that state's own median pay, it is about $32,694.
How much does a flight attendant make a month?
About $5,298 a month before taxes at the median salary, and roughly $4,439 after federal taxes in a state with no income tax.
Which state pays flight attendants the most?
New York, with a median of $126,650 a year. Next are Utah ($82,730) and California ($82,170). After state taxes, take-home at the local median is highest in New York.
Do flight attendants get paid overtime?
Airline employees are exempt from federal overtime rules; pay is set by employer policy or a union contract, so there is generally no federally required overtime to deduct. BLS publishes only yearly pay for this job, as it does for jobs that are usually not paid by the hour or not worked full time all year.
More public safety and aviation salaries
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All jobs · Hourly to salary chart. BLS data published 2026, reference period May 2025; tax figures checked Oct 26, 2026.