This is how much flight attendants earn at American, Delta, and United. Certain individuals make more than $100,000 annually.

Overview of Flight Attendant Compensation at Major US Airlines

• Flight attendant earnings can differ significantly based on experience and the total hours worked.
• Delta offers the highest hourly wages, though the pay among the largest three airlines is generally comparable for similar levels of seniority.
• United Airlines' union reached a preliminary agreement in May after prolonged discussions.

While flight attendants at American, Delta, and United typically earn less than their pilot counterparts, the most experienced crew members can earn a base salary approaching $80,000 annually, with some surpassing $100,000.

This career is far from a standard office job. Reaching the highest pay levels at the top US airlines requires years of demanding schedules and consistently meeting strict service and safety expectations.

Flight attendants receive an hourly base rate, along with per diem allowances when away from their home airport. Some airlines also pay for boarding time, and additional earnings are possible for working holidays, overnight flights, or holding specialized roles. Profit-sharing bonuses are also common.

Wages increase annually through the 13th year of service.

Most airlines guarantee a minimum number of paid hours each month, though many flight attendants work beyond this threshold. The guaranteed minimum varies by airline and ensures a baseline income regardless of actual hours flown, except in certain situations.

According to pay data reviewed by Business Insider, Delta leads with the highest hourly rates, closely followed by American. United has not raised its flight attendant pay in several years; although a tentative agreement was reached in May 2025, it was rejected by the union in July, which has since requested higher compensation.

American Airlines

• Starting hourly wage: $36.81
• 13th-year hourly wage: $84.50

In September 2024, American Airlines finalized a new contract with the Association of Professional Flight Attendants after five years of negotiations, which were delayed in part by the pandemic.

The agreement immediately raised pay by up to 20.5% and guarantees 71 paid hours per month for scheduled crew, and 75 hours for those on reserve.

This means new flight attendants can expect to earn at least $31,300 annually, while those with 13 years of experience can make $72,000 before taxes and other incentives.

Further pay increases are scheduled for 2026 and will continue annually through 2029, with starting hourly pay expected to reach around $40 by then.

The latest contract also introduced boarding pay at 50% of the regular hourly rate, a benefit not previously offered.

Historically, American's profit-sharing bonuses have been modest. In 2024, the bonus was just 1.1% of eligible earnings. The new agreement aligns the profit-sharing formula with Delta's, but the actual payout will depend on the company's year-end financial results.

For 2024, American was the least profitable among the Big 3, with a net income of $846 million on $54.2 billion in revenue. The airline also reported losses in the first and third quarters of 2025.

Delta Air Lines

• Starting hourly wage: $36.92
• 13th-year hourly wage: $83.00

Delta's flight attendants are not represented by a union. Their most recent pay increase, effective June 1, 2025, raised salaries by 4%.

New Delta flight attendants earn $36.92 per hour, while those with 13 years of service earn about $83 per hour.

Delta was the first major US airline to introduce boarding pay, offering 50% of the hourly rate for this time, a practice now matched by American.

Unlike its competitors, Delta does not guarantee a minimum number of paid hours per month, which some employees seeking union representation argue could result in lower overall pay.

Delta representatives have stated that flight attendants typically work around 80 hours monthly, resulting in annual earnings of approximately $35,400 for new hires and $79,700 for those with 13 years of experience, before taxes and other compensation.

Additional bonuses of up to $1,200 per year are available for meeting operational goals.

Delta consistently offers the largest profit-sharing payouts, distributing $1.4 billion to employees in February 2025, which equaled about 10% of eligible earnings—roughly five weeks of pay.

Delta was the most profitable US airline in 2024, with a net income of $3.46 billion and $61.6 billion in revenue, and continued to post profits through the first three quarters of 2025.

United Airlines

• Starting hourly wage: $28.88
• 13th-year hourly wage: $67.11

Currently, United offers the lowest pay among the three, as flight attendants have not received a raise since 2020.

United guarantees 71 paid hours per month for scheduled crew and 78 hours for those on reserve.

Based on these minimums, new United flight attendants earn at least $24,600 annually, while those with 13 years of experience make at least $57,000 before taxes and bonuses.

A United spokesperson noted that half of the airline's flight attendants are at the top of the pay scale, with average annual earnings in that group nearing $80,000, likely due to working more than the minimum hours.

Despite lower base pay, United's profit-sharing bonuses have been substantial—9.2% of eligible earnings in 2023 and 5.3% in 2024, with a February payout totaling $584.3 million.

United was the second most profitable US airline in 2024, reporting $3.15 billion in net income and $57.1 billion in revenue, and remained profitable through the third quarter of 2025.

Ongoing disputes between United and its union, the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, have stalled pay increases, keeping wages lower than at other airlines.

Although a tentative agreement in May 2025 would have raised starting pay to $36.92 per hour (matching Delta), about 70% of United's flight attendants rejected the deal, citing concerns over pay and working conditions.

Negotiations are ongoing into 2026, with the union seeking higher wages. United has proposed changes to align with American's scheduling and reserve policies, but some suggestions—such as reducing the minimum guarantee—have been met with resistance from the union. Further discussions are scheduled for February and March.

Additional Earning Opportunities for Flight Attendants

Flight attendants can significantly boost their income through overtime, working holidays or night shifts, or by holding specialized roles. These extra opportunities can push total earnings for senior crew members well into six figures.

Specialized positions, such as lead or purser roles, galley assignments, or language qualifications, come with premium pay ranging from $1 to $7.50 extra per hour, depending on the aircraft and route.

Per diem allowances, typically $2 to $4 per hour spent away from home, help cover expenses like meals, laundry, and transportation.

Top-earning flight attendants can make $100,000 or more annually, especially if they take on extra hours or pick up additional trips from colleagues. Premium pay and special skills further enhance their total compensation.

Flight attendants also enjoy travel benefits, including free flights for personal use as part of their employment package.