Flight Attendant salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Flight Attendants in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $62,120 a year, based on BLS data for 9,240 workers.
Pay ranges from $40,040 for the lowest-paid 10% to $98,940 for the top 10%. That is 2% lower than the national median of $63,580. Pay here is about the same as the Illinois statewide median of $62,120. There are 2.0 flight attendants per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $72,870, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for flight attendants in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,040 |
| 25th percentile | $60,320 |
| Median | $62,120 |
| 75th percentile | $77,720 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $98,940 |
| Average (mean) | $72,870 |
Half of flight attendants earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,176.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,588.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,389.23 |
| Weekly | $1,194.62 |
BLS publishes only yearly pay for this job, because flight attendants are usually paid a salary and may not work a full 2,080-hour year. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Highest-paying states for flight attendants
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $126,650 |
| Utah | $82,730 |
| California | $82,170 |
| Georgia | $78,320 |
| Connecticut | $78,180 |
| Washington | $74,090 |
| Michigan | $62,490 |
| Ohio | $62,440 |
| Idaho | $62,200 |
| Illinois | $62,120 |
See Flight Attendant pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | $293,490 | — |
| Air Traffic Controller | $189,780 | $91.24 |
| Commercial Pilot | $157,420 | — |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $40,550 | $19.50 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $38,450 | $18.48 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $62,300 | $29.95 |
| Light Truck Driver | $47,950 | $23.05 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $47,950 | $23.05 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $68,330 | $32.85 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $36,180 | $17.40 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $49,180 | $23.64 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $36,580 | $17.59 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $40,490 | $19.46 |
| Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity | $65,200 | $31.35 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 53-2031. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a flight attendant make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for flight attendants in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $62,120 a year. Pay ranges from $40,040 for the lowest-paid 10% to $98,940 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid flight attendants make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of flight attendants in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $98,940 a year. The top 25% earn $77,720 or more.
What is the starting pay for flight attendants in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $40,040 a year, and a quarter of flight attendants earn $60,320 or less.
How many flight attendants work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 9,240 flight attendants are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.