Passenger Attendant salary in the U.S.
Passenger Attendants in the U.S. earn a median of $37,720 a year ($18.14 an hour), based on BLS data for 27,110 workers.
Pay ranges from $27,970 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,590 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $37,820, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for passenger attendants in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,970 | $13.45 |
| 25th percentile | $31,240 | $15.02 |
| Median | $37,720 | $18.14 |
| 75th percentile | $41,680 | $20.04 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,590 | $22.40 |
| Average (mean) | $37,820 | $18.18 |
Half of passenger 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 | $3,143.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,571.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,450.77 |
| Weekly | $725.38 |
| Hourly | $18.14 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Passenger Attendant salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $54,290 | 220 |
| District of Columbia | $52,730 | 710 |
| Kentucky | $44,810 | n/a |
| Massachusetts | $43,350 | 1,330 |
| California | $43,340 | 2,810 |
| Hawaii | $42,360 | 610 |
| Washington | $41,760 | 900 |
| New York | $41,590 | 3,190 |
| Michigan | $40,250 | 840 |
| Oregon | $39,910 | n/a |
| New Jersey | $39,760 | 640 |
| Illinois | $38,930 | 1,700 |
| Virginia | $38,810 | 70 |
| Colorado | $37,550 | 870 |
| Arizona | $36,820 | 250 |
| North Carolina | $35,740 | 110 |
| Connecticut | $34,320 | 110 |
| Missouri | $34,110 | 480 |
| Maryland | $33,350 | 950 |
| Pennsylvania | $33,000 | 500 |
| Oklahoma | $32,920 | 40 |
| Nevada | $32,130 | 90 |
| Texas | $31,230 | 5,170 |
| Florida | $29,680 | 2,590 |
| South Carolina | $28,710 | 120 |
| Tennessee | $27,380 | 300 |
| Georgia | $26,330 | n/a |
| Ohio | $26,220 | n/a |
| Utah | $25,840 | 370 |
| Wisconsin | $24,650 | 330 |
Best-paying metro areas for passenger attendants
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $49,190 | 790 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $44,810 | 70 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $44,800 | 510 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $43,580 | 120 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $43,350 | 1,150 |
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $42,360 | 200 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $41,760 | 820 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $41,590 | 3,410 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $39,920 | n/a |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $39,460 | 1,200 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $39,100 | 330 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $38,530 | n/a |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $38,250 | 670 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $37,970 | 30 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $37,770 | 120 |
Metro areas with the most passenger attendants
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 3,410 | $41,590 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 1,780 | $31,240 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 1,200 | $39,460 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 1,150 | $43,350 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 990 | $31,750 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 820 | $41,760 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 790 | $49,190 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 780 | $37,550 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 710 | $33,350 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 670 | $38,250 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 540 | $27,390 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 510 | $44,800 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | 390 | $34,180 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 330 | $39,100 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 210 | $36,810 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Parking Attendant | $35,150 | $16.90 |
| Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants | $35,670 | $17.15 |
| Aircraft Service Attendant | $40,450 | $19.45 |
| Transportation Inspector | $92,100 | $44.28 |
| Transportation Workers, All Other | $45,650 | $21.95 |
| Traffic Technician | $59,090 | $28.41 |
| Bridge and Lock Tenders | $57,700 | $27.74 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $40,240 | $19.35 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $37,330 | $17.95 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $58,640 | $28.19 |
| Light Truck Driver | $44,860 | $21.57 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $46,420 | $22.32 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $62,890 | $30.23 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $36,280 | $17.44 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 53-6061. 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 passenger attendant make in the U.S.?
The median salary for passenger attendants in the U.S. is $37,720 a year, or $18.14 an hour. Pay ranges from $27,970 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,590 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid passenger attendants make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of passenger attendants in the U.S. earn at least $46,590 a year. The top 25% earn $41,680 or more.
What is the starting pay for passenger attendants in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $27,970 a year, and a quarter of passenger attendants earn $31,240 or less.
How many passenger attendants work in the U.S.?
About 27,110 passenger attendants are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.