Careers · Explore one path
Flight Attendants
Monitor safety of the aircraft cabin. Provide services to airline passengers, explain safety information, serve food and beverages, and respond to emergency incidents.
Other titles employers use
Flight Attendant · In-Flight Crew Member · Inflight Services Flight Attendant · International Flight Attendant · Purser · Airline Flight Attendant · Airplane Flight Attendant · Flight Steward
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- Verify that first aid kits and other emergency equipment, including fire extinguishers and oxygen bottles, are in working order.
- Announce and demonstrate safety and emergency procedures, such as the use of oxygen masks, seat belts, and life jackets.
- Monitor passenger behavior to identify threats to the safety of the crew and other passengers.
- Walk aisles of planes to verify that passengers have complied with federal regulations prior to takeoffs and landings.
- Direct and assist passengers in emergency procedures, such as evacuating a plane following an emergency landing.
- Prepare passengers and aircraft for landing, following procedures.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to organizing, helping and practical work.
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
- Practical
- Building, repairing, using tools, or working outdoors
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Speaking
- Active Listening
- Monitoring
- Social Perceptiveness
- Service Orientation
- Coordination
Subjects to know
- Customer and Personal Service
- Public Safety and Security
- English Language
- Transportation
- Psychology
Useful strengths
- Oral Expression
- Speech Clarity
- Oral Comprehension
- Speech Recognition
- Problem Sensitivity
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 4.7 | Arm’s length or closer, most of the day |
| On your feet | 4.1 | Standing or moving for most of it |
| Talking face to face | 4.7 | Continuous — the job is conversations |
| Working with your hands | 3.0 | Some of the day |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a high school diploma. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- High school or less 74%
- A four-year degree 12%
- A certificate or some college 11%
- A two-year degree 3%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Spreadsheet software
- Office suite software
- Electronic mail software
- Presentation software
- Operating system software
- Word processing software
- Calendar and scheduling software
- Computer based training software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 18,300
- Job openings each year
- 2,510
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 22.8%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 18,300 | 2,510 | 22.8% |
| Florida | 16,050 | 2,210 | 23.3% |
| Texas | 15,060 | 2,070 | 23.3% |
| Illinois | 10,640 | 1,430 | 10.4% |
| Colorado | 8,440 | 1,210 | 59.2% |
| New York | 7,440 | 0 | −2.1% |
| Washington | 5,030 | 790 | 20.9% |
| Arizona | 3,700 | 500 | 10.4% |
| Virginia | 3,180 | 430 | 12.4% |
| Nevada | 3,130 | 430 | 14.7% |
| Minnesota | 2,630 | 350 | 9.6% |
| North Carolina | 2,530 | 350 | 22.8% |
| Maryland | 2,280 | 310 | 20.0% |
| Massachusetts | 1,330 | 180 | 19.8% |
| Ohio | 1,080 | 140 | — |
| Oregon | 870 | 120 | 26.1% |
| Alaska | 530 | 70 | 12.8% |
| Kentucky | 290 | 40 | 11.5% |
| Connecticut | 240 | 30 | 9.1% |
| Guam | 210 | 30 | 16.7% |
| Delaware | 20 | 0 | 100.0% |
| Wisconsin | 10 | 0 | — |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach
- Degrees each year
- 586
- Admit rate
- 66%
- Annual cost after aid
- $37,000
Liberty University
- Degrees each year
- 484
- Admit rate
- 99%
- Annual cost after aid
- $27,000
University of North Dakota
- Degrees each year
- 337
- Admit rate
- 77%
- Annual cost after aid
- $15,000
Middle Tennessee State University
- Degrees each year
- 212
- Admit rate
- 68%
- Annual cost after aid
- $13,000
Western Michigan University
- Degrees each year
- 207
- Admit rate
- 85%
- Annual cost after aid
- $14,000
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
- Degrees each year
- 171
- Admit rate
- 90%
- Annual cost after aid
- $10,000
Purdue University-Main Campus
- Degrees each year
- 140
- Admit rate
- 50%
- Annual cost after aid
- $9,000
Auburn University
- Degrees each year
- 131
- Admit rate
- 50%
- Annual cost after aid
- $21,000