Key Facts
- ✓ Delta offers the highest starting hourly wage at $36.92.
- ✓ American Airlines introduced boarding pay at 50% of the hourly rate in its 2024 contract.
- ✓ United Airlines flight attendants have not received a base pay raise since 2020.
- ✓ Senior flight attendants at the top of the pay scale can earn nearly $80,000 in base salary.
Quick Summary
Flight attendant compensation at major US airlines is determined by a complex mix of hourly wages, monthly guarantees, and profit-sharing bonuses. Delta Air Lines currently leads the 'Big 3' in hourly rates, paying starting crew members $36.92 per hour. In contrast, United Airlines has not raised base pay since 2020, offering $28.88 for new hires.
Despite lower base rates, senior flight attendants can achieve substantial earnings. At American Airlines, a 13-year veteran earns a base rate of $84.50 per hour. All three airlines offer additional compensation for boarding time, holidays, and specialized skills. Contractual disputes continue to shape the industry, with United's union rejecting a tentative deal in 2025 and requesting further negotiations.
Compensation Structure and Benefits
Flight attendant pay is not limited to hourly wages. Crew members receive a per diem bonus for hours spent away from their base airport. Additionally, airlines typically offer profit-sharing bonuses based on annual earnings. Pay scales generally increase with each year of service up to the 13th year.
Most airlines guarantee a monthly minimum of paid hours, ensuring a baseline income regardless of actual flight time. However, the lack of a contractual minimum at Delta has led some crew members to express concerns about potential pay disparities compared to competitors.
Extra pay opportunities can significantly boost annual income. These include:
- Working holidays or overnight flights
- Holding specialized positions (e.g., lead purser, multilingual)
- Picking up dropped trips or working overtime
Airline-Specific Pay Scales
American Airlines ratified a new contract in September 2024 after five years of negotiations. The deal increased pay by up to 20.5% and introduced boarding pay at 50% of the hourly rate. First-year crew earn $36.81 per hour, while 13-year veterans earn $84.50. The airline guarantees 71 hours of pay monthly for line schedules and 75 hours for reserve crew.
Delta Air Lines flight attendants are not unionized. A pay increase took effect in June 2025, raising salaries by 4%. First-year pay is $36.92 per hour, and 13-year pay is $83.00. Delta was the first major US airline to offer boarding pay in 2022. The airline reported the highest profitability in 2024, with a net income of $3.46 billion.
United Airlines has the lowest base pay, with first-year crew earning $28.88 and 13-year crew earning $67.11. The airline guarantees 71 hours for line schedules and 78 hours for reserve. A spokesperson noted that half of the cabin crew works flexible schedules to earn nearly $80,000 annually. Negotiations with the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA are ongoing into 2026.
Profit Sharing and Financial Outlook
Profit-sharing varies significantly across the three airlines. Delta consistently offers the highest bonuses, paying $1.4 billion to employees in February 2025, equating to 10% of eligible earnings. American historically paid lower bonuses (1.1% in 2024) but has updated its formula to match Delta's, dependent on future earnings.
United paid a 5.3% profit-sharing bonus in 2024, down from 9.2% in 2023, totaling $584.3 million. Financial performance differs among the carriers; American reported a net income of $846 million in 2024, while United reported $3.15 billion.