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Skilled Trades

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.

Median salary (BLS)

$63,580

10th–90th percentile (BLS)

$35k – $136k

Job outlook

+9% (faster than average)

AI exposure

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Education

Typical entry: No degree required

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How to qualify

EstimateLicense required

Cost to qualify

$100–$2,600

Time to qualify

3.1 yr

Renewal

$50/yr

  1. 1

    Registered apprenticeship (paid)

    Experience

    Earn-while-you-learn training — apprentices are paid during the program; fees are tools/books, not tuition.

    $0–$2,000 · 36 months · varies by state source

  2. 2

    Journeyman exam & state/local license

    License

    Most states and municipalities test and license journeyman-level trades workers.

    $100–$600 · 1 months · varies by state · renews every 2 yr source

Estimated typical U.S. route for "Flight Attendants" — built from BLS education requirements and College Board 2024–25 average published prices (public, in-state tuition + fees + books). Not yet verified against a specific state's licensing rules — confirm with your state licensing board or program.

Typical progression

  1. Junior Flight Attendants

    Entry / Junior

    $35,110

    ~2 yrs to advance

  2. Flight Attendants

    Established

    $63,580

    ~3 yrs to advance

  3. Senior Flight Attendants

    Senior

    $100,005

Key skills

A typical day

  • •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.

Fields of study

Any field

Top colleges for Skilled Trades

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Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.