---
title: "How to Become a Flight Attendant: Steps and Pay"
description: "How to become a flight attendant: airline hiring, company training, the FAA certificate, life on reserve and BLS May 2025 median pay."
url: https://careerdirecting.com/careers/flight-attendant/
updated: 2026-10-09
site: CareerDirecting
---

Travel · Flight attendant

# How to become a flight attendant Airline training, not a school.

Travel career profile

Flight attendants keep passengers safe and comfortable. Airlines hire and train their own, so you do not need a degree or a paid school. Expect a competitive application process and a few lean years on reserve.

In short

To become a flight attendant, apply directly to airlines, which typically require a high school diploma and customer service experience. If hired, you complete the airline's training program and earn the FAA Certificate of Demonstrated Proficiency. Flight attendants earned a median of $63,580 in May 2025, and BLS projects 8.8% growth through 2035.

**Job numbers from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics** Updated October 9, 2026. Pay figures are national medians and are not a promise of what you will earn.

| Median pay | $63,580 a year, about $30.57 an hour (May 2025) |
|---|---|
| Typical way in | High school or GED, plus moderate-term on-the-job training |
| Jobs in the U.S. | About 133,700 (2025) |
| Outlook, 2025 to 2035 | Projected growth of 8.8% |
| Openings each year | About 18,500 on average, including replacements |
| Required certificate | FAA Certificate of Demonstrated Proficiency |
| Where they work | Passenger airlines, charter companies |

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025 to 2035 and May 2025 wages, [BLS](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/occupational-projections-and-characteristics.htm). National figures; pay where you live can be higher or lower, and starting pay is lower than the median.

## What new hires should know

New flight attendants usually start on reserve, on call for open trips. Pay is often based on flight hours, so schedules and seniority affect income. You may need to live near or commute to a crew base.

## Do I need flight attendant school?

No. Airlines train you after hiring. Be cautious about paying for private courses that promise a job.

## Questions people ask

### How long is flight attendant training?

Airline training programs commonly last several weeks.

### Do flight attendants need a degree?

No. BLS lists a high school diploma as typical.

### Is it hard to get hired?

Major airlines get many applicants; customer service experience helps.

## Sources

- [BLS Employment Projections 2025 to 2035, Table 1.2 (occupational projections and worker characteristics)](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/occupational-projections-and-characteristics.htm)
- [BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Flight attendants](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/transportation-and-material-moving/flight-attendants.htm)
- [FAA Certificate of Demonstrated Proficiency for flight attendants (14 CFR Part 121)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/chapter-I/subchapter-G/part-121/subpart-N)

## Where to go next

- [$25 an hour](https://careerdirecting.com/jobs-without-a-degree/jobs-that-pay-25-an-hour/)
- [Leaving retail](https://careerdirecting.com/career-change/leaving-retail/)
- [Paid training](https://careerdirecting.com/jobs-without-a-degree/paid-on-the-job-training/)
- [Careers](https://careerdirecting.com/careers/)
- [Barber](https://careerdirecting.com/careers/barber/)
- [Bookkeeper](https://careerdirecting.com/careers/bookkeeper/)
- [Cardiovascular technologist](https://careerdirecting.com/careers/cardiovascular-technologist/)
- [CNA](https://careerdirecting.com/careers/cna/)

---
Canonical page: https://careerdirecting.com/careers/flight-attendant/