Flight Attendant demographics and statistics in the US
Flight attendant demographics research summary. Zippia estimates flight attendant demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our flight attendant estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about flight attendants after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 89,677 flight attendants currently employed in the United States.
- 78.9% of all flight attendants are women, while 21.1% are men.
- The average flight attendant age is 49 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of flight attendants is White (59.0%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (15.8%), Black or African American (10.2%) and Asian (7.6%).
- Flight attendants are most in-demand in Los Angeles, CA.
- The transportation industry is the highest-paying for flight attendants.
- 29% of all flight attendants are LGBT.
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Flight Attendant demographics by:
Flight Attendant gender statistics
78.9% of flight attendants are women and 21.1% of flight attendants are men.
- Female, 78.9%
- Male, 21.1%
Flight Attendant gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Female | 78.9% |
| Male | 21.1% |
Flight Attendant gender pay gap
Women earn 95¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male Income
$34,833
Female Income
$32,955
Flight Attendant gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in flight attendant positions over time. Currently, 78.9% of flight attendants are female.
Flight Attendant gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 15.79% | 84.21% |
| 2011 | 17.74% | 82.26% |
| 2012 | 16.03% | 83.97% |
| 2013 | 16.66% | 83.34% |
| 2014 | 19.04% | 80.96% |
| 2015 | 16.58% | 83.42% |
| 2016 | 17.45% | 82.55% |
| 2017 | 20.02% | 79.98% |
| 2018 | 14.48% | 85.52% |
| 2019 | 18.10% | 81.90% |
| 2020 | 18.26% | 81.74% |
| 2021 | 21.08% | 78.92% |
Flight Attendant related jobs gender ratio
We compared flight attendants with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, airline transport pilot and combat control have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job Title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Airline Flight Attendant | 16% | 84% |
| International Flight Attendant | 21% | 79% |
| Flight Attendant | 21% | 79% |
| Agricultural Aviation Pilot | 98% | 2% |
| Combat Control | 98% | 2% |
| Airline Transport Pilot | 98% | 2% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Flight Attendant demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among flight attendants is White, which makes up 59.0% of all flight attendants. Comparatively, 15.8% of flight attendants are Hispanic or Latino and 10.2% of flight attendants are Black or African American.
- White, 59.0%
- Hispanic or Latino, 15.8%
- Black or African American, 10.2%
- Asian, 7.6%
- Unknown, 7.1%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
Flight Attendant Race
| Flight Attendant Race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 59.0% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 15.8% |
| Black or African American | 10.2% |
| Asian | 7.6% |
| Unknown | 7.1% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.3% |
Flight Attendant race and ethnicity over time
See how flight attendant racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
- White
- Asian
- Hispanic or Latino
- Black or African American
Flight Attendant race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 68.66% | 11.68% | 4.60% | 11.67% |
| 2011 | 66.96% | 12.08% | 6.40% | 11.37% |
| 2012 | 67.93% | 10.97% | 6.46% | 11.73% |
| 2013 | 67.16% | 11.20% | 6.35% | 11.97% |
| 2014 | 63.95% | 12.16% | 6.90% | 13.47% |
| 2015 | 62.12% | 10.93% | 7.70% | 14.96% |
| 2016 | 60.66% | 10.77% | 8.98% | 15.28% |
| 2017 | 63.11% | 11.29% | 7.59% | 14.33% |
| 2018 | 61.67% | 10.20% | 7.39% | 16.17% |
| 2019 | 59.87% | 11.73% | 8.68% | 15.59% |
| 2020 | 58.26% | 11.42% | 7.24% | 16.34% |
| 2021 | 58.95% | 10.25% | 7.59% | 15.83% |
Flight Attendant wage gap by race
According to our data, white flight attendants have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Black or african american flight attendants have the lowest average salary at $34,570.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $34,697 |
| White | $35,147 |
| Black or African American | $34,570 |
| Asian | $34,773 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $34,979 |
Average flight attendant age
See how the average age of flight attendants varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Flight Attendant age by race and gender
| Race | Male Age | Female Age |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown | 45 | |
| White | 53 | 54 |
| Black or African American | 48 | 49 |
| Asian | 48 | |
| Hispanic or Latino | 41 | 51 |
Flight Attendant age breakdown
The average age of flight attendants is 40+ years years old, representing 74% of the flight attendant population.
Flight Attendant age breakdown
| Flight Attendant Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 74% |
| 30-40 years | 17% |
| 20-30 years | 8% |
Flight Attendant educational attainment
The most common degree for flight attendants is bachelor's degree, with 56% of flight attendants earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 20% and associate degree degree at 11%.
- Bachelor's, 56%
- Associate, 20%
- High School Diploma, 11%
- Master's, 5%
- Other Degrees, 8%
Flight Attendants by degree level
| Flight Attendant Degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 56% |
| Associate | 20% |
| High School Diploma | 11% |
| Master's | 5% |
| Other Degrees | 8% |
Flight Attendant Jobs You Might Like
Flight Attendant wage gap by degree level
According to the data, flight attendants with a Bachelor's degree earn more than those without, at $35,030 annually. With a Associate degree, flight attendants earn a median annual income of $34,769 compared to $34,536 for flight attendants with an High School Diploma degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $34,536 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $35,030 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $34,769 |
Flight Attendant employment statistics
Most flight attendants work for a private in the transportation industry.
Company size where flight attendants work
Below, you can see the size of companies where flight attendants work.
Flight Attendant jobs by employer size
| Company Size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 8% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 17% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 19% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 10% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 21% |
| > 10,000 employees | 24% |
Flight Attendant jobs by company type
Employees with the flight attendant job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most flight attendants prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Flight Attendant jobs by sector
| Company Type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 1% |
| Public | 28% |
| Private | 69% |
| Government | 2% |
Flight Attendant jobs by industry
The most common industries for flight attendants are transportation, manufacturing and technology.
Flight Attendant industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Transportation | 44% |
| Fortune 500 | 11% |
| Manufacturing | 6% |
| Technology | 6% |
| Professional | 5% |
| Finance | 4% |
| Media | 3% |
| Hospitality | 3% |
| Telecommunication | 2% |
| Retail | 2% |
| Non Profits | 2% |
| Insurance | 2% |
| Government | 1% |
| Automotive | 1% |
| Utilities | 1% |
| Health Care | 1% |
| Start-up | 1% |
| Real Estate | 1% |
Flight Attendant turnover and employment statistics
Flight Attendant unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for flight attendants between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Unemployment rate
Flight Attendant unemployment rate by year
| Year | Flight Attendant Unemployment Rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 3.97% |
| 2011 | 1.66% |
| 2012 | 2.83% |
| 2013 | 1.31% |
| 2014 | 2.11% |
| 2015 | 1.13% |
| 2016 | 0.68% |
| 2017 | 0.86% |
| 2018 | 0.70% |
| 2019 | 1.09% |
| 2020 | 11.00% |
| 2021 | 7.46% |
Average flight attendant tenure
The average flight attendant stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 19,013 flight attendants resumes in Zippia's database.
Flight Attendant tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 15% |
| 1-2 years | 28% |
| 3-4 years | 14% |
| 5-7 years | 17% |
| 8-10 years | 7% |
| 11+ years | 19% |
Flight Attendant LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of flight attendants that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job Title | LGBT | Job Openings |
|---|---|---|
| Valet Attendant | 3.71% | 45,768 |
| Auto Detailer | 4.91% | 11,018 |
| Feeder | 5.16% | 695 |
| Flight Engineer Manager | 11.74% | 1,435 |
| Aircraft Dispatcher | 13.04% | 7,153 |
| Bus Attendant | 15.05% | 51,391 |
| Flight Attendant | 28.83% | - |
Similar flight attendant jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job Openings |
|---|---|---|
| Valet Attendant | 3.71% | 45,768 |
| Auto Detailer | 4.91% | 11,018 |
| Feeder | 5.16% | 695 |
| Flight Engineer Manager | 11.74% | 1,435 |
| Aircraft Dispatcher | 13.04% | 7,153 |
| Bus Attendant | 15.05% | 51,391 |
Foreign languages spoken by flight attendants
The most common foreign language among flight attendants is Spanish at 45.1%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 13.6% and Portuguese is the third-most popular at 5.9%.
- Spanish, 45.1%
- French, 13.6%
- Portuguese, 5.9%
- German, 5.5%
- Italian, 5.2%
- Other, 24.7%
Flight Attendant languages spoken
| Foreign Language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 45.1% |
| French | 13.6% |
| Portuguese | 5.9% |
| German | 5.5% |
| Italian | 5.2% |
| Other | 24.7% |
