Stewardesses provide amenities to passengers.
Stewardesses, usually referred to as flight attendants, are important members of any major commercial airline. Federal law requires air carriers to have flight attendants on board for the safety and security of passengers. Flight attendants provide information and instruction to passengers regarding the aircraft's safety features and emergency procedures. They also work to provide a comfortable and enjoyable trip for passengers. Stewardess jobs are highly competitive. Benefits typically include free air travel in addition to wages.
Wages
The mean annual income for stewardesses at all levels of experience from across the country was $43,350 as of May 2009, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics. The top 10 percent of stewardesses in the U.S. earned in excess of $71,280 per year, while the bottom 10 percent earned less than $25,420. The median annual wage for stewardesses was $40,010.
Regional Wages
Stewardesses tend to live and work in and around the regional hubs for major airlines. The greatest number of stewardess jobs were located in California and Texas as of May 2009, according to the BLS. Stewardesses who were based in Arizona earned the highest mean annual wages in the country at $51,140. Stewardesses who were based out of Colorado earned the lowest mean annual wages at $28,360.
Employer
There were 95,810 flight attendant jobs in the United States as of May 2009, according to the BLS. More than 94,000 of those jobs were with the schedule air transportation industry. Stewardesses who worked in this industry earned a mean annual wage of $43,290. Stewardesses who worked for companies that provide support activities for air transportation earned the highest mean annual wages for their occupation at $72,520.
Considerations
Basic qualifications for employment as a flight attendant include a high school diploma, but the BLS notes that many airlines prefer to hire candidates who have completed college. All flight attendants must be certified by the Federal Aviation Administration. Flight attendants may be either male or female. Female flight attendants are sometimes referred to as stewardesses, while male flight attendants are sometimes referred to as stewards.
Tags: mean annual, flight attendants, 2009 according, annual wages, mean annual wages
