Flight attendant salaries can vary from airline to airline; national and major airlines usually have a higher pay scale than regional carriers.  You can expect to earn anywhere from $20,000 to $30,000 your first year, with an added $5,000 - 8,000 for per diem or expense money. After your first year, the pay rapidly increases and after 10 years you can make up to $50,000 at some airlines.  There are other things, too, that can get you more pay, including flying senior or lead flight attendant, international flying and simply working more hours.  You get guarantee pay for the first 65 - 75 hours and any flying time after that is at a higher level.

While you must earn enough to make a living, working as a flight attendant is not something you do for the money - you do it for the adventure! As time goes on and your seniority increases, you may even be able to fly less and still earn a full-time salary.  And with all the free travel you will benefit from, it’s as though you are making more money because you don’t have to spend as much for traveling as you normally would.