Delta pays its flight attendants by the flight hour rather than a fixed annual salary, so what you earn depends on your years of service and how much you fly. In 2026, reported Delta flight attendant pay runs from roughly 30 dollars an hour in the first year to around 70 dollars an hour at the top of the scale. For most cabin crew that is an approximate range of 40,000 to 80,000 dollars a year. Delta also adds boarding pay and per diem on top, which sets it apart from several other US carriers. Figures below are approximate and drawn from publicly reported pay scales.
| Experience | Approx. hourly | Approx. yearly |
|---|---|---|
| First year | ~30 per flight hour | 28,000 to 40,000 |
| Mid-career (5 to 8 years) | ~45 to 55 per flight hour | 50,000 to 65,000 |
| Senior (12+ years) | ~68 to 72 per flight hour | 70,000 to 85,000 |
On top of the flight-hour rate, Delta adds boarding pay at about half the hourly rate, per diem for time away from base, and annual profit sharing, which Delta is known for paying at some of the highest levels in the industry.
Delta flight attendants are paid for scheduled flight hours, not for the full time on duty. Pay rises on a step scale with each year of service until it reaches the top rate. Since 2022 Delta has also paid boarding pay, a portion of the hourly rate earned during boarding, which was a first among the major US airlines. Per diem covers meals and expenses while away from base, and profit sharing is paid out early each year based on company performance.
At the top of the scale, Delta pay is broadly in line with the other legacy carriers such as American and United. Low-cost carriers like Spirit and Frontier generally start lower. For the full picture across the industry, see our flight attendant salary guide.
Delta hires for customer service, flexibility and the ability to complete its training program, rather than prior aviation experience. If you are weighing the career, our guide on how to become a flight attendant walks through the requirements and the hiring process.
Reported 2026 pay runs from about 30 dollars an hour in the first year to roughly 70 dollars an hour at the top of the scale. For most cabin crew that works out to an approximate 40,000 to 80,000 dollars a year, before boarding pay, per diem and profit sharing.
First-year Delta flight attendants earn an estimated 28,000 to 40,000 dollars, based on a starting rate of around 30 dollars per flight hour and a typical monthly flying schedule.
Yes. Delta pays boarding pay at roughly half the normal hourly rate during the boarding process, which most US carriers historically did not pay. This is on top of flight-hour pay and per diem.
Senior Delta flight attendants with twelve or more years of service can reach an estimated 70,000 to 85,000 dollars a year at the top hourly step, and often more in years with large profit-sharing payouts.