Airlines / American Airlines / Salary
American Airlines cabin crew salary
What American Airlines actually pays cabin crew — entry level, senior level, the pay structure behind the numbers and how it stacks up against rival airlines.
Entry level · per month
$2,500-$3,300
Rank 9 of 59 indexed airlines
Senior crew · per month
$5,200-$7,000
+110% over an entry-level package
vs the North America average
+9%
Regional average entry pay: $2,650
vs the global index average
+41%
Index average entry pay: $2,054
How the pay is built
First-year $36.81/flight hour under the 2024 APFA contract with annual step and scale increases; top of scale exceeds $80/hour. Boarding pay at 50% of hourly rate, per diems paid domestically and internationally, plus profit sharing (smaller than Delta's).
Income is taxed at this base, so compare the figure above against tax-free Gulf packages carefully: a smaller tax-free salary can be worth more in real terms. You fund your own housing, so local rent is the number that decides what this salary is really worth.
Accommodation
No housing support; crew commute on staff travel or share crashpads near base. Base assignment is by company need at hire, with transfers by seniority afterward.
American Airlines vs its North America rivals
| Airline | Entry $/mo | Senior $/mo | Tax-free |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlines | 2,500-3,300 | 5,200-7,000 | No |
| Southwest Airlines | 2,700-3,500 | 5,800-7,800 | No |
| Delta Air Lines | 2,600-3,400 | 5,500-7,500 | No |
| United Airlines | 2,600-3,400 | 5,500-7,800 | No |
| Alaska Airlines | 2,400-3,200 | 5,000-6,800 | No |
Is the money the right reason to pick this airline?
Tax-free money or home every night? Fast promotion or a calm roster? Seven questions, ranked against pay, lifestyle, career and hiring data.
Frequently asked questions
How much do American Airlines cabin crew earn per month?
New joiners take home roughly $2,500-$3,300 a month including flying pay. Senior crew reach about $5,200-$7,000.
Is American Airlines well paid compared with other airlines?
On entry-level pay it ranks 9 of the 59 airlines we index, about 41% above the global average in this index.
Does American Airlines provide accommodation?
No housing support; crew commute on staff travel or share crashpads near base. Base assignment is by company need at hire, with transfers by seniority afterward.
Figures are independent estimates in USD compiled from collective agreements, public reporting and crew-shared data, including typical flying pay at average block hours. They are not official American Airlines figures and actual offers vary with experience, fleet and roster. Reviewed 1 Sep 2026. Primary source, use it before this page: APFA collective bargaining agreement (pay scales). Editorial policy.