Passenger Attendants
SOC code 53-6061 · O*NET-SOC 53-6061.00 · Little to some preparation needed · Transportation
Bright Outlook — O*NET expects rapid growth for this occupation
Passenger Attendants pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$37,720
a year
Hourly
$18.14
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$37,820
$18.18 per hour
Middle 50%
$31,240 – $41,680
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$27,970 – $46,590
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
27,110
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $27,970
- $13.45/hr
- 25th percentile
- $31,240
- $15.02/hr
- Median percentile
- $37,720
- $18.14/hr
- 75th percentile
- $41,680
- $20.04/hr
- 90th percentile
- $46,590
- $22.40/hr
What does a passenger attendant do?
Provide services to ensure the safety of passengers aboard ships, buses, trains, or within the station or terminal. Perform duties such as explaining the use of safety equipment, serving meals or beverages, or answering questions related to travel.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- Perform equipment safety checks prior to departure.
- Explain and demonstrate safety procedures and safety equipment use.
- Provide customers with information on routes, gates, prices, timetables, terminals, or concourses.
- Signal transportation operators to stop or to proceed.
- Secure passengers for transportation by buckling seatbelts or fastening wheelchairs with tie-down straps.
- Respond to passengers' questions, requests, or complaints.
- Determine or facilitate seating arrangements.
- Count and verify tickets and seat reservations and record numbers of passengers boarding and disembarking.
How to become a passenger attendant
Preparation level: zone 2 — Little to some preparation needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
The federal survey did not capture education levels for this specific occupation, so the preparation-level card above is the best guide to the entry route.
Common questions
How much does a passenger attendant earn?
The national median is $37,720 a year. The full range runs from $27,970 at the 10th percentile to $46,590 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a passenger attendant without a degree?
Yes — this occupation sits in preparation zone 2, meaning the typical entry route is usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not. A four-year degree is not the standard requirement, though licensing or certification may still apply.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Active Listening3.8/5
- Speaking3.8/5
- Monitoring3.3/5
- Critical Thinking3.0/5
- Reading Comprehension2.9/5
- Active Learning2.9/5
Knowledge areas
- Transportation4.4/5
- Customer and Personal Service3.9/5
- Public Safety and Security3.8/5
- Personnel and Human Resources2.9/5
- English Language2.7/5
Transferable strengths: Social Perceptiveness, Service Orientation, Persuasion, Instructing.