Steward/stewardess
Also known as: stewardess, flight attendant, cabin crew, steward
About this occupation
Stewards/stewardesses perform food and beverage service activities on all land, sea and air travel services.
Essential skills and knowledge
- greet guests
- handle customer complaints
- maintain customer service
- comply with food safety and hygiene
- serve food in table service
- handle financial transactions
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Flight Attendants (O*NET 53-2031.00). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- Verify that first aid kits and other emergency equipment, including fire extinguishers and oxygen bottles, are in working order.
- Announce and demonstrate safety and emergency procedures, such as the use of oxygen masks, seat belts, and life jackets.
- Monitor passenger behavior to identify threats to the safety of the crew and other passengers.
- Walk aisles of planes to verify that passengers have complied with federal regulations prior to takeoffs and landings.
- Direct and assist passengers in emergency procedures, such as evacuating a plane following an emergency landing.
- Prepare passengers and aircraft for landing, following procedures.
- Typical education (US)
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
- Preparation
- Job Zone 2 of 5
- Interests
- Conventional, Social, Realistic
Top skills: Speaking, Active Listening, Monitoring, Social Perceptiveness, Service Orientation, Coordination
US median pay: US$63,580 a year (2025), 131,650 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- English or Literature in EnglishO*NET: English LanguageVery important (4.5)
- PsychologyO*NET: PsychologyImportant (3.3)
- GeographyO*NET: GeographyImportant (3.3)
- Computer StudiesO*NET: Computers and ElectronicsImportant (3.2)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Most common education (US)
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
- 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.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
- Passenger Attendants
- Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks
- First-Line Supervisors of Passenger Attendants
- Airfield Operations Specialists
- Baggage Porters and Bellhops
- Transportation Security Screeners
- Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors
- Air Traffic Controllers
- Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers
- Locker Room, Coatroom, and Dressing Room Attendants
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.