Airlines / Southwest Airlines / Salary
Southwest Airlines cabin crew salary
What Southwest 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
$2,700-$3,500
Rank 3 of 59 indexed airlines
Senior crew · per month
$5,800-$7,800
+119% over an entry-level package
vs the North America average
+18%
Regional average entry pay: $2,625
vs the global index average
+51%
Index average entry pay: $2,054
How the pay is built
Paid per trip-for-pay (TFP) rather than block hours, which rewards efficient multi-leg days; first-year ~$36.92/TFP rising to $84+ at top of scale with 3% annual bumps through 2027, plus per diems and profit sharing.
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; the domestic network and eleven bases make living in base more achievable than at legacy carriers, and commuting remains common and accepted.
Southwest Airlines vs its North America rivals
| Airline | Entry $/mo | Senior $/mo | Tax-free |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| American Airlines | 2,500-3,300 | 5,200-7,000 | 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 Southwest Airlines cabin crew earn per month?
New joiners take home roughly $2,700-$3,500 a month including flying pay. Senior crew reach about $5,800-$7,800.
Is Southwest Airlines well paid compared with other airlines?
On entry-level pay it ranks 3 of the 59 airlines we index, about 51% above the global average in this index.
Does Southwest Airlines provide accommodation?
No housing; the domestic network and eleven bases make living in base more achievable than at legacy carriers, and commuting remains common and accepted.
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 Southwest Airlines figures and actual offers vary with experience, fleet and roster.