Airlines / United Airlines / Salary
United Airlines cabin crew salary
What United 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
$2,600-$3,400
Rank 6 of 59 indexed airlines
Senior crew · per month
$5,500-$7,800
+122% over an entry-level package
vs the North America average
+14%
Regional average entry pay: $2,638
vs the global index average
+46%
Index average entry pay: $2,054
How the pay is built
2026 AFA contract: ~31% average raise, first-year rates in the high-$30s per flight hour, top of scale climbing past $100/hour by 2031; boarding pay at 50% of hourly rate adds roughly 7–8% to paychecks, plus international 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 or allowance; commuting on staff travel is widespread and crashpads near Newark, SFO and Chicago are an established sublet economy.
United Airlines vs its North America rivals
| Airline | Entry $/mo | Senior $/mo | Tax-free |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlines | 2,600-3,400 | 5,500-7,800 | No |
| Southwest Airlines | 2,700-3,500 | 5,800-7,800 | No |
| Delta Air Lines | 2,600-3,400 | 5,500-7,500 | 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 United Airlines cabin crew earn per month?
New joiners take home roughly $2,600-$3,400 a month including flying pay. Senior crew reach about $5,500-$7,800.
Is United Airlines well paid compared with other airlines?
On entry-level pay it ranks 6 of the 59 airlines we index, about 46% above the global average in this index.
Does United Airlines provide accommodation?
No housing or allowance; commuting on staff travel is widespread and crashpads near Newark, SFO and Chicago are an established sublet economy.
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 United Airlines figures and actual offers vary with experience, fleet and roster.