Delta Is Hiring Flight Attendants for 2027: Here's What They Pay

Quick Facts: Delta Flight Attendant Jobs for 2027

• Applications are open now for Delta's 2027 flight attendant classes

• Starting flight pay is $38.40 per hour

• Top flight pay is $86.32 per hour after 12 years

• The viral $140,000 figure is possible for some senior crew, but it's total compensation, not a guaranteed salary

• No college degree is required

• Applicants must be at least 21 years old

• You must be authorized to work in the U.S.

• Training lasts seven weeks in Atlanta

• There is no set application deadline

Delta Is Hiring Flight Attendants Again

Delta announced on September 2 that applications are open for its 2027 flight attendant classes, including both English-speaking and bilingual positions. And judging by the airline's warning that high application volume could lead to longer response times, plenty of people are already interested.

The pay is probably part of the reason. New Delta flight attendants start at $38.40 per flight hour, while the top rate climbs to $86.32 after 12 years. So yes, that $86-an-hour figure you've probably seen floating around online is real. You just won't be earning it on your first flight.

There is one important catch, though: flight attendant pay works differently from a traditional hourly job. That $86.32 rate is flight-hour pay, so you can't simply multiply it by a standard 40-hour workweek to estimate an annual salary.

Delta also pays flight attendants for boarding at 50% of their regular flight rate, while total compensation can include per diem, premium assignments, incentives, and profit sharing. Those extras help explain how some experienced crew members can end up with much larger annual paychecks.

Where the $140,000 Number Comes From

A recent Simple Flying report looked at how a highly experienced Delta flight attendant working as a purser could potentially reach around $140,000 in annual compensation. That's very different from Delta offering new hires a $140,000 salary.

That figure can include top-level flight pay, purser premiums, international flying, boarding pay, per diem, additional trips, and profit sharing. Seniority also gives experienced flight attendants more control over the routes and schedules they work, which can make a significant difference in total earnings.

So it's better to think of $140,000 as the upper end of what's possible after years with the airline, not what you'll be earning fresh out of training. Even so, it's a reminder that the long-term earning potential can be considerably higher than many people realize.

What New Delta Flight Attendants Actually Make

For anyone seriously considering applying, the starting rate is the more useful number. Delta's current pay scale begins at $38.40 per flight hour and increases substantially with seniority:

• Starting: $38.40

• After 1 year: $40.72

• After 3 years: $46.13

• After 5 years: $57.52

• After 8 years: $66.74

• After 10 years: $71.14

• After 11 years: $74.55

• After 12 years: $86.32

Delta says boarding pay adds an average of roughly 8% to annual earnings, while profit sharing and other incentives can push total compensation higher. In February 2026, the airline distributed $1.3 billion in profit sharing, equal to 8.9% of eligible annual earnings.

What You Need to Apply

One of the appealing things about this job is that you don't need previous flight attendant experience or a four-year college degree to apply. Delta requires applicants to:

• Be at least 21 years old

• Have a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent

• Be legally authorized to work in the United States

• Speak, read, and write English fluently

• Be willing to work weekends, holidays, overnight trips, and irregular schedules

• Have a valid passport with sufficient validity for international travel

Bilingual candidates can also apply for Delta's Language of Destination positions, which require proficiency in the language associated with the role.

What the Hiring Process Looks Like

Getting hired involves a few more steps than submitting an application and waiting for a call. Delta's current process includes:

• Online application

• Candidate assessment

• Values assessment

• On-demand video interview

• In-person Event Day in Atlanta

• Conditional job offer

• Pre-employment screening

• Seven weeks of onsite training

Candidates who receive a conditional offer must also complete required background and drug screenings. Base assignments come later and depend on where Delta needs flight attendants at the time.

Delta employees receive unlimited standby travel privileges anywhere Delta flies, along with discounts on confirmed airfare, hotels, rental cars, and other travel products. Benefits can also include health coverage, retirement contributions, paid vacation, profit sharing, and incentive programs.

Standby travel obviously isn't the same thing as having a guaranteed free seat whenever you feel like going to Paris, but for anyone who loves to travel, it's still a pretty excellent employee perk.

If you want a better sense of what the job is actually like, there are also plenty of videos from current and former Delta flight attendants sharing their experiences with training, schedules, layovers, and day-to-day life on the job.

Image Credit: Delta Airlines Flight Careers, Delta flight attendants share their own experiences with the job, giving prospective applicants a closer look at life in the role.

Pirate Tip: Apply Sooner Rather Than Later

Delta hasn't set a deadline for this hiring round. Instead, the airline says the posting can close once it receives enough applications, and it's already warning candidates that high volume could mean longer response times. So if you're seriously considering it, this isn't one to leave sitting in an open tab for a few weeks. Apply for Delta's 2027 flight attendant position here.

The $86.32-per-flight-hour figure may be getting the most attention, but new hires start at $38.40 per flight hour and work their way up from there. Boarding pay, profit sharing, travel benefits, and other compensation can make the overall package even more attractive over time.

You won't leave training earning $140,000 a year, but for anyone who's been thinking seriously about a career in the air, this is a good time to get an application in.

Frequently Asked Questions: Delta Flight Attendant Jobs for 2027

Is Delta hiring flight attendants for 2027?

Yes. Delta announced that applications are open for upcoming 2027 flight attendant classes.

How much do Delta flight attendants make starting out?

Delta's current starting flight-hour rate is $38.40.

Do Delta flight attendants really make $86 an hour?

Yes. Senior Delta flight attendants at the top of the current pay scale earn $86.32 per flight hour after 12 years.

Can a Delta flight attendant make $140,000 a year?

Some highly experienced flight attendants may reach that level of total annual compensation depending on seniority, schedule, premium pay, per diem, profit sharing, and other compensation. It is not a starting salary.

Do you need a college degree to become a Delta flight attendant?

No. Delta requires a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent.

How old do you have to be to apply?

Applicants must be at least 21 years old.

Do you need previous flight attendant experience?

No previous flight attendant experience is listed as a minimum requirement.

How long is Delta flight attendant training?

Training lasts seven weeks and takes place onsite in Atlanta.

Do Delta flight attendants get free flights?

Employees receive unlimited standby travel privileges anywhere Delta flies.

When do applications close?

There is no fixed closing date. Delta can close the posting once it receives enough applicants.

Where can I apply?

Applications are available through Delta's official careers site.