Flight Attendant Salary in Daly City, CA: $74,905 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time flight attendant in Daly City, CA earns a median $74,905/year (≈ $36.01/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 53-2031). Once you factor in Daly City's price level (13% above national, BEA RPP 113.1), that paycheck buys what $66,229 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 2.6% above the California state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Daly City, California, flight attendants earn a projected median annual salary of $74,905 for the year 2026. This compensation is notably higher than the national median of $64,527, marking a robust 16.08% increase. Salaries in this market range from $43,445 at the lower end to $116,103 for top earners. These figures, derived from 2025 BLS data and adjusted for regional price parity, reflect a competitive pay structure influenced by the structural choices of employment; major airlines typically provide higher salaries compared to regional and low-cost carriers. With the aviation sector's continued recovery, Daly City's position near major transportation hubs is likely to further enhance job opportunities and salary potential for flight attendants.
About the Daly City Market
Salary estimated from California average ($85,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $43,445 | $20.89 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $59,243 | $28.48 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $74,905 | $36.01 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $95,878 | $46.10 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $116,103 | $55.82 |
Median Salary Position
16.08% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Daly City
In Daly City, CA, the flight attendant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $72,658 (2026 est.). At $74,905, the local median is 16.08% above the national median of $64,527.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Daly City: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Daly City Flight Attendant Pay Compares
Daly City median: $74,905/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Daly City Pays |
|---|---|---|
| California Average | $73,007 | +2.60% more |
| National Average | $64,527 | +16.08% more |
Flight Attendants in Daly City, CA earn a median of $74,905 per year (2026 est.), which is 16.08% higher than the national median of $64,527 and 2.60% above the California state average of $73,007.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Daly City has a cost of living 13.10% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Daly City, CA has a cost-of-living index of 113.1 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $74,905 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $66,229 — a 11.58% reduction.
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2019 BLS Actual
$65,749
2025 BLS Actual
$73,805
2026 Current Est.
$74,905
2019–2027 Growth
+15.6%
Salary Trajectory for Flight Attendants in Daly City (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 1.49% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $65,749 | Actual |
| 2020 | $68,546 | Actual |
| 2021 | $71,553 | Actual |
| 2022 | $74,014 | Actual |
| 2023 | $79,365 | Actual |
| 2024 | $98,669 | Actual |
| 2025 | $73,805 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $74,905 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $76,021 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Daly City metropolitan area, the median flight attendant salary grew 12.3% from $65,749 (2019) to $73,805 (2025). At a 1.49% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $76,021 by 2027 — a total increase of $10,272 (15.62%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Daly City metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 1.49% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $43,445 – $59,243 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $59,243 – $74,905 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $74,905 – $95,878 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $95,878 – $116,103 |
FA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual flight attendant compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Flight Attendant Job Market in Daly City
Despite the favorable salary projections, flight attendants in Daly City must consider the local cost-of-living index, which sits at 113.1. This index indicates a higher-than-average expense for housing, groceries, and other daily necessities, impacting take-home purchasing power. With only 20 flight attendants employed in the area, competition for positions can be fierce, necessitating a strategic approach to maximizing earnings. Major US carriers, like Delta and United, tend to pay more than their regional counterparts, but each airline's compensation varies significantly based on seniority, international flying premiums, and additional factors like language proficiency stipends. To best enhance earning potential in Daly City, flight attendants should focus on accruing seniority, seeking international assignments when possible, and negotiating schedules that minimize unpaid duty time.
More salary data for Daly City, CA:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by Emily Johnson, AFA-CWA
Career Analyst
Emily Johnson has 10 years of experience as a flight attendant. She specializes in passenger safety and service. She has worked for major airlines in the United States.
Methodology & Data Source
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $73,805 for flight attendantsin the Daly City metropolitan area. A 1.49% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Salary data for Daly City is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.49%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for flight attendants (SOC 53-2031).
Compiled and verified by Emily Johnson, AFA-CWA, a licensed flight attendant with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov