Flight Attendant Salary in Arlington Heights, IL: $61,659 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time flight attendant in Arlington Heights, IL earns a median $61,659/year (≈ $29.65/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 53-2031). Once you factor in Arlington Heights's price level (3% below national, BEA RPP 97.1), that paycheck buys what $63,501 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 1.6% below the Illinois state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Arlington Heights, Illinois, the projected median flight attendant salary for 2026 is set at $61,659, which reflects a slight decrease compared to the national average of $64,527. The earning potential for flight attendants in the area varies significantly, ranging from $36,153 at the lower end (10th percentile) to $95,572 at the upper end (90th percentile). These figures, derived from 2025 BLS data and adjusted for regional cost-of-living variations, indicate that flight attendants working for major airlines tend to command higher salaries compared to those at regional carriers or low-cost airlines based on operational complexities and routes. This makes Arlington Heights a moderately competitive market for flight attendants, particularly for those aligned with major airlines offering structured pay divisions by seniority.
About the Arlington Heights Market
Salary estimated from Illinois average ($72,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $36,153 | $17.39 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $51,312 | $24.67 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $61,659 | $29.65 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $78,924 | $37.95 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $95,572 | $45.94 |
Median Salary Position
4.44% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Arlington Heights
In Arlington Heights, IL, the flight attendant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $59,419 (2026 est.). At $61,659, the local median is 4.44% below the national median of $64,527.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Arlington Heights: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Arlington Heights Flight Attendant Pay Compares
Arlington Heights median: $61,659/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Arlington Heights Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois Average | $62,662 | -1.60% less |
| National Average | $64,527 | -4.44% less |
Flight Attendants in Arlington Heights, IL earn a median of $61,659 per year (2026 est.), which is 4.44% lower than the national median of $64,527 and 1.60% below the Illinois state average of $62,662.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Arlington Heights has a cost of living 2.90% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Arlington Heights, IL has a cost-of-living index of 97.1 (below the national average of 100). A flight attendant earning $61,659 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $63,501 in an average-cost city — an effective 2.99% boost.
Compare Purchasing Power
Select a city to see how your salary compares after cost of living
Select a city above to compare purchasing power
2019 BLS Actual
$54,122
2025 BLS Actual
$60,754
2026 Current Est.
$61,659
2019–2027 Growth
+15.6%
Salary Trajectory for Flight Attendants in Arlington Heights (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 1.49% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $54,122 | Actual |
| 2020 | $56,425 | Actual |
| 2021 | $58,900 | Actual |
| 2022 | $60,926 | Actual |
| 2023 | $65,331 | Actual |
| 2024 | $68,800 | Actual |
| 2025 | $60,754 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $61,659 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $62,578 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Arlington Heights metropolitan area, the median flight attendant salary grew 12.3% from $54,122 (2019) to $60,754 (2025). At a 1.49% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $62,578 by 2027 — a total increase of $8,456 (15.62%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Arlington Heights 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) | $36,153 – $51,312 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $51,312 – $61,659 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $61,659 – $78,924 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $78,924 – $95,572 |
FA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual flight attendant compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Flight Attendant Job Market in Arlington Heights
With only 18 flight attendants employed in Arlington Heights, competition for positions can be intense yet rewarding. The cost of living index for the area is 97.1, which signifies a slightly lower cost of living compared to the national average. This can enhance the purchasing power of flight attendants’ salaries, albeit still below national benchmarks. Major carriers like American and United typically offer the highest compensation, particularly for experienced flight attendants who benefit from seniority-based pay scales. Factors such as long-haul international routes and language proficiency can further increase earning potential, as these roles often attract premium salaries. For those looking to maximize earning potential in this market, pursuing credentials for international service or seeking roles within higher-paying corporate aviation sectors may hold advantages.
More salary data for Arlington Heights, IL:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do flight attendants make in Arlington Heights, IL in 2026?
Is Arlington Heights, IL a good place to work as a flight attendant?
Can flight attendants make $100K in Arlington Heights?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted flight attendant salary in Arlington Heights?
How much does a flight attendant make per hour in Arlington Heights?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in Illinois
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 $60,754 for flight attendantsin the Arlington Heights 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 Arlington Heights 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