Ground Attendant Salary in the United States

How much does a Ground Attendant make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Ground Attendant in the United States is $34,661 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $17.

However, a Ground Attendant's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $39,509
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $32,041 to $37,199
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $29,656

Key Factors That Influence Ground Attendant Salaries

A Ground Attendant's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Ground Attendant Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Ground Attendant's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $35,207
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $39,323
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $57,484
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $85,920
  • Expert (over 8 years): $105,084
Levels Salary
Ground At... Level Ground Attendant$35,207
Diet Tech... Level Ground Attendant$39,323
Dietitian... Level Ground Attendant$57,484
Dietitian... Level Ground Attendant$85,920
Dietitian... Level Ground Attendant$105,084

Top Paying Cities for Ground Attendants

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $43,718
  • San Francisco: $43,239
  • Oakland: $42,328

What Skills Can Increase a Ground Attendant's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 7.92% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Food Handling (Mentioned in 4.38% Job Postings): Food Handling means one or more operations of food production, manufacture, offering or displaying for sale, storage, preserving, wrapping, transportation, delivery, importation, exportation, or the licensing or approval for any of such activities.
  • Foodservice (Mentioned in 1.65% Job Postings): The foodservice or catering industry includes the businesses, institutions, and companies which prepare meals outside the home. It includes restaurants, school and hospital cafeterias, catering operations, and many other formats.
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 7.92%
Food Handling 4.38%
Foodservice 1.65%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Ground Attendant's salary.

  • Analysis: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
  • Commitment: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Written Communication: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Analysis $39,167
13%
Commitment $37,087
7%
Written Communication $36,741
6%

Ground Attendant Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Ground Attendant roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 30% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit, offers compensation 15% above the average. Conversely, Ground Attendant positions in Business Services typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Ground Attendant as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Ground Attendant

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit$39,860$19.015%

How Education impacts a Ground Attendant's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Ground Attendants enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Ground Attendant with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $31,759 and $33,534).

Ground Attendant Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Ground Attendant
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 20.0%
High School 20.0%
Associates 20.0%
Bachelors 60.0%
Masters 20.0%
Doctorate 0.0%

Ground Attendant Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Ground Attendant's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$32,041
Average $34,661/year
$37,199
$2,670
Average $2,888/month
$3,100
$616
Average $667/week
$715
$15
Average $17/hour
$18
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $37,199 $3,100 $715 $18
Average $34,661 $2,888 $667 $17
25th Percentile $32,041 $2,670 $616 $15

Most common benefits for Ground Attendant

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Ground Attendant

Here are companies hiring for Ground Attendant and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Ground Attendant

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Ground Attendant?

The Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit industry offers the highest average compensation for Ground Attendant roles, with salaries approximately 15% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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