How to become a passenger attendant
Provide services to ensure the safety of passengers aboard ships, buses, trains, or within the station or terminal. Perform duties such as explaining the use of safety equipment, serving meals or beverages, or answering questions related to travel.
Steps to get there
Most employers expect usually requires a high school diploma or ged, though some occupations may not..Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
What passenger attendants do
- Explain and demonstrate safety procedures and safety equipment use.
- Determine or facilitate seating arrangements.
- Greet passengers boarding transportation equipment and announce routes and stops.
- Provide boarding assistance to elderly, sick, or injured people.
- Perform equipment safety checks prior to departure.
- Signal transportation operators to stop or to proceed.
Skills that matter most
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Monitoring
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Learning
- Writing
- Learning Strategies
Is passenger attendant a good career?
On the numbers, this job is close to the average across occupations. Median pay is 26% below the all-occupation median. Whether it fits you depends on the work itself, the schooling you are willing to do and where you want to live.
Where it pays most
- Alaska $54,290
- District of Columbia $52,730
- Massachusetts $43,350
- California $43,340
- Hawaii $42,360
Passenger Attendants salary by state and city
Sources: O*NET® 31.0 (CC BY 4.0, USDOL/ETA) and BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025.