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Salary comparison

Flight Attendants vs. Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand: Who Earns More?

Flight Attendants out-earn Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand by $23K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Flight Attendants land at $63,580 and Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand at $40,240. The education gap is real: flight attendant programs typically require no formal educational credential, while laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand programs require no formal educational credential. Top-paying state for Flight Attendants is New York ($126,650); for Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand it's Minnesota ($46,280).

Flight Attendants
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand
Median salary
$63,580
$40,240
Hourly rate
$null/hr
$19.35/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$35,110
$31,270
Senior level (90th %)
$136,430
$55,140
Education required
No formal educational credential
No formal educational credential
U.S. employment
131,650
2,950,280
Job growth (10-year)
9.2%
1.5%
Category
Transportation
Transportation
Top-paying state
New York
Minnesota

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Flight Attendants median pay.

State
Flight Attendants
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand
New York
$126,650
$44,630
Utah
$82,730
$42,370
California
$82,170
$44,710
Connecticut
$78,180
$43,640
Washington
$74,090
$46,190
Ohio
$62,440
$39,460
Idaho
$62,200
$39,900
Illinois
$62,120
$40,550
Arizona
$61,780
$44,290
Massachusetts
$61,510
$44,920
Oregon
$61,480
$44,750
Minnesota
$61,230
$46,280
Colorado
$59,500
$45,370
Nevada
$51,800
$39,350
Pennsylvania
$39,520
$42,480

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Flight Attendants or Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand?

Flight Attendants earn more nationally. The median is $63,580 for Flight Attendants versus $40,240 for Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand, a difference of $23K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Flight Attendants or Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand?

Flight Attendants has the better 10-year outlook at 9.2% projected growth, compared to 1.5% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Flight Attendants or Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand?

Flight Attendants typically requires no formal educational credential. Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand requires no formal educational credential. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Flight Attendants get paid the most?

New York is the top-paying state for Flight Attendants at $126,650/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Flight Attendants vs. Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In New York, Flight Attendants earn $126,650 vs. $44,630 for Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Flight Attendants salary breakdownView →Full Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand salary breakdownView →Best cities for Flight Attendants by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand by take-home payExplore →How to become a flight attendantsGuide →How to become a laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, handGuide →