Aircraft Service Attendants
Also called: Aircraft Cleaner, Aircraft Deicer, Aircraft Detailer, Aircraft Fueler, Aircraft Refueler, Aircraft Technical Cleaner, Airfield Maintenance Equipment Operator, Airline Refueler
Service aircraft with fuel.
What aircraft service attendants do
Typical tasks
- Guide aircraft to designated areas using hand signals, batons, or other methods.
- Radio to flight dispatchers or other personnel to discuss incoming or outgoing aircraft.
- Complete forms describing tasks completed.
- Apply de-icing fluid to aircraft from baskets lifted by truck-mounted cranes.
- Tow aircraft to gates or hangars using tugs, tractors, or other vehicles.
- Refuel aircraft using hoses connected to fuel trucks.
- Empty aircraft lavatory systems or refill them with sanitizer fluid.
- Load baggage or cargo for crew or passengers.
- Inspect aircraft components to locate cracks, breaks, leaks, or other problems.
- Climb ladders to reach aircraft surfaces to be cleaned.
- Refill aircraft potable water tanks.
Typical path into the job (BLS)
Aircraft Service Attendants salary
The median annual wage for aircraft service attendants is $40,450 (BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, national). The lowest 10 percent earn less than $33,830 and the highest 10 percent earn more than $57,610. The mean annual wage is $43,330.
The mean hourly wage of $20.00 is 2.8× the federal minimum wage of $7.25. State minimums are higher in most large states. Minimum wage by state →
How does your pay compare with people your age?
Your numbers are not sent or stored. The comparison uses this occupation's BLS wage percentiles, adjusted for age with BLS median weekly earnings by age group (Q3 2026).
Pay by percentile
Annual wage percentiles from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Percentiles are a good proxy for pay by experience.
Projected pay for Aircraft Service Attendants (3, 5 and 10 years)est.
Today $40,450 → in 3 years $44,300 → in 5 years $47,100 → in 10 years $54,900 (10-year range $47,200–$63,700). The model assumes pay growth of +3.1% per year.
What drives the annual growth rate
Projected pay = current pay × (1 + annual growth)^years. The annual growth rate starts from a base wage-growth rate and adds or subtracts labor demand (BLS projected employment growth), wage momentum and AI replacement risk for each occupation. Projections are not guarantees. How it is calculated →
Outlook score for Aircraft Service Attendants
Each component is a percentile rank among all occupations in the same country (0–100). Weights: labor demand 25, wage momentum / openings 15, pay level 15, AI resistance 25, aging workforce 10 (Japan only), entry barrier 10.
Will AI replace Aircraft Service Attendants? AI replacement risk
How AI is changing this job
A written analysis for this occupation is being prepared.
AI replacement risk compares the parts of a job that are easy to hand to AI or software (processing information, documentation, repetitive computer work) with the parts that are hard to automate (physical work, working closely with people, judgment in unpredictable settings), using O*NET work activities, work context, skills and knowledge. The result is a relative position among all occupations in the country, scaled to 0–100%. Methodology →
Labor demand for Aircraft Service Attendants
Employment projections are from the BLS Employment Projections program (2025–35). Annual openings include both new jobs and replacement of workers who leave the occupation.
Skills, education and requirements for Aircraft Service Attendants
Key skills
O*NET skill level ratings (0–7).
Key knowledge areas
What the work involves
Important abilities
Training before entry
Related work experience
Job Zone 2 — some preparation needed (O*NET)
Difficulty of entry: ★☆☆☆☆ Easy to enter (from education, training, experience and Job Zone)
How to become aircraft service attendants
A step-by-step guide for this occupation is being prepared. The education, training and experience data above show the typical path.
Career path and how to earn more as aircraft service attendants
Career-path guidance is being prepared. Pay by percentile is shown in the Pay section.