Originally Posted by
ashill
Never mind flight attendants; regional airline pilots have a typical starting salary around $20k, though it does rise pretty quickly with experience. (
source) I don’t believe state minimum wage laws apply to flight and cabin crew, and as noted the hours that count as on the clock are a small fraction of the hours crew are required to be at work, especially for short flights (since ground time between flights is generally unpaid even though it’s not like they can go home).
The poverty wages don’t make the FA behavior you described acceptable, though.
your source on pilot pay is 7 years old.
A brand new FO at Compass is making around 50,000 a year minimum. Flight attendants are obviously paid less but for many it's an entry-level job with benefits including flights on Delta and American. As you know, it's not covered by state wage-and-hour laws.
Personally, I'd be happy if the long-haul 777 fleet out of LAX was staffed by Compass flight attendants!