Flight Attendant Salary in Oak Park, IL: $62,200 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time flight attendant in Oak Park, IL earns a median $62,200/year (≈ $29.90/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 53-2031). Once you factor in Oak Park's price level (3% below national, BEA RPP 97.1), that paycheck buys what $64,058 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.7% below the Illinois state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
With a projected median annual salary of $62,200 for 2026, flight attendants in Oak Park, IL, find their income closely tied to a seniority-based pay scale that rewards years of service. Those just starting out may earn as little as $36,076, while experienced attendants could see salaries rise to as high as $96,410. These figures reflect estimates based on 2025 BLS data, adjusted to account for local economic conditions and the cost of living in Oak Park. Compared to the national median salary of $64,527, pay in Oak Park falls slightly short, revealing a localized market that still offers competitive opportunities for those pursuing a career in aviation.
About the Oak Park Market
Salary estimated from Illinois average ($72,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $36,076 | $17.34 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $52,413 | $25.20 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $62,200 | $29.90 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $79,616 | $38.27 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $96,410 | $46.35 |
Median Salary Position
3.61% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Oak Park
In Oak Park, IL, the flight attendant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $60,334 (2026 est.). At $62,200, the local median is 3.61% below the national median of $64,527.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Oak Park: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Oak Park Flight Attendant Pay Compares
Oak Park median: $62,200/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Oak Park Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois Average | $62,639 | -0.70% less |
| National Average | $64,527 | -3.61% less |
Flight Attendants in Oak Park, IL earn a median of $62,200 per year (2026 est.), which is 3.61% lower than the national median of $64,527 and 0.70% below the Illinois state average of $62,639.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Oak Park has a cost of living 2.90% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Oak Park, IL has a cost-of-living index of 97.1 (below the national average of 100). A flight attendant earning $62,200 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $64,058 in an average-cost city — an effective 2.99% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$54,597
2025 BLS Actual
$61,287
2026 Current Est.
$62,200
2019–2027 Growth
+15.6%
Salary Trajectory for Flight Attendants in Oak Park (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 1.49% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $54,597 | Actual |
| 2020 | $56,920 | Actual |
| 2021 | $59,417 | Actual |
| 2022 | $61,461 | Actual |
| 2023 | $65,904 | Actual |
| 2024 | $69,404 | Actual |
| 2025 | $61,287 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $62,200 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $63,127 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Oak Park metropolitan area, the median flight attendant salary grew 12.3% from $54,597 (2019) to $61,287 (2025). At a 1.49% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $63,127 by 2027 — a total increase of $8,530 (15.62%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Oak Park metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 1.49% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $36,076 – $52,413 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $52,413 – $62,200 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $62,200 – $79,616 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $79,616 – $96,410 |
FA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual flight attendant compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Flight Attendant Job Market in Oak Park
The job market for flight attendants in Oak Park is characterized by a modest number of positions, with only 10 flight attendants currently employed in the area. The cost of living index stands at 97.1, which is below the national average, meaning that take-home pay can stretch further for those in the community. Major airlines like United and American typically pay on the higher end of the scale, whereas regional carriers and low-cost airlines may offer lower wages, reflecting varying levels of experience and responsibilities. The disparity in wages is influenced by factors such as seniority, the international long-haul premium, and additional stipends for language proficiency or special roles. Aspiring flight attendants in Oak Park can maximize their pay by prioritizing major carriers, seeking international routes, and accumulating block hours that lead to steady income increases over time.
More salary data for Oak Park, IL:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by Emily Johnson, AFA-CWA
Career Analyst
Emily Johnson has 10 years of experience as a flight attendant. She specializes in passenger safety and service. She has worked for major airlines in the United States.
Methodology & Data Source
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $61,287 for flight attendantsin the Oak Park metropolitan area. A 1.49% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Salary data for Oak Park is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.49%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for flight attendants (SOC 53-2031).
Compiled and verified by Emily Johnson, AFA-CWA, a licensed flight attendant with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov