Flight attendants are the members of the flight crew that passengers probably interact with the most. They ensure passengers are comfortable, and they must be prepared to respond to safety issues that may arise during the flight.

Before each trip, flight attendants inspect emergency equipment. They instruct passengers on safety procedures, such as how to use an oxygen mask or how to evacuate the airplane; demonstrate how to use seat belts; and ensure passengers fasten their seat belts prior to takeoff.

“Our duties begin when we first board an aircraft and ensure all of the aircraft’s required emergency equipment is on board,” says Allison Pereira, a Philadelphia-based flight attendant for American Airlines. “Many customers do not realize that we are almost always the first responders to any situation onboard.”

During travel, flight attendants take care of customer service-related needs, including serving meals, snacks and drinks and facilitating in-flight purchases if part of the airline’s service. Flight attendants may reassure anxious passengers during turbulence and are responsible for keeping the peace while in the air, which means sometimes dealing with unruly passengers.

“Safety and service are not mutually exclusive,” says Chieri Beers, who has more than two decades of experience as a United Airlines flight attendant and now trains flight attendants. “If you’re interested in being a flight attendant, service should be your passion, and safety your priority. Flight attendants are responsible for the safety of customers onboard the aircraft and providing best in class customer service.”

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 11.4% employment growth for flight attendants between 2022 and 2032. In that period, an estimated 12,600 jobs should open up.

Airlines require flight attendants to have at least a high school or GED diploma and prefer candidates with work experience at a hotel or resort or another line of work that involves dealing with the public, such as retail sales.

“It’s important to remember that there are no previous experience requirements that any one applicant must have in order to receive a conditional offer,” Pereira says.

Once hired, flight attendants must complete a training course through their airline. This training usually takes place in one of the airlines’ hubs or base cities, and it must be certified by the Federal Aviation Administration. Flight attendants also must complete an annual recertification process.

“It is definitely a challenging experience. However, every component is necessary in order to be adequately prepared for the job,” Pereira says. “We practice and train on a variety of aircraft for many scenarios. We even train on water evacuations in a large pool.”

Airlines may require flight attendant candidates to pass a physical examination, as the job has some physical demands. For example, flight attendants must be able to kneel and reach, lift heavy objects so they can put luggage in an overhead bin, and push or pull heavy objects like a beverage cart.

Flight attendants also must be eligible to fly freely within the U.S. and any other countries served by their airline.

As their careers progress, flight attendants have the opportunity to take on supervisory, recruiting and training roles.