How Much Can a Senior Cabin Crew Earn?
Posted on : 5 December, 2025 11:23 am
Many students who dream of becoming cabin crew often ask: How much will I earn in this career? The answer depends on your position & experience. When you start as a junior cabin crew, the salary is good, but once you become a senior cabin crew, your income increases a lot.
Who Is a Senior Cabin Crew?
A senior cabin crew is someone who has more experience & responsibility than a regular crew member. They are also called pursers in charge or lead flight attendants depending on the airline.
Their duties include:
- Leading the cabin crew team.
- Making sure safety procedures are followed.
- Handling VIP or difficult passengers.
- Coordinating with the captain & pilots.
- Managing services like food, drinks & passenger comfort.
Because of these extra responsibilities, senior cabin crew members are paid higher salaries.
Average Salary in India
In India, the salary of a senior cabin crew usually ranges between ₹60,000 to ₹1,20,000 per month.
- Domestic Airlines like IndiGo, Air India Express, SpiceJet Around ₹60,000 to ₹80,000 per month.
- International Airlines like Emirates, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines Around ₹1,00,000 to ₹2,00,000 per month or even more.
This shows that international airlines often pay higher, especially because of long flights and overseas allowances.
Additional Benefits
Apart from the salary, senior cabin crew enjoy many extra benefits:
- Free or discounted air tickets for themselves & sometimes for family.
- Layover allowances when they stay in foreign countries.
- Hotel stays & meals paid for by the airline.
- Medical insurance & retirement benefits.
- Extra pay for working on holidays, weekends or night shifts.
These benefits make the overall income much higher than just the basic salary.
Factors That Affect Salary
The exact earning of a senior cabin crew depends on several things:
- Airline: International airlines usually pay more than domestic ones.
- Experience: The more years of flying, the higher the salary.
- Routes: Long haul international routes pay more than short domestic flights.
- Position: Senior pursers or in charge crew earn the maximum.
Career Growth
Students should also know that becoming a senior cabin crew is not the final step. With more experience, you can grow further in your career:
- Cabin Crew Supervisor
- In flight Manager
- Training Instructor
- Ground Staff Manager
Each promotion comes with more responsibilities & a higher salary.
Why Senior Cabin Crew Earn More
The reason senior cabin crew earn a good salary is because of the responsibility they carry. They are the leaders inside the aircraft, making sure both passengers & crew are safe & comfortable. Airlines value this role highly & reward them with higher pay.
So, how much can a senior cabin crew earn? In India, they usually earn between ₹60,000 to ₹1,20,000 per month, while international airlines may pay even more than ₹2,00,000 per month with allowances. Along with free travel, layover benefits & career growth, the income makes this profession very attractive.
For students, the key message is: hard work & experience pay off. If you start your journey as a cabin crew & keep learning, within a few years you can become a senior cabin crew & enjoy a rewarding salary along with the chance to see the world.