Pursers and Flight Attendants
(NOC 6522)
in All Sales and ServiceAirline pursers and flight attendants ensure the safety and comfort of passengers and crew members during flights. Airline pursers and flight attendants work for airline companies. Ship pursers attend to the safety and comfort of passengers aboard ships. Ship pursers work for tour boat or cruise ship companies.
Job Outlook
Undetermined
Read more
Compared to: All Sales and Service
Hourly Pay
$14.50
Minimum$21.90
Median$26.00
MaximumAnnual Pay
$14,485
Minimum$51,395
Median$71,525
MaximumCompared to: All Sales and Service
Hourly Pay
$12.95
Minimum$15.00
Median$25.60
MaximumAnnual Pay
$2,949
Minimum$16,629
Median$45,086
MaximumAbout the job
Nature of work
Airline pursers and flight attendants ensure the safety and comfort of passengers and crew members during flights. Airline pursers and flight attendants work for airline companies. Ship pursers attend to the safety and comfort of passengers aboard ships. Ship pursers work for tour boat or cruise ship companies.
Job duties
Flight attendants:
- Greet passengers, explain and demonstrate safety procedures, check the general condition of the aircraft cabin, ensure that all necessary supplies are on board.
- Attend to safety of passengers during take-offs, landings, and emergencies.
- Serve food and beverages to passengers and make flight announcements.
Flight pursers, customer service directors and passenger service directors:
- Coordinate the activities of flight attendants, provide service to passengers during flight and complete reports.
Ship pursers:
- Supervise ship attendants and arrange activities for passengers.
- Conduct ship's business like signing on crew, maintaining payroll records, assisting passengers in preparing customs declarations, and supervising baggage storage.
Sample job titles
- airline purser
- flight attendant
- flight purser
- in-flight service manager
- purser - water transport
- ship supply officer
Skills
- You should be poised, organized, tactful, and patient. You must be able to work long hours in confined spaces and be able to cope with turbulence and other conditions. Interpersonal skills and the ability to deal comfortably with strangers are important. You should be resourceful and able to handle the unexpected. This work may require being away from home for extended periods of time. Knowledge of the travel business or the specific areas of tourism in which you work will be required. Good communication skills are essential. Knowledge of both official languages and an additional language may be required.
Job requirements
- Flight attendants and flight pursers require the completion of high school and a training program approved by Transport Canada.
Other considerations
- General economic conditions will have an effect on the level of business and pleasure travel undertaken by Nova Scotians. Therefore, employment levels will vary from year to year in many of these jobs. Flight pursers/customer service directors require experience as a flight attendant. Ship pursers may require experience as a ship attendant. Flight attendants and ship pursers usually require experience working with the public. There is little mobility between airline pursers and ship pursers. It is an advantage for pursers and flight attendants to speak more than one language.
By the numbers
Quick look
employed in 2016
employed full-time
self employed
median age
Compared to: All Sales and Service
employed in 2016
employed full-time
self employed
median age
Where will I likely work?
Halifax
$53,118 median annual incomeCape Breton
$53,273 median annual incomeAnnapolis Valley
$38,500 median annual incomeNorth Shore
N/ASouthern
N/ACompared to: All NS Occupations
Halifax
North Shore
Annapolis Valley
Cape Breton
Southern
Top Industries of Employment
Transportation and warehousing
What is the age of Employment?
45-54
55-64
35-44
25-34
15-24
Compared to: All Sales and Service
15-24
45-54
25-34
55-64
35-44
Top levels of education
High school
$43,676 median annual incomeCollege Diploma
$36,473 median annual incomeBachelor
$57,856 median annual incomeTrade Certification
$44,734 median annual incomeDiploma Below Bachelor
N/ACompared to: All Sales and Service
High school
$15,705 median annual incomeLess than high school
$9,866 median annual incomeCollege Diploma
$20,644 median annual incomeBachelor
$21,262 median annual incomeTrade Certification
$21,234 median annual incomeEducation & training
Airline Flight Attendant
College or Trades ProgramThese programs prepare students to apply technical knowledge and skills to the performance of a variety of personal services conducive to the safety and comfort of airline passengers during flight, including verifying tickets, explaining the use of safety equipment, providing passenger services, and responding to in-flight emergencies.
Institutions providing this program
French as an Additional Language (Canada)
College, Trades, or University ProgramThese programs focus on the development of proficiency in reading, writing, and speaking French for those for whom French is not their mother tongue. They include courses in the use of basic communication skills to develop and transmit ideas and thoughts in French as well as specialized programs that focus on the development of proficiency in French sufficient to meet specific occupational or academic demands.
Institutions providing this program
Wolfville, NS
Employment requirements & contacts
No regulating bodies were found under this occupation profile