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What Does it Take to Be a Baggage Porter or Bellhop?
Job Description & Duties Handle baggage for travelers at transportation terminals or for guests at hotels or similar establishments.
A Day in the Life of a Porter or Bellhop
- Explain the operation of room features, such as locks, ventilation systems, and televisions.
- Deliver messages and room service orders, and run errands for guests.
- Pick up and return items for laundry and valet service.
- Receive and mark baggage by completing and attaching claim checks.
- Inspect guests’ rooms to ensure that they are adequately stocked, orderly, and comfortable.
- Complete baggage insurance forms.
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What Every Porter or Bellhop Should Know
When polled, Baggage Porters and Bellhops say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Other Porter or Bellhop Job Titles
- Bell Captain
- Head Bellhop Captain
- Hotel Baggage Handler
- Bellstaff
- Luggage Attendant
What Kind of Porter or Bellhop Job Opportunities Are There?
There were about 45,100 jobs for Baggage Porter or Bellhop in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 8.2% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 3,700 new jobs for Baggage Porter or Bellhop by 2026. The BLS estimates 6,700 yearly job openings in this field.
The states with the most job growth for Porter or Bellhop are Utah, North Dakota, and Florida. Watch out if you plan on working in Wisconsin, New Mexico, or New Hampshire. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Do Baggage Porters and Bellhops Make A Lot Of Money?
The salary for Baggage Porters and Bellhops ranges between about $18,340 and $38,560 a year.
Baggage Porters and Bellhops who work in New York, Nevada, or Washington, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Baggage Porters and Bellhops in different U.S. states.
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $20,360 |
| Alaska | $27,410 |
| Arizona | $28,260 |
| Arkansas | $20,940 |
| California | $30,130 |
| Colorado | $23,970 |
| Connecticut | $25,000 |
| Delaware | $26,800 |
| District of Columbia | $34,840 |
| Florida | $23,750 |
| Georgia | $21,060 |
| Hawaii | $34,880 |
| Idaho | $24,520 |
| Illinois | $26,470 |
| Indiana | $22,320 |
| Iowa | $22,010 |
| Kansas | $21,050 |
| Kentucky | $26,070 |
| Louisiana | $24,020 |
| Maine | $24,470 |
| Maryland | $30,790 |
| Massachusetts | $29,040 |
| Michigan | $28,140 |
| Minnesota | $26,320 |
| Mississippi | $22,680 |
| Missouri | $24,620 |
| Montana | $24,460 |
| Nebraska | $23,480 |
| Nevada | $28,840 |
| New Hampshire | $20,550 |
| New Jersey | $23,590 |
| New Mexico | $22,620 |
| New York | $34,130 |
| North Carolina | $20,400 |
| North Dakota | $34,570 |
| Ohio | $21,520 |
| Oklahoma | $20,070 |
| Oregon | $25,800 |
| Pennsylvania | $27,080 |
| Rhode Island | $26,380 |
| South Carolina | $19,770 |
| South Dakota | $24,820 |
| Tennessee | $23,550 |
| Texas | $23,760 |
| Utah | $21,460 |
| Vermont | $24,970 |
| Virginia | $25,780 |
| Washington | $30,070 |
| West Virginia | $25,030 |
| Wisconsin | $20,510 |
| Wyoming | $27,490 |
What Tools do Baggage Porters and Bellhops Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Baggage Porters and Bellhops:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft Outlook
- Corel WordPerfect Office Suite
Becoming a Porter or Bellhop
Education needed to be a Baggage Porter or Bellhop:
What work experience do I need to become a Porter or Bellhop?
Baggage Porters and Bellhops Sector
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Related Careers
Are you already one of the many Baggage Porter or Bellhop in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.