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Baggage Porters and Bellhops: Career Overview
Handle baggage for travelers at transportation terminals or for guests at hotels or similar establishments.
The Daily Work of Baggage Porters and Bellhops Do?
Typical responsibilities of baggage porters and bellhops cover:
- Receive and mark baggage by completing and attaching claim checks.
- Greet incoming guests and escort them to their rooms.
- Transport guests about premises and local areas, or arrange for transportation.
- Maintain clean lobbies or entrance areas for travelers or guests.
- Transfer luggage, trunks, and packages to and from rooms, loading areas, vehicles, or transportation terminals, by hand or using baggage carts.
- Supply guests or travelers with directions, travel information, and other information, such as available services and points of interest.
- Explain the operation of room features, such as locks, ventilation systems, and televisions.
- Assist travelers and guests with disabilities.
Skills and Knowledge
Top baggage porters and bellhops draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
These are the skills that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Related Job Titles
Common job titles for this role include:
- Airport Guide
- Baggage Agent
- Baggage Checker
- Baggage Handler
- Baggage Porter
- Baggage Smasher
- Baggageman
- Bell Attendant
Employment and Demand
The U.S. employs around 171,716 baggage porters and bellhops working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +14.8% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Baggage Porters and Bellhops
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $53,277 |
| Hourly median | $25.61 |
| 10th percentile | $31,038 |
| 25th percentile | $42,158 |
| 75th percentile | $64,396 |
| 90th percentile | $75,515 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $45,200 |
| Kentucky | $42,480 |
| Massachusetts | $42,240 |
| Washington | $39,310 |
| District of Columbia | $39,140 |
| Wyoming | $39,060 |
| California | $38,910 |
| Oregon | $38,840 |
| New Jersey | $38,650 |
| Illinois | $38,560 |
| Colorado | $37,490 |
| Hawaii | $37,440 |
| Virginia | $36,270 |
| Vermont | $35,610 |
| Arizona | $35,200 |
| Connecticut | $34,840 |
| Alaska | $34,660 |
| Maryland | $33,920 |
| Nevada | $33,500 |
| Missouri | $33,350 |
| Utah | $32,530 |
| Wisconsin | $32,050 |
| Pennsylvania | $31,510 |
| Georgia | $31,510 |
| Minnesota | $31,030 |
| Texas | $30,980 |
| Michigan | $30,320 |
| Maine | $30,190 |
| North Carolina | $29,410 |
| South Dakota | $29,410 |
| Montana | $29,260 |
| Florida | $29,050 |
| Delaware | $28,600 |
| Indiana | $28,580 |
| Nebraska | $27,930 |
| New Mexico | $27,270 |
| Alabama | $26,920 |
| Ohio | $26,760 |
| Virgin Islands | $26,370 |
| South Carolina | $26,170 |
| Tennessee | $26,160 |
| Idaho | $25,650 |
| Louisiana | $25,320 |
| West Virginia | $23,010 |
| Mississippi | $22,270 |
| Oklahoma | $21,310 |
| Puerto Rico | $19,860 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Compensation for baggage porters and bellhops shift depending on where you work. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Atlantic | $42,326 | 19.6% | 1.86 |
| New England | $40,901 | 2.7% | 0.86 |
| Far Western US | $37,351 | 26.4% | 3.34 |
| Great Lakes | $35,498 | 7.4% | 0.90 |
| Rocky Mountains | $35,495 | 3.4% | 1.00 |
| Plains States | $32,490 | 1.9% | 0.56 |
| Southwest | $31,293 | 6.7% | 0.55 |
| Southeast | $29,898 | 30.9% | 1.87 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $49,130 | 530 |
| Kingston, NY | NY | $48,220 | 60 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $44,350 | 110 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $43,830 | 4,040 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | MA | $42,640 | 590 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | KY | $42,450 | 230 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | NY | $40,830 | 80 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $40,110 | 320 |
Industry Breakdown
Most baggage porters and bellhops work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation and Food Services | 17,030 | $35,270 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 5,970 | $38,480 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 4,300 | $35,660 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 1,720 | $45,390 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 940 | $36,110 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 880 | $28,420 |
| Retail Trade | 130 | $32,250 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 80 | $36,060 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Software Baggage Porters and Bellhops Use
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
Work Environment
Daily working conditions for baggage porters and bellhops is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
- In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Contact With Others
- Deal With External Customers or the Public in General
Education and Training
Typical baggage porters and bellhops positions require less than a high school diploma as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Transportation Security Screeners (Primary-Long)
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant (Supplemental)
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers (Supplemental)
- Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers (Supplemental)
- Amusement and Recreation Attendants (Supplemental)
- Locker Room, Coatroom, and Dressing Room Attendants (Primary-Long)
- Concierges (Primary-Short)
- Cashiers (Supplemental)
References
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 39-6011.00 (Baggage Porters and Bellhops).
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