Baggage Porters and Bellhops: Job Description
Handle baggage for travelers at transportation terminals or for guests at hotels or similar establishments.
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What Do Baggage Porters and Bellhops Do?
Typical responsibilities of baggage porters and bellhops span:
- 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.
What Baggage Porters and Bellhops Need to Know
Top baggage porters and bellhops combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The abilities most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top 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
How Many Baggage Porters and Bellhops Are There?
There are roughly 171,716 baggage porters and bellhops working in the United States today. This occupation is expected 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 |
Where Baggage Porters and Bellhops Earn the Most
Pay for baggage porters and bellhops shift depending on where you work. These regions lead on median pay:
| 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 |
Top Metro Areas
| 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 |
Which Industries Hire Baggage Porters and Bellhops
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 |
Baggage Porters and Bellhops work in the following industries:
Tools and Technology
- 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)
What the Workplace Is Like
The on-the-job environment of baggage porters and bellhops reflects 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
How to Become Baggage Porters and Bellhops
Typical baggage porters and bellhops positions require less than a high school diploma as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), indicating 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)
Sources
This profile draws on 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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