Baggage porters and bellhops salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $27,040 | $13.00 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $37,080 | $17.83 |
| Mean (average) | $38,570 | $18.54 |
| 90th percentile | $51,600 | $24.81 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Baggage porters and bellhops pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 50 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $25,150 | $17,460 | $32,750 | 60 | 0.15 |
| Alaska | $32,150 | $25,140 | $36,890 | 70 | 1.23 |
| Arizona | $36,740 | $31,350 | $45,490 | 490 | 0.82 |
| Arkansas | $31,200 | $28,530 | $39,290 | 60 | 0.23 |
| California | $40,040 | $34,650 | $58,030 | 2,940 | 0.88 |
| Colorado | $39,160 | $35,780 | $44,680 | 410 | 0.78 |
| Connecticut | $37,420 | $34,010 | $46,350 | 130 | 0.43 |
| District of Columbia | $38,170 | $36,400 | $46,920 | 380 | 2.97 |
| Florida | $30,890 | $27,040 | $44,220 | 4,430 | 2.43 |
| Georgia | $29,070 | $20,540 | $38,730 | 370 | 0.41 |
| Hawaii | $42,240 | $31,010 | $57,460 | 1,370 | 11.94 |
| Idaho | $33,510 | $23,090 | $40,290 | 70 | 0.46 |
| Illinois | $40,390 | $32,830 | $47,300 | 1,480 | 1.32 |
| Indiana | $27,910 | $25,180 | $37,430 | 140 | 0.23 |
| Iowa | $31,150 | $21,640 | $36,610 | 30 | 0.11 |
| Kansas | $27,870 | $23,740 | $30,630 | 30 | 0.12 |
| Kentucky | $37,940 | $30,410 | $45,690 | 260 | 0.72 |
| Louisiana | $26,320 | $15,910 | $29,060 | 690 | 1.95 |
| Maine | $36,870 | $31,520 | $39,020 | 60 | 0.54 |
| Maryland | $36,310 | $32,150 | $45,630 | 520 | 1.02 |
| Massachusetts | $41,040 | $34,150 | $57,150 | 1,300 | 1.96 |
| Michigan | $30,930 | $25,960 | $39,200 | 410 | 0.51 |
| Mississippi | $22,560 | $18,950 | $40,170 | 220 | 1.04 |
| Missouri | $30,800 | $28,600 | $48,570 | 260 | 0.48 |
| Montana | $30,830 | $21,940 | $40,740 | 40 | 0.42 |
| Nebraska | $33,640 | $28,080 | $43,590 | 70 | 0.39 |
| Nevada | $36,880 | $26,610 | $48,770 | 2,170 | 7.64 |
| New Hampshire | $27,600 | $23,290 | $42,280 | 50 | 0.43 |
| New Jersey | $41,080 | $32,770 | $41,690 | 570 | 0.73 |
| New Mexico | $29,890 | $26,170 | $41,250 | 90 | 0.54 |
| New York | $48,610 | $37,680 | $61,820 | 3,610 | 2.03 |
| North Carolina | $32,940 | $26,470 | $37,640 | 650 | 0.72 |
| Ohio | $28,200 | $24,920 | $38,450 | 80 | 0.08 |
| Oklahoma | $26,260 | $16,590 | $28,050 | 130 | 0.41 |
| Oregon | $40,660 | $33,900 | $43,620 | 240 | 0.67 |
| Pennsylvania | $34,270 | $22,390 | $44,610 | 700 | 0.63 |
| Puerto Rico | $21,840 | $21,840 | $31,620 | 210 | 1.24 |
| Rhode Island | $34,300 | $31,200 | $48,340 | 40 | 0.45 |
| South Carolina | $25,850 | $15,080 | $36,860 | 330 | 0.77 |
| South Dakota | $27,490 | $26,520 | $37,440 | 40 | 0.51 |
| Tennessee | $32,060 | $17,710 | $37,270 | 570 | 0.94 |
| Texas | $31,080 | $19,180 | $43,620 | 1,050 | 0.41 |
| Utah | $30,730 | $18,970 | $42,310 | 240 | 0.75 |
| Vermont | $36,490 | $30,430 | $41,650 | 90 | 1.63 |
| Virgin Islands | $28,720 | $25,140 | $32,970 | 80 | 14.2 |
| Virginia | $36,530 | $30,280 | $45,470 | 800 | 1.06 |
| Washington | $41,010 | $36,030 | $51,760 | 270 | 0.41 |
| West Virginia | $24,090 | $24,090 | $31,080 | 50 | 0.38 |
| Wisconsin | $31,200 | $24,960 | $34,870 | 310 | 0.57 |
| Wyoming | $36,260 | $35,090 | $40,850 | 60 | 1.11 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for baggage porters and bellhops
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 3,800. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 1.7%.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for baggage porters and bellhops
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- NO MATCH CIP 99.9999
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- 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.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Corel WordPerfect Office Suite
Transferable skills for career changers: Service Orientation, Coordination, Social Perceptiveness, Complex Problem Solving, Time Management, Judgment and Decision Making.
Common job titles: Bell Captain, Bell Person, Bellhop, Bellman, Bellperson, Doorman, Ground Support Agent, Sky Cap, Skycap, Valet.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do baggage porters and bellhops make?
The national median annual wage for baggage porters and bellhops was $37,080 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $27,040 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $51,600. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do baggage porters and bellhops need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and short-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is baggage porters and bellhops a growing career?
BLS projects employment of baggage porters and bellhops to change -3.0% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 3,800 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay baggage porters and bellhops the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were New York ($48,610), Hawaii ($42,240), New Jersey ($41,080). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.