Baggage Porters and Bellhops earn a median of $37,080 per year ($17.83/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to fall 3.0% through 2035, with about 3,800 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- SOC 39-6011
- Personal Care and Service
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Baggage Porter and Bellhop in four numbers
- Median pay
- $37,080a year, or $17.83/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $27KTop 10% $52K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- -3.0%DecliningBLS EP, 2025–2035This career−3%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career −3% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 3,80029,200 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202529.2K
- Projected 203528.4K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 29.2K Projected 2035 28.4K - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Less than high school41.8%
- High school41.3%
- Certificate7.5%
- Some college9.5%
Highest education held by baggage porters and bellhops Segment Value Less than high school 41.8% High school 41.3% Certificate 7.5% Some college 9.5%
Also advertised as: Bell Captain, Bell Person, Bellhop, Bellman, Bellperson, Doorman.
Pay
How much do Baggage Porters and Bellhops make?
Every baggage porter and bellhop in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$37,080
Middle half earn $31,200 to $44,130
- 10th
- $27,040
- 25th
- $31,200
- 75th
- $44,130
- 90th
- $51,600
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $27,040 |
| 25th | $31,200 |
| Median | $37,080 |
| 75th | $44,130 |
| 90th | $51,600 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $37,080
- Median hourly wage
- $17.83/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $38,570
- People employed
- 28,510
Versus all US occupations
At $37,080, Baggage Porters and Bellhops earn 27% below the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $13,900 a year.
Versus personal care and service occupations
Inside the Personal Care and Service group, where the middle occupation pays $38,120, this is 3% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $51,600 or more while the bottom 10% earn $27,040, a gap of 1.9×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 4% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
New York pays the most at $48,610, and still leads at $45,042 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Baggage Porters and Bellhops the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1New York | $48,610 | $45,042 | 3,610 |
| 2Hawaii | $42,240 | $38,417 | 1,370 |
| 3New Jersey | $41,080 | $37,756 | 570 |
| 4Massachusetts | $41,040 | $38,806 | 1,300 |
| 5Washington | $41,010 | $38,322 | 270 |
| 6Oregon | $40,660 | $39,338 | 240 |
| 7Illinois | $40,390 | $40,407 | 1,480 |
| 8California | $40,040 | $36,163 | 2,940 |
| 9Colorado | $39,160 | $38,000 | 410 |
| 10District of Columbia | $38,170 | $34,731 | 380 |
Job outlook
Is Baggage Porter and Bellhop a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Declining. -3.0% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Baggage Porters and Bellhops | −3% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Declining
BLS projects employment of Baggage Porters and Bellhops to change -3.0% over 2025–2035, while total US employment is projected to rise 3.5%. That is 900 fewer jobs.
Annual openings
About 3,800 openings are projected each year, 13.0% of the 29,200 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Baggage Porter and Bellhop
- 1
Typical entry-level education
High school diploma or equivalent
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Little or no preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as baggage porters and bellhops.
- Less than a High School Diploma41.8%
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)41.3%
- Some College Courses9.5%
- Post-Secondary Certificate7.5%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Less than a High School Diploma | 41.8% |
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 41.3% |
| Some College Courses | 9.5% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 7.5% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Baggage Porter and Bellhop do?
Handle baggage for travelers at transportation terminals or for guests at hotels or similar establishments.
Day-to-day tasks
- Supply guests or travelers with directions, travel information, and other information, such as available services and points of interest.
- Transfer luggage, trunks, and packages to and from rooms, loading areas, vehicles, or transportation terminals, by hand or using baggage carts.
- Assist travelers and guests with disabilities.
- Greet incoming guests and escort them to their rooms.
- Receive and mark baggage by completing and attaching claim checks.
- Transport guests about premises and local areas, or arrange for transportation.
- Pick up and return items for laundry and valet service.
- Explain the operation of room features, such as locks, ventilation systems, and televisions.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayIndoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather at least weekly.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeOn their feet more than half the working day.
Bending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayDealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantDealing with customers or the public is very important.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Active Listening3.6
- Speaking3.6
- Critical Thinking3.0
- Reading Comprehension2.9
- Monitoring2.9
- Writing2.8
- Active Learning2.3
- Learning Strategies2.3
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Listening | 3.6 |
| Speaking | 3.6 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.0 |
| Reading Comprehension | 2.9 |
| Monitoring | 2.9 |
| Writing | 2.8 |
| Active Learning | 2.3 |
| Learning Strategies | 2.3 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Service Orientation3.8
- Coordination3.0
- Social Perceptiveness2.9
- Complex Problem Solving2.9
- Time Management2.9
- Judgment and Decision Making2.8
- Instructing2.5
- Operations Monitoring2.4
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Service Orientation | 3.8 |
| Coordination | 3.0 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 2.9 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 2.9 |
| Time Management | 2.9 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 2.8 |
| Instructing | 2.5 |
| Operations Monitoring | 2.4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Baggage Porter and Bellhop?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Baggage Porter and Bellhop |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 5 |
| Investigative | 1 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 4 |
| Enterprising | 3 |
| Conventional | 5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Realistic4.9
- Conventional4.8
- Social3.5
- Enterprising2.5
- Investigative1.0
- Artistic1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Baggage Porter and Bellhop
O*NET related occupations
- Personal Care and Service
- Transportation and Material Moving
- Office and Administrative Support
Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agent and Travel Clerk
$44,390median a year
Most earn $32K to $78K
+2.5%High school - Transportation and Material Moving
- Office and Administrative Support
- Transportation and Material Moving
More personal care and service careers
Median annual pay, with baggage porters and bellhops highlighted
- Exercise Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor$47,160
- Concierge$38,950
- Tour Guide and Escort$38,120
- Baggage Porter and Bellhop$37,080
- Hairstylist$35,790
- Manicurist and Pedicurist$35,760
- Nanny$34,980
- Childcare Worker$34,980
- Gambling Dealer$34,320
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Exercise Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor | $47,160 |
| Concierge | $38,950 |
| Tour Guide and Escort | $38,120 |
| Baggage Porter and Bellhop | $37,080 |
| Hairstylist | $35,790 |
| Manicurist and Pedicurist | $35,760 |
| Nanny | $34,980 |
| Childcare Worker | $34,980 |
| Gambling Dealer | $34,320 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Baggage Porter and Bellhop appears on
Questions
Baggage Porter and Bellhop: frequently asked questions
How much do Baggage Porters and Bellhops make?
Baggage Porters and Bellhops earn a median of $37,080 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 27% below the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $17.83/hr. The middle half earn between $31,200 and $44,130. The top 10% earn $51,600 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Baggage Porter and Bellhop?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Baggage Porters and Bellhops. BLS also lists short-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 41.8% hold less than a high school diploma.
Is Baggage Porter and Bellhop a growing career?
No. BLS projects employment to fall 3.0% over 2025–2035, a loss of 900 jobs (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 3,800 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Baggage Porter and Bellhop do?
Handle baggage for travelers at transportation terminals or for guests at hotels or similar establishments. A core O*NET task: supply guests or travelers with directions, travel information, and other information, such as available services and points of interest. Employers most often ask for Electronic mail software, Office suite software, Spreadsheet software.
Which states pay Baggage Porters and Bellhops the most?
The highest state medians for Baggage Porters and Bellhops are New York ($48,610), Hawaii ($42,240), New Jersey ($41,080) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Baggage Porter and Bellhop?
O*NET scores Baggage Porters and Bellhops highest on the Realistic, Conventional and Social interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ISFJ, ESTJ, ESFJ. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.