All careers › Baggage Porters and Bellhops
Baggage porters and bellhops: pay, job outlook and how to become one
- $27,040lowest 10% earn less
- $31,20025th percentile
- $37,080median
- $44,13075th percentile
- $51,600top 10% earn more
Baggage porters and bellhops had median pay of $37,080 a year in May 2025[1]. BLS projects that employment in this job will shrink from 2025 to 2035[2].
- Job growth, 2025–35
- -3%[2]
- Openings per year
- 3,800[5]
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent[6]
How much do baggage porters and bellhops make?
The median wage was $37,080 a year, or $17.83 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. The average was $38,570 a year, or $18.54 an hour[7].
The median for all occupations in the US was $50,980[4], so this job pays below the typical worker.
Pay spread widely in May 2025[3][8]:
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th[3][8] | $27,040 | $13.00 |
| 25th[3][8] | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| 75th[3][8] | $44,130 | $21.22 |
| 90th[3][8] | $51,600 | $24.81 |
The lowest-paid 10% of workers earned less than $27,040[3]. BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[9]. The data cover wage and salary workers, full time and part time. They leave out the self-employed, bonuses not tied to production, and the cost of benefits[10]. About 28,510 people held these jobs[11].
Pay by state and city
New York had the highest state median at $48,610[12]. Hawaii was next at $42,240, then New Jersey at $41,080[12]. Mississippi had the lowest median on the list at $22,560[12].
The most jobs were in Florida (4,430), New York (3,610) and California (2,940)[13].
Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs[14], San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont had the highest median at $51,900. New York-Newark-Jersey City followed at $48,610, then Kahului-Wailuku, HI at $43,240[14]. The New York metro area also had the most jobs at 3,500, ahead of Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach at 2,230[15].
Show median pay in 47 states and DC
| State | Median per year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| New York[12] | $48,610 | 3,610 |
| Hawaii | $42,240 | 1,370 |
| New Jersey | $41,080 | 570 |
| Massachusetts | $41,040 | 1,300 |
| Washington | $41,010 | 270 |
| Oregon | $40,660 | 240 |
| Illinois | $40,390 | 1,480 |
| California | $40,040 | 2,940 |
| Colorado | $39,160 | 410 |
| District of Columbia | $38,170 | 380 |
| Kentucky | $37,940 | 260 |
| Connecticut | $37,420 | 130 |
| Nevada | $36,880 | 2,170 |
| Maine | $36,870 | 60 |
| Arizona | $36,740 | 490 |
| Virginia | $36,530 | 800 |
| Vermont | $36,490 | 90 |
| Maryland | $36,310 | 520 |
| Wyoming | $36,260 | 60 |
| Rhode Island | $34,300 | 40 |
| Pennsylvania | $34,270 | 700 |
| Nebraska | $33,640 | 70 |
| Idaho | $33,510 | 70 |
| North Carolina | $32,940 | 650 |
| Alaska | $32,150 | 70 |
| Tennessee | $32,060 | 570 |
| Arkansas | $31,200 | 60 |
| Wisconsin | $31,200 | 310 |
| Iowa | $31,150 | 30 |
| Texas | $31,080 | 1,050 |
| Michigan | $30,930 | 410 |
| Florida | $30,890 | 4,430 |
| Montana | $30,830 | 40 |
| Missouri | $30,800 | 260 |
| Utah | $30,730 | 240 |
| New Mexico | $29,890 | 90 |
| Georgia | $29,070 | 370 |
| Ohio | $28,200 | 80 |
| Indiana | $27,910 | 140 |
| Kansas | $27,870 | 30 |
| New Hampshire | $27,600 | 50 |
| South Dakota | $27,490 | 40 |
| Louisiana | $26,320 | 690 |
| Oklahoma | $26,260 | 130 |
| South Carolina | $25,850 | 330 |
| Alabama | $25,150 | 60 |
| West Virginia | $24,090 | 50 |
| Mississippi | $22,560 | 220 |
How to become a baggage porter or bellhop
BLS describes the typical path like this[6]:
- First: have a high school diploma or equivalent.
- Next: no work experience in a related job is needed.
- Then: learn the work through short-term on-the-job training.
In an O*NET survey of 19 workers[16], 42% said less than a high school diploma was required and 41% said a diploma or equivalent was. Another 9% named some college courses and 8% a post-secondary certificate[16]. The survey is small, so it is only a rough guide.
O*NET places this job in a group where some jobs need little or no experience and others need several months to a year[17]. The facts here do not name any license or exam.
What baggage porters and bellhops do
These workers deal with bags for people traveling through transportation terminals and for hotel guests[18]. Tasks reported to O*NET include[19]:
- Tagging baggage and giving out claim checks.
- Greeting guests and walking them to their rooms.
- Moving luggage and packages between rooms, vehicles and loading areas, by hand or with carts.
- Giving directions and travel information, and explaining room features.
- Helping travelers with disabilities.
- Delivering messages and room service orders, and running errands.
- Keeping lobbies and entrances clean.
- Picking up and returning laundry and valet items.
Workers report titles such as bellhop, bellman, doorman and sky cap[20].
Job outlook
BLS projects employment to decline 3% from 2025 to 2035, from about 29,200 to 28,400 jobs[2]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% over the same period[21]. These counts include self-employed workers, who made up 1.7% of the job in 2025[22][2].
Even so, BLS expects about 3,800 openings a year on average[5]. Openings include jobs that come up when people retire or switch occupations, not only new jobs[5]. Each year, 5.3% of workers leave the labor force and 8.1% move to a different occupation[23].
Is it a good fit?
The facts describe a job that is easy to enter. It asks for a high school diploma or equivalent, no related experience and short on-the-job training[6]. Pay is below the all-occupations median[1][4], and it differs a lot by state[12]. Jobs are projected to decline[2], though openings still appear each year as workers leave[5]. O*NET lists Concierges as a related job, with a median of $38,950[24].
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a bellhop make an hour?
- The median was $17.83 an hour in May 2025, and the average was $18.54[1][7].
- What education do you need to be a baggage porter or bellhop?
- BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent, with short-term on-the-job training[6].
- Is the baggage porter and bellhop job in demand?
- Employment is projected to decline 3% from 2025 to 2035, while all occupations grow 3.5%[2][21]. About 3,800 openings a year are expected[5].
- What is the highest paying state for bellhops?
- New York had the highest median at $48,610 in May 2025[12].
Facts and sources
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Baggage Porters and Bellhops in the US was $37,080 per year and $17.83 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: employment of Baggage Porters and Bellhops is projected to decline 3% from 2025 to 2035, from about 29,200 to 28,400 jobs (a change of -900). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Baggage Porters and Bellhops: 10th percentile $27,040, 25th percentile $31,200, 75th percentile $44,130, 90th percentile $51,600. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: about 3,800 openings for Baggage Porters and Bellhops are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Baggage Porters and Bellhops: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Baggage Porters and Bellhops was $38,570 per year and $18.54 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Baggage Porters and Bellhops: 10th percentile $13.00, 25th percentile $15.00, 75th percentile $21.22, 90th percentile $24.81. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 28,510 people were employed as Baggage Porters and Bellhops in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage for Baggage Porters and Bellhops in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Baggage Porters and Bellhops jobs: Florida 4,430; New York 3,610; California 2,940; Nevada 2,170; Illinois 1,480. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Baggage Porters and Bellhops (areas with at least 100 jobs): San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $51,900; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $48,610; Kahului-Wailuku, HI $43,240; Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $43,090; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $42,780; Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $40,660; Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $40,520; Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $40,390. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Baggage Porters and Bellhops jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 3,500 (median $48,610); Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 2,230 (median $31,790); Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV 2,040 (median $37,260); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 1,420 (median $40,390); Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL 1,120 (median $29,110); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 1,100 (median $43,090). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- O*NET 39-6011.00 survey of workers (19 respondents), education level they say is required: Less than a High School Diploma 42%, High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 41%, Some College Courses 9%, Post-Secondary Certificate 8% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
- O*NET 39-6011.00: Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET description of Baggage Porters and Bellhops. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET task list for Baggage Porters and Bellhops. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET 39-6011.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Bell Captain, Bell Person, Bellhop, Bellman, Bellperson, Doorman, Ground Support Agent, Sky Cap. O*NET OnLine
- BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections: 1.7% of Baggage Porters and Bellhops were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Baggage Porters and Bellhops: 5.3% of workers leave the labor force each year and 8.1% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
- Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.