How much does a baggage porter and bellhop make?
The median baggage porter and bellhop in the United States earns $36,020 per year, about $17.32 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all baggage porters and bellhops earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024. SOC code 39-6011.
Baggage porter and bellhop salary range
Pay for baggage porters and bellhops spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $25,480 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $48,490. The average (mean) wage of $36,960 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $25,480 | $12.25 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $29,830 | $14.34 | |
| Median (50th) | $36,020 | $17.32 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $40,780 | $19.61 | |
| 90th percentile | $48,490 | $23.31 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for baggage porters and bellhops (SOC 39-6011), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2024.
Baggage porter and bellhop salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Baggage porters and bellhops earn the most in New York at $45,200 a year, and the least in Oklahoma at $21,310. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $45,200 | 4,320 |
| Kentucky | $42,480 | 500 |
| Massachusetts | $42,240 | 690 |
| Washington | $39,310 | 410 |
| District of Columbia | $39,140 | 360 |
| Wyoming | $39,060 | 50 |
| California | $38,910 | 4,330 |
| Oregon | $38,840 | 400 |
| New Jersey | $38,650 | 480 |
| Illinois | $38,560 | 1,510 |
| Colorado | $37,490 | 710 |
| Hawaii | $37,440 | 970 |
| Virginia | $36,270 | 880 |
| Vermont | $35,610 | 60 |
| Arizona | $35,200 | 450 |
| Connecticut | $34,840 | 100 |
| Alaska | $34,660 | 40 |
| Maryland | $33,920 | 410 |
| Nevada | $33,500 | 2,110 |
| Missouri | $33,350 | 400 |
| Utah | $32,530 | 200 |
| Wisconsin | $32,050 | 240 |
| Georgia | $31,510 | 570 |
| Pennsylvania | $31,510 | 560 |
| Minnesota | $31,030 | 130 |
| Texas | $30,980 | 1,460 |
| Michigan | $30,320 | 250 |
| Maine | $30,190 | N/A |
| North Carolina | $29,410 | 680 |
| South Dakota | $29,410 | 50 |
| Montana | $29,260 | 50 |
| Florida | $29,050 | 5,270 |
| Delaware | $28,600 | N/A |
| Indiana | $28,580 | 210 |
| Nebraska | $27,930 | N/A |
| New Mexico | $27,270 | 100 |
| Alabama | $26,920 | 60 |
| Ohio | $26,760 | 120 |
| South Carolina | $26,170 | 410 |
| Tennessee | $26,160 | 480 |
| Idaho | $25,650 | 70 |
| Louisiana | $25,320 | 560 |
| West Virginia | $23,010 | 50 |
| Mississippi | $22,270 | 210 |
| Oklahoma | $21,310 | 90 |
State median wages for baggage porters and bellhops (SOC 39-6011), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2024. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for baggage porters and bellhops
The BLS projects employment of baggage porters and bellhops to shrink from 2025 to 2035 (down 3%). That is a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. That works out to roughly 29,200 jobs in 2025 moving toward 28,400 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 3,800 openings a year for baggage porters and bellhops. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a baggage porter and bellhop
The typical entry-level education for baggage porters and bellhops is a high school diploma or equivalent, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete short-term on-the-job training to reach full competency.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a baggage porter and bellhop earns
Employer, clientele, region, and in many cases tips shape pay. Established professionals in affluent, high cost areas earn near the top of the range.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (New York, $45,200) and the lowest (Oklahoma, $21,310) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 31,220 people work as baggage porters and bellhops in the United States. At $36,020 a year, the job pays below the $49,500 median for all U.S. jobs.
Baggage porter and bellhop salary FAQ
How much does a baggage porter and bellhop make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a baggage porter and bellhop is $17.32. The middle half of baggage porters and bellhops earn between $14.34 and $19.61 per hour.
What is the highest baggage porter and bellhop salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of baggage porters and bellhops earn more than $48,490 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a baggage porter and bellhop make a year?
The median annual salary for a baggage porter and bellhop is $36,020. The average (mean) wage of $36,960 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a baggage porter and bellhop a well paid job?
At $36,020 a year, a baggage porter and bellhop earns below the $49,500 median for all U.S. jobs. About 31,220 people work as baggage porters and bellhops in the United States.
Which state pays baggage porters and bellhops the most?
New York has the highest median salary for baggage porters and bellhops at $45,200 a year. Kentucky ($42,480) and Massachusetts ($42,240) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2024.
Is being a baggage porter and bellhop a good career?
Employment of baggage porters and bellhops is projected to shrink 3% from 2025 to 2035, a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. The BLS projects about 3,800 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a baggage porter and bellhop?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for baggage porters and bellhops as a high school diploma or equivalent, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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