Occupations · Personal Care and Service
Baggage Porters and Bellhops
Handle baggage for travelers at transportation terminals or for guests at hotels or similar establishments.
O*NET 30.3 Database (USDOL/ETA) · occupation code 39-6011.00
What it pays
A single “average salary” hides the spread. This is the whole distribution — the gap between the bottom and top bar is usually the number that matters.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 · national, cross-industry · annual wage
Pay over time
Median up 103% between 2003 and 2024, before inflation. The band shows the 10th to 90th percentile.
BLS OEWS, one release per year. Before May 2011 only national estimates were published, so geography detail starts there.
Where the jobs are
| Metro area | Median wage | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $43,830 | 4,040 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $29,260 | 2,650 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV | $33,900 | 1,940 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $39,690 | 1,840 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI | $38,560 | 1,450 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $28,180 | 1,280 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $36,970 | 1,080 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $42,640 | 590 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $35,250 | 570 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $36,660 | 550 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA | $49,130 | 530 |
| San Diego-Carlsbad, CA | $36,900 | 510 |
BLS OEWS May 2024, metropolitan estimates · the 12 areas with the most people in this occupation
Typical education to enter: High school diploma or equivalent · BLS Employment Projections 2024–34
What people in this job actually do
Ordered by how important the work is rated.
- 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.
- 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.
- Explain the operation of room features, such as locks, ventilation systems, and televisions.
- Assist travelers and guests with disabilities.
- Deliver messages and room service orders, and run errands for guests.
- Act as part of the security team at transportation terminals, hotels, or similar establishments.
- Pick up and return items for laundry and valet service.
- Compute and complete charge slips for services rendered and maintain records.
O*NET 30.3 task ratings, importance scale
Skills that matter most
Importance, rated 1 to 5.
O*NET 30.3 skills, importance scale
Software and tools
A dot marks what O*NET flags as in demand.
O*NET 30.3 software skills · hot-technology flag
What this work is actually like
Conditions rated against the average across all occupations — only what makes this job different is listed.
O*NET 30.3 Job Zones
Working conditions that stand out
O*NET 30.3 work context, frequency scale · observed 2018-08
How people actually get in
Share of workers by the education they hold.
O*NET 30.2 education, training and experience · observed 2018-08
What kind of person the work suits
Occupational interest profile, rated 1 to 7.
O*NET 30.2 occupational interests (RIASEC)
What you take with you
Skills rated for how well they transfer into other occupations.
O*NET 30.3 transferable skills, importance scale
Knowledge the work draws on
Abilities it leans on
O*NET 30.3 abilities and knowledge, importance scale
How this job is advertised
The same work is posted under many titles — this is what to search for.
O*NET 30.3 job titles reported for this occupation
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What changed since 2015
Comparing O*NET release 20.1 (2015-10-01) with 30.3 (2026-05-01). Signs, not colour alone, carry the meaning.
Now listed 2
No longer listed 1
Diff across the O*NET releases held here in full since October 2015, following occupations through merges and retirements. O*NET re-surveys occupations on a rolling cycle, so “no change” can also mean “not re-surveyed”.
Related jobs
O*NET 30.3 related occupations
Also called
O*NET 30.3 alternative titles
The same work in Europe
| ESCO occupation | ISCO | Match |
|---|---|---|
| hotel porter | 9621.2 | broader |
| airport baggage handler | 9333.1 | broader |
Official ESCO ↔ O*NET crosswalk (ESCO Secretariat with USDOL/ETA)
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