Prevailing Wage for Baggage Porters and Bellhops

Prevailing wage requirements for Baggage Porters and Bellhops under SOC 39-6011 apply to any sponsored position, whether the employer titles the role Bellhop, Bell Captain, or Bell Person. DOL sets four experience-based wage levels, and the floor shifts substantially depending on the worksite city, so a San Francisco posting carries a very different threshold than one in the Southeast.

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Level 1Entry
National median
$26K
$12.65/hr

Level 1 covers entry-level porters and bellhops with limited experience, typically performing routine baggage handling under direct supervision. Workers at this level follow established procedures and have not yet developed independent judgment for guest-service situations.

Level 2Qualified
National median
$29K
$14.02/hr

Level 2 is the most common filing level for Baggage Porters and Bellhops. It reflects qualified workers with some experience handling guest requests and baggage independently, requiring moderate judgment but still operating within defined hotel or terminal protocols.

Level 3Experienced
National median
$32K
$15.31/hr

Level 3 applies to experienced bellhops and porters who exercise considerable independent judgment, handle complex guest situations without supervision, and may informally guide newer staff. These workers bring demonstrated proficiency across varied property types or high-volume environments.

Level 4Fully Competent
National median
$35K
$17.06/hr

Level 4 covers fully competent senior workers, such as a Bell Captain, who lead a team, set service standards, and are accountable for department-level performance. This level reflects broad autonomy and supervisory responsibility over other porters or bellhops.

Prevailing Wage for Baggage Porters and Bellhops by OES area

Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.

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$15K/yr$41K/yr

What’s an OES area?

The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.

Top 10 cities · Level 1

1
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro
$41K$19.72/hr
2
San Jose, CA
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro
$39K$18.54/hr
3
Kingston, NY
Kingston, NY metro
$38K$18.50/hr
4
New York, NY
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro
$38K$18.14/hr
5
Seattle, WA
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro
$37K$17.99/hr
6
Santa Rosa, CA
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA metro
$36K$17.54/hr
7
Portland, OR
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro
$36K$17.39/hr
8
Colorado Springs, CO
Colorado Springs, CO metro
$36K$17.19/hr
9
Denver, CO
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro
$35K$17.06/hr
10
Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro
$35K$16.95/hr

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Prevailing Wage Guide for Baggage Porters and Bellhops

Confirm your title maps to SOC 39-6011

Employers sometimes post positions as Guest Services Agent or Concierge, which file under different SOC codes with different wage floors. Verify your offer letter and LCA both reference SOC 39-6011 to ensure the correct Baggage Porters and Bellhops prevailing wage applies.

Factor out tips when reviewing base pay

Tipped roles in hospitality can obscure whether the base wage clears the prevailing wage floor. DOL prevailing wage calculations for this occupation compare only the guaranteed hourly or annual base, not tip income, so confirm the base rate alone meets the filed wage level.

Watch the wage gap between resort and urban markets

Hawaii resort metros and major coastal cities set prevailing wage floors well above the national median for this role, while Gulf Coast and Southeast markets sit significantly lower. If you receive competing offers, compare each against that city's specific Level 2 floor before deciding.

Use Migrate Mate to find sponsors with bellhop hiring history

Luxury hotel chains and large airport terminal operators are the primary sponsors of Baggage Porters and Bellhops. Migrate Mate shows which employers have historically sponsored this occupation, so you can focus your search on properties with an established sponsorship track record.

Jobs for Baggage Porters and Bellhops are hiring across the US. Find yours.

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Prevailing Wage by Reported Job Title

DOL classifies these titles under SOC 39-6011.00 alongside Baggage Porters and Bellhops, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.

Bell Captain Prevailing Wage

Bell Captain positions fall under SOC 39-6011.00 (Baggage Porters and Bellhops). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.

Level 1
Entry
$26K
$12.65/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$29K
$14.02/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$32K
$15.31/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$35K
$17.06/hr

Bell Person Prevailing Wage

When a U.S. employer sponsors a Bell Person for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 39-6011.00 (Baggage Porters and Bellhops). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.

Level 1
Entry
$26K
$12.65/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$29K
$14.02/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$32K
$15.31/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$35K
$17.06/hr

Bellhop Prevailing Wage

Bellhop is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 39-6011.00 (Baggage Porters and Bellhops). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.

Level 1
Entry
$26K
$12.65/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$29K
$14.02/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$32K
$15.31/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$35K
$17.06/hr

Bellman Prevailing Wage

Bellman positions fall under SOC 39-6011.00 (Baggage Porters and Bellhops). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.

Level 1
Entry
$26K
$12.65/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$29K
$14.02/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$32K
$15.31/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$35K
$17.06/hr

Bellperson Prevailing Wage

When a U.S. employer sponsors a Bellperson for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 39-6011.00 (Baggage Porters and Bellhops). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.

Level 1
Entry
$26K
$12.65/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$29K
$14.02/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$32K
$15.31/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$35K
$17.06/hr

Doorman Prevailing Wage

Doorman is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 39-6011.00 (Baggage Porters and Bellhops). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.

Level 1
Entry
$26K
$12.65/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$29K
$14.02/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$32K
$15.31/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$35K
$17.06/hr

Ground Support Agent Prevailing Wage

Ground Support Agent positions fall under SOC 39-6011.00 (Baggage Porters and Bellhops). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.

Level 1
Entry
$26K
$12.65/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$29K
$14.02/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$32K
$15.31/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$35K
$17.06/hr

Sky Cap Prevailing Wage

When a U.S. employer sponsors a Sky Cap for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 39-6011.00 (Baggage Porters and Bellhops). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.

Level 1
Entry
$26K
$12.65/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$29K
$14.02/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$32K
$15.31/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$35K
$17.06/hr

Skycap Prevailing Wage

Skycap is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 39-6011.00 (Baggage Porters and Bellhops). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.

Level 1
Entry
$26K
$12.65/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$29K
$14.02/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$32K
$15.31/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$35K
$17.06/hr

Valet Prevailing Wage

Valet positions fall under SOC 39-6011.00 (Baggage Porters and Bellhops). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.

Level 1
Entry
$26K
$12.65/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$29K
$14.02/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$32K
$15.31/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$35K
$17.06/hr

Frequently Asked Questions

How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Baggage Porters and Bellhops?

DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics across hundreds of metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. For SOC 39-6011, the agency calculates four wage levels by applying fixed percentile points to the regional wage distribution for this occupation. Employers filing an LCA must pay at least the level that matches the position's experience requirements.

What do the four wage levels mean and how do I identify mine?

Level 1 is entry-level with routine duties and close supervision. Level 2 reflects qualified workers with some independent judgment and is the most common filing level for this occupation. Level 3 covers experienced workers who operate largely without supervision. Level 4 applies to senior or lead roles such as Bell Captain with team oversight. The level should match the actual duties and experience requirements in the job description, not just the title.

Why does the prevailing wage for the same role vary so much city to city?

DOL calculates prevailing wages from regional OES surveys, so each metropolitan area produces its own wage distribution for SOC 39-6011. A bellhop role in a high-cost coastal city reflects local labor market rates, union density, and property-level compensation norms that simply do not exist in lower-cost Southern markets. The LCA must list the actual worksite location, so the wage floor is locked to wherever the work is performed, not the employer's headquarters.

What happens if a sponsored offer falls below the prevailing wage floor?

An employer cannot certify an LCA at a wage below the applicable prevailing wage for the worksite location and wage level. USCIS will not approve an H-1B or related petition backed by a noncompliant LCA. If the offer is below the floor, the employer must either raise the offered wage to meet compliance or refile the LCA at the correct level before the petition proceeds.

How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a specific U.S. location?

The OFLC Wage Search tool lets you look up the current DOL prevailing wage for SOC 39-6011 by metropolitan area and wage level. Enter the worksite city, select the occupation, and the tool returns all four level thresholds. Cross-reference the result with the wage listed on the employer's LCA. Migrate Mate can also help you identify which employers have sponsored this occupation in specific markets, narrowing your search before you reach the offer stage.

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