How To Become A Ramp Agent: What It Is and Career Path

What is a ramp agent and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

As a Ramp Agent, you will be asked to load and unload aircraft baggage. You will also be driving and operating ground equipment while you maintain safe working conditions for all the people in the area. In addition, you will be guiding planes and performing other duties concerned with airplane service.

As a Ramp Agent, you need to have good communication skills in order to do your job well and deliver your ideas and messages efficiently. You also need to have integrity and high morals at all times. Lastly, interpersonal skills are essential as a Ramp Agent; you need to know how to deal with different types of people.

As a Ramp Agent, you can earn an average salary of $24,417 per year. You can also explore other careers after some time. You can be a Security Officer, a Technician, a Maintenance Supervisor, and a Maintenance Director if this is the path you plan to take.

ScoreRamp AgentUS Average

Salary

2.4

Avg. Salary $30,721

Avg. Salary $59,228

Diversity

8.6

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.23%

Asian 6.74%

Black or African American 7.79%

Hispanic or Latino 23.10%

Unknown 6.10%

White 55.05%

Gender

female 17.69%

male 82.31%

Age - 45

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 45

Stress level

8.4

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

4.8

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance

7.3

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a ramp agent

Explore ramp agent education requirements

Most common ramp agent degrees

High School Diploma

44.8 %

Bachelor's

21.6 %

Associate

17.8 %

Start to develop specific ramp agent skills

Skills	Percentages
Safety Procedures	20.60%
Loaders	18.05%
Service Aircraft	12.52%
Belt Loaders	9.44%
Unload Cargo	7.75%

Complete relevant ramp agent training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New ramp agents learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a ramp agent based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real ramp agent resumes.

Research ramp agent duties and responsibilities

Manage ticket inventory and assist with passenger check-in procedures, baggage loading and unloading.
Include safely driving and operating grind equipment such as tugs, belt loaders, and tow tractors in area of congestion.
Operate tugs, baggage belt loaders, FMC loaders and other equipment to safely and efficiently perform grind servicing for commercial airliners
Calculate, issue, and re-issu international tickets; prepare prepaid ticket-advice; fulfill ticket counter and departure gate check-in duties.

Prepare your ramp agent resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your ramp agent resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a ramp agent resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable ramp agent resume templates

Build a professional ramp agent resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your ramp agent resume.