How to hire a ramp agent

How to hire a ramp agent, step by step

Here's a step-by-step ramp agent hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a ramp agent job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new ramp agent
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a ramp agent do?

Post a ramp agent job for free, promote it for a fee

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your ramp agent job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a ramp agent for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A ramp agent's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, ramp agents from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of ramp agents and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Ramp Agent	Description	Hourly rate
   Ramp Agent	Information clerks perform routine clerical duties such as maintaining records, collecting data, and providing information to customers.	$11-18
   Transportation Clerk	As a Transportation Clerk, your job is to assess the contents of freight goods and their associated documents. You will be required to check the consignment and the designation details of all containers, passengers, and articles... Show more	$9-19
   Baggage Handler	Baggage handlers are skilled employees who are responsible for loading and unloading travelers' baggage and other cargo at airports. These handlers are required to handle weighty baggage and cargo by operating conveyor belts, tugs, and tow tractors... Show more	$10-37

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Safety Procedures
   • Loaders
   • Service Aircraft
   • Belt Loaders
   • Unload Cargo
   • Customer Service
   • Ground Support Equipment
   • FAA
   • De-icing
   • Customer Baggage
   • Tow Tractors
   • Aircraft Weight
   • Air Cargo
   • Commercial Vehicles

   Check all skills

   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.
   • Marshal aircraft for arrivals and departures including following all safety procedures and ensure proper communication with the aircrew.
   • Operate portable radio or headphones.

   More ramp agent duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your ramp agent job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A ramp agent can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, ramp agents' average salary in louisiana is 46% less than in minnesota.
   • Seniority. Entry-level ramp agents 37% less than senior-level ramp agents.
   • Certifications. A ramp agent with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a ramp agent's salary.

   Average ramp agent salary

   $14.77hourly

   $30,721 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level ramp agent salary

   $24,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 14, 2025

   Average ramp agent salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Minnesota	$38,686	$19
   2	Washington	$35,521	$17
   3	Illinois	$34,919	$17
   4	North Dakota	$33,273	$16
   5	California	$33,195	$16
   6	Oregon	$33,092	$16
   7	Massachusetts	$32,860	$16
   8	New Mexico	$30,665	$15
   9	Colorado	$30,068	$14
   10	Indiana	$29,535	$14
   11	Arkansas	$29,422	$14
   12	Nevada	$28,898	$14
   13	Utah	$28,346	$14
   14	Maryland	$28,156	$14
   15	Pennsylvania	$28,130	$14
   16	Vermont	$28,023	$13
   17	Missouri	$28,013	$13
   18	Virginia	$28,008	$13
   19	Arizona	$27,804	$13
   20	Wisconsin	$27,753	$13

   Average ramp agent salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	FedEx	$35,662	$17.15	58
   2	General Dynamics	$34,452	$16.56	6
   3	Matheson Trucking Inc.	$33,174	$15.95
   4	G2 Secure Staff	$32,767	$15.75	162
   5	Airport Terminal Services	$32,723	$15.73
   6	Menzies Aviation	$32,652	$15.70	32
   7	Cincinnati State	$32,490	$15.62
   8	United Ground Express	$32,282	$15.52	24
   9	Worldwide Flight Services Inc	$31,907	$15.34
   10	GAT Airline Ground Support	$31,752	$15.27
   11	DHL	$31,595	$15.19	11
   12	Total Airport Services	$31,573	$15.18
   13	Quantem Aviation Services	$31,531	$15.16
   14	G2 Partners	$31,500	$15.14
   15	Vail Health	$31,256	$15.03
   16	Delta Corporate Svcs	$31,212	$15.01
   17	PrimeFlight Aviation Services	$30,778	$14.80	123
   18	Matheson Tri gas	$30,732	$14.78
   19	McGee Air Services	$30,718	$14.77	6
   20	American Airlines	$30,614	$14.72	9

4. Writing a ramp agent job description

   A ramp agent job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a ramp agent job description:

   Ramp agent job description example

   What makes DHL great? Our People! We know each employee’s individual contributions make us the #1 Express Delivery and Logistics Company in the world.

   Distinguished as No. 1 World’s Best Workplace™ by Great Place to Work and Fortune Magazine

   
   DHL Express is committed to maintaining an environment that empowers every team member to make the greatest possible impact on our business. Our corporate culture is about personal commitment – to our business, to each other and to our global communities. DHL is dedicated to being a great place to work. In addition to competitive compensation packages, our employees enjoy a range of programs, services and benefits that bring the best to their personal lives.

   Start YOUR career with DHL today…

   DHL Express currently has openings for a Part-Time Shift Ramp Agent/ Loader at our Seattle WA Service Station. the efficient and timely processing and handling of customer outbound and inbound shipments. Success in this position depends on the ability to ensure compliance with safety, security, regulatory, and company policies, as well as the ability to work well in a team environment.

   Shift: M-F AND Sun - 5pm- 9/930pm

   Starting pay rate is $20 per hour.

   Key Responsibilities:

   • Under tight deadlines, performs duties such as sorting, packing, loading, unloading containers
   • Palletizing and separation of freight/documents
   • Ensures all delivery material is prepared for shipment
   • Operates a scanner to record shipping and package information for documents/packages picked up or delivered
   • Drive forklift
   • Reports any suspected breach of security or unusual happenings to supervisor immediately
   • Maintains good work habits, including reporting to work on time and adhering to standard work and safety procedures
   • May assist supervisor in orienting, training, assigning and checking the work of other employees

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find ramp agents for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any ramp agents they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level ramp agents with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your ramp agent job on Zippia to find and recruit ramp agent candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting ramp agents requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new ramp agent

   Once you have selected a candidate for the ramp agent position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new ramp agent. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a ramp agent?