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The differences between ramp agents and baggage handlers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a baggage handler has an average salary of $41,779, which is higher than the $30,721 average annual salary of a ramp agent.
The top three skills for a ramp agent include safety procedures, loaders and service aircraft. The most important skills for a baggage handler are customer service, loaders, and delta.
| Ramp Agent | Baggage Handler | |
| Yearly salary | $30,721 | $41,779 |
| Hourly rate | $14.77 | $20.09 |
| Growth rate | - | - |
| Number of jobs | 26,619 | 26,921 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 45% | High School Diploma, 52% |
| Average age | 45 | 49 |
| Years of experience | - | 12 |
A ramp agent is an individual responsible for the loading and unloading of aircraft baggage, which includes mail and cargo, from the aircraft to the airport. He/She drives and operates ground equipment such as cargo carts and belt loaders while maintaining safe working conditions for himself and others. Other than loading and unloading baggage, a ramp agent guides planes to and from their gates and performs other airplane servicing duties. A ramp agent should be able to work in extreme conditions and pass a physical agility test.
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. They are required to keep track of the baggage and cargo to make sure that they are delivered to the rightful owners. Baggage handlers must also protect the baggage of travelers and cargo from theft and damage by implementing safety procedures and standards.
Ramp agents and baggage handlers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Ramp Agent | Baggage Handler | |
| Average salary | $30,721 | $41,779 |
| Salary range | Between $24,000 And $38,000 | Between $22,000 And $78,000 |
| Highest paying City | Minneapolis, MN | - |
| Highest paying state | Minnesota | - |
| Best paying company | FedEx | - |
| Best paying industry | - | - |
There are a few differences between a ramp agent and a baggage handler in terms of educational background:
| Ramp Agent | Baggage Handler | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 45% | High School Diploma, 52% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between ramp agents' and baggage handlers' demographics:
| Ramp Agent | Baggage Handler | |
| Average age | 45 | 49 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 82.3% Female, 17.7% | Male, 83.0% Female, 17.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.8% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 23.1% Asian, 6.7% White, 55.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% | Black or African American, 13.1% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 16.2% Asian, 7.3% White, 56.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 12% |