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

What is a ramp service agent and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

If you look out the window of an airplane, you will likely see individuals carrying luggage around and into the airplane. Those individuals are known as ramp service agents. Their purpose is to oversee that all the relevant luggage reaches its proper destination.

Some of the duties that you will perform in this capacity include guiding the aircraft to and from the gates, loading and unloading cargo from the aircraft, providing special handling of baggage and other luggage, operating ground equipment, reporting all malfunctions to the appropriate department, and ensuring that you and all related personnel are complying with the safety regulations. Essential skills required to successfully complete these tasks are organizational, time management, communication, teamwork, and leadership skills.

Qualifications-wise, employers usually require a high school diploma or a GED. What is more important is previous work experience in a similar position and other licenses and certification, such as a driver's license and successful completion of the ramp services training program. The average hourly pay for this position is $13.81, which amounts to $28,723 annually.

ScoreRamp Service AgentUS Average

Salary

2.4

Avg. Salary $30,094

Avg. Salary $59,228

Diversity

8.4

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.34%

Asian 7.36%

Black or African American 6.37%

Hispanic or Latino 23.55%

Unknown 6.32%

White 55.06%

Gender

female 17.89%

male 82.11%

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 service agent

Explore ramp service agent education requirements

Most common ramp service agent degrees

High School Diploma

37.1 %

Bachelor's

28.0 %

Associate

19.9 %

Start to develop specific ramp service agent skills

Skills	Percentages
De-icing	33.52%
Hand Signals	13.59%
Belt Loaders	13.35%
Reservations	8.81%
Safety Procedures	7.17%

Complete relevant ramp service agent training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New ramp service 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 service agent based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real ramp service agent resumes.

Research ramp service agent duties and responsibilities

Manage ticket inventory and assist with passenger check-in procedures, baggage loading and unloading.
Unload passenger luggage and air cargo, bulk and/or containers/pallets, onto carts and/or dollies.
Load and unload cargo for American eagle.
Operate cargoveyors, industrial tractors, forklifts, motor scooters.

Prepare your ramp service agent resume

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

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