How to hire a ramp service agent

How to hire a ramp service agent, step by step

Here's a step-by-step ramp service 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 service agent job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new ramp service agent
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a ramp service agent do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The ramp service agent hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect ramp service agent also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

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

   Type of Ramp Service Agent	Description	Hourly rate
   Ramp Service Agent	Information clerks perform routine clerical duties such as maintaining records, collecting data, and providing information to customers.	$11-17
   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
   Agent	Agents are individuals who are employed by their clients to represent them in various dealings. Agents are usually employed by people in the show business industry, such as actors, writers, or directors... Show more	$9-34

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • De-icing
   • Hand Signals
   • Belt Loaders
   • Reservations
   • Safety Procedures
   • Loaders
   • Conveyor Belts
   • Unload Cargo
   • Ground Support Equipment
   • Unload Aircraft
   • Federal Aviation Administration
   • Customer Baggage
   • GPU
   • Equipment Checks

   Check all skills

   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.
   • Clean and service cabin interiors, lavatories, overhead storage bins and buffets.
   • Utilize ramp tugs, nose loaders, bobtails and container loaders to complete daily duties.

   More ramp service agent duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the ramp service agent job description is a good way to get more applicants. A ramp service agent salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a ramp service agent in Kentucky may be lower than in New Jersey, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level ramp service agent. Additionally, a ramp service agent with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average ramp service agent salary

   $14.47hourly

   $30,094 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level ramp service agent salary

   $24,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 21, 2025

   Average ramp service agent salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New Jersey	$37,333	$18
   2	Washington	$36,787	$18
   3	Alaska	$35,915	$17
   4	California	$31,826	$15
   5	Minnesota	$31,806	$15
   6	New Mexico	$31,798	$15
   7	Massachusetts	$31,682	$15
   8	Illinois	$31,409	$15
   9	Virginia	$31,142	$15
   10	Oregon	$30,382	$15
   11	Colorado	$29,362	$14
   12	Wisconsin	$28,962	$14
   13	Arizona	$28,724	$14
   14	Michigan	$28,591	$14
   15	Indiana	$28,494	$14
   16	North Dakota	$28,047	$13
   17	North Carolina	$27,464	$13
   18	Louisiana	$27,355	$13
   19	Alabama	$27,122	$13
   20	Texas	$26,159	$13

   Average ramp service agent salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	dnata	$31,932	$15.35
   2	General Dynamics	$31,641	$15.21	13
   3	G2 Secure Staff	$31,527	$15.16	190
   4	Signature Flight Support	$31,505	$15.15	6
   5	Worldwide Flight Services Inc	$30,988	$14.90
   6	United Ground Express	$30,937	$14.87	19
   7	Ameriflight	$30,491	$14.66	2
   8	Outagamie County	$30,020	$14.43
   9	NANA	$29,927	$14.39	8
   10	Alliance Ground International	$29,774	$14.31	45
   11	ManpowerGroup	$29,693	$14.28	10
   12	Swissport Holdings Inc	$29,590	$14.23
   13	Aero Air	$29,521	$14.19
   14	American Airlines	$29,450	$14.16	1
   15	Jet Aviation	$29,371	$14.12	18
   16	Signature Technicair	$28,564	$13.73
   17	Alaska Airlines	$28,324	$13.62	19
   18	Spirit Airlines	$28,195	$13.56
   19	Professional Transportation	$28,086	$13.50
   20	Envoy Air	$27,428	$13.19	192

4. Writing a ramp service agent job description

   A ramp service 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 service agent job description:

   Ramp service agent job description example

   
   

   $ 1,000 Sign On Bonus

   • Starting wage $22.00 per hour
   • 15-20 hours per week
   • Paid Time Off
   • Must have a valid driver's license
   • Must pass a 10-year background check and pre-employment drug test
   • Available to work nights, weekends, and holidays
   • Must be able to complete required training

   Ramp Service Agent

   General Purpose of Job:

   The Ramp Service Agent is responsible for the handling of customer luggage, including loading and unloading baggage on and off the aircraft, marshaling in and pushing back the aircrafts, operation of ground service equipment (GSE), meet arriving flights and service departing flights, assist customers with special needs, assist customer service agents, as needed, and any other assigned duties.

   Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

   Perform related duties as assigned or as the situation dictates, i.e., ramp, commissary and aircraft cleaning activities.

   Move luggage and comail of various weight and dimensions to and from aircraft and airport luggage receiving area.

   Load and unload baggage, luggage, and comail.

   Operate ground equipment, including tugs and belt loaders.

   Marshal aircraft to and from gates.

   Provide proper handling of baggage requiring special care.

   Service aircraft lavatories.

   Perform aircraft interior cleaning.

   Responsible for aircraft security searches and commissary security searches.

   Ensure ramp areas are safe and free of FOD and that all ground equipment is properly maintained.

   Follow safety regulations which include the proper use of ground equipment and wearing proper safety items.

   Able to communicate using a two-way radio.

   Physical Demands :

   Must be able to work in a high-pressure environment. Must be able to carry 70-pound suitcase from the floor to 18 inches and carry 70-pound suitcase in front of you with both hands for up to 25 feet; must have physical dexterity sufficient to perform repetitive tasks and motions, including bending at the waist and knees, squatting, kneeling, crawling, twisting and sustaining those positions for extended amounts of time. Must have sufficient vision and ability to safely perform the essential functions of the position.

   Work Environment:

   Airport environment: Indoors and Outdoors. Extreme outdoor conditions where extreme temperature ranges may be encountered.

   MUST be able to work a flexible schedule including nights, weekends and holidays.

   **details of sign on bonus discussed at interview

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find ramp service agents for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit ramp service agents, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   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 service agent

   Once you've decided on a perfect ramp service agent candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new ramp service agent. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

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 service agent?