Tour and travel guides salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $28,520 | $13.71 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $38,120 | $18.33 |
| Mean (average) | $43,720 | $21.02 |
| 90th percentile | $60,930 | $29.29 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Tour and travel guides pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 52 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $31,700 | $24,110 | $41,040 | 410 | 0.56 |
| Alaska | $44,210 | $33,410 | $58,890 | 1,660 | 14.79 |
| Arizona | $37,560 | $31,680 | $62,020 | 2,450 | 2.2 |
| Arkansas | $34,290 | $26,060 | $47,980 | 160 | 0.37 |
| California | $46,000 | $36,500 | $66,220 | 6,900 | 1.1 |
| Colorado | $42,840 | $31,380 | $55,600 | 2,150 | 2.17 |
| Connecticut | $35,090 | $34,010 | $62,330 | 220 | 0.38 |
| Delaware | $33,210 | $31,200 | $38,140 | 330 | 1.96 |
| District of Columbia | $49,210 | $36,940 | $76,790 | 380 | 1.59 |
| Florida | $41,600 | $30,520 | $64,340 | 2,720 | 0.8 |
| Georgia | $40,190 | $28,430 | $79,510 | 1,080 | 0.64 |
| Hawaii | $45,940 | $31,040 | $59,870 | 1,370 | 6.35 |
| Idaho | $37,960 | $23,920 | $58,090 | 460 | 1.56 |
| Illinois | $36,780 | $31,200 | $45,930 | 1,090 | 0.52 |
| Indiana | $31,030 | $19,290 | $41,080 | 700 | 0.64 |
| Iowa | $22,490 | $20,800 | $43,000 | 330 | 0.61 |
| Kansas | $43,700 | $30,900 | $57,790 | 400 | 0.81 |
| Kentucky | $36,070 | $28,090 | $47,690 | 1,010 | 1.47 |
| Louisiana | $32,060 | $21,310 | $78,000 | 580 | 0.88 |
| Maine | $44,940 | $32,910 | $55,240 | 270 | 1.25 |
| Maryland | $40,310 | $31,200 | $47,670 | 510 | 0.54 |
| Massachusetts | $37,840 | $33,510 | $50,960 | 1,760 | 1.41 |
| Michigan | $35,090 | $28,130 | $47,250 | 1,160 | 0.76 |
| Minnesota | $39,650 | $31,230 | $46,040 | 630 | 0.63 |
| Mississippi | $27,460 | $21,030 | $41,660 | 150 | 0.38 |
| Missouri | $31,980 | $29,470 | $48,120 | 1,360 | 1.35 |
| Montana | $40,100 | $23,770 | $59,280 | 680 | 3.88 |
| Nebraska | $31,580 | $28,080 | $46,020 | 340 | 0.97 |
| Nevada | $39,360 | $29,870 | $50,500 | 620 | 1.16 |
| New Hampshire | $41,600 | $30,010 | $61,790 | 260 | 1.09 |
| New Jersey | $36,640 | $32,220 | $80,800 | 390 | 0.26 |
| New Mexico | $37,080 | $26,030 | $62,770 | 360 | 1.21 |
| New York | $44,450 | $34,220 | $85,740 | 2,870 | 0.86 |
| North Carolina | $32,570 | $22,660 | $47,020 | 1,650 | 0.97 |
| North Dakota | $35,360 | $32,610 | $47,840 | 90 | 0.63 |
| Ohio | $32,800 | $22,400 | $47,110 | 1,000 | 0.52 |
| Oklahoma | $32,150 | $18,690 | $46,620 | 350 | 0.6 |
| Oregon | $39,260 | $30,920 | $64,620 | 530 | 0.78 |
| Pennsylvania | $32,910 | $23,390 | $53,540 | 1,970 | 0.94 |
| Puerto Rico | $27,860 | $21,840 | $43,050 | 490 | 1.53 |
| Rhode Island | $38,310 | $32,270 | $96,450 | 210 | 1.21 |
| South Carolina | $35,190 | $22,770 | $60,370 | 660 | 0.83 |
| South Dakota | $35,100 | $29,780 | $46,080 | 440 | 2.81 |
| Tennessee | $33,760 | $28,320 | $43,130 | 1,840 | 1.63 |
| Texas | $33,080 | $23,600 | $63,910 | 2,250 | 0.47 |
| Utah | $38,540 | $31,130 | $57,930 | 1,630 | 2.73 |
| Vermont | $45,920 | $40,070 | $65,250 | 140 | 1.34 |
| Virgin Islands | $102,020 | $40,330 | $102,030 | 50 | 4.81 |
| Washington | $54,160 | $37,540 | $76,790 | 1,420 | 1.16 |
| West Virginia | $28,570 | $21,700 | $49,910 | 270 | 1.11 |
| Wisconsin | $30,160 | $26,250 | $54,530 | 910 | 0.9 |
| Wyoming | $47,020 | $23,580 | $61,460 | 560 | 5.8 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for tour and travel guides
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 11,900. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 9.2%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for tour and travel guides
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Data unavailable No academic program is mapped to this occupation in the official crosswalk. Entry is usually through work experience, training, or apprenticeship.
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
BLS groups this occupation differently from O*NET. Skills and tasks below come from the closest O*NET occupation, Tour Guides and Escorts (39-7011.00).
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Describe tour points of interest to group members, and respond to questions.
- Escort individuals or groups on cruises, sightseeing tours, or through places of interest, such as industrial establishments, public buildings, or art galleries.
- Monitor visitors' activities to ensure compliance with establishment or tour regulations and safety practices.
- Conduct educational activities for school children.
- Research various topics, including site history, environmental conditions, and clients' skills and abilities to plan appropriate expeditions, instruction, and commentary.
- Provide directions and other pertinent information to visitors.
- Select travel routes and sites to be visited based on knowledge of specific areas.
Technology skills
- Adobe Photoshop (hot technology)
- Apple Safari (hot technology)
- Facebook (hot technology)
- Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Zoom (hot technology)
- Centaur Systems Centaur Travel Business Management System TBMS
- Email software
- Global positioning system GPS software
- IBS Software Services Tour Partner
- Microsoft Internet Explorer
- Padlet
Transferable skills for career changers: Social Perceptiveness, Service Orientation, Coordination, Time Management, Judgment and Decision Making, Persuasion.
Common job titles: Art Museum Docent, Discovery Guide, Docent, Guide, Historical Interpreter, Museum Docent, Museum Educator, Museum Guide, Science Interpreter, Tour Guide.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do tour and travel guides make?
The national median annual wage for tour and travel guides was $38,120 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $28,520 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $60,930. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do tour and travel guides need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is tour and travel guides a growing career?
BLS projects employment of tour and travel guides to change +6.3% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 11,900 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay tour and travel guides the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Virgin Islands ($102,020), Washington ($54,160), District of Columbia ($49,210). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.