Travel agents salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $34,610 | $16.64 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $50,160 | $24.11 |
| Mean (average) | $54,660 | $26.28 |
| 90th percentile | $76,660 | $36.86 |
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
Travel agents pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 53 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $47,640 | $38,910 | $63,240 | 380 | 0.5 |
| Alaska | $47,650 | $44,670 | $61,860 | 190 | 1.62 |
| Arizona | $51,800 | $33,390 | $80,760 | 1,100 | 0.96 |
| Arkansas | $36,600 | $35,870 | $61,880 | 180 | 0.38 |
| California | $51,030 | $38,720 | $74,970 | 4,760 | 0.74 |
| Colorado | $56,570 | $42,930 | $80,660 | 1,100 | 1.08 |
| Connecticut | $60,640 | $42,060 | $86,630 | 650 | 1.08 |
| Delaware | Data unavailable | 210 | 1.24 | ||
| District of Columbia | $61,560 | $37,600 | $84,540 | 160 | 0.65 |
| Florida | $50,060 | $35,060 | $77,970 | 9,430 | 2.68 |
| Georgia | $48,880 | $30,170 | $76,700 | 2,300 | 1.33 |
| Guam | $22,650 | $21,530 | $40,060 | 50 | 2.15 |
| Hawaii | $47,560 | $29,120 | $94,990 | 580 | 2.59 |
| Idaho | $48,110 | $28,520 | $84,070 | 220 | 0.73 |
| Illinois | $49,090 | $37,200 | $77,630 | 2,120 | 0.98 |
| Indiana | $48,530 | $31,000 | $84,240 | 640 | 0.57 |
| Iowa | $45,440 | $32,710 | $62,180 | 290 | 0.53 |
| Kansas | $53,600 | $38,100 | $78,810 | 250 | 0.5 |
| Kentucky | $49,370 | $36,520 | $113,740 | 220 | 0.32 |
| Louisiana | $35,970 | $30,850 | $82,200 | 310 | 0.45 |
| Maine | Data unavailable | 120 | 0.54 | ||
| Maryland | $49,160 | $32,160 | $61,950 | 360 | 0.36 |
| Massachusetts | $56,450 | $35,520 | $80,500 | 1,810 | 1.41 |
| Michigan | $46,250 | $36,820 | $62,530 | 1,150 | 0.74 |
| Minnesota | $47,260 | $30,860 | $81,100 | 890 | 0.85 |
| Mississippi | $49,050 | $34,200 | $87,570 | 160 | 0.39 |
| Missouri | $45,460 | $28,600 | $64,760 | 1,500 | 1.44 |
| Montana | $61,330 | $30,230 | $88,230 | 200 | 1.11 |
| Nebraska | $49,690 | $36,220 | $59,320 | 240 | 0.67 |
| Nevada | $63,400 | $42,420 | $63,400 | ||
| New Hampshire | $47,190 | $30,780 | $62,780 | 130 | 0.55 |
| New Jersey | $61,090 | $36,140 | $77,560 | 1,660 | 1.09 |
| New Mexico | $44,700 | $26,290 | $48,630 | 120 | 0.4 |
| New York | $55,580 | $36,680 | $95,780 | 3,180 | 0.92 |
| North Carolina | $56,180 | $35,170 | $87,540 | 1,250 | 0.71 |
| North Dakota | $44,740 | $34,920 | $75,440 | 150 | 0.97 |
| Ohio | $46,000 | $34,580 | $63,370 | 1,140 | 0.58 |
| Oklahoma | $36,980 | $21,120 | $56,020 | 600 | 0.99 |
| Oregon | $56,810 | $47,600 | $72,490 | 620 | 0.89 |
| Pennsylvania | $47,720 | $27,450 | $78,190 | 1,470 | 0.68 |
| Puerto Rico | $22,960 | $21,840 | $29,000 | 460 | 1.37 |
| Rhode Island | $59,790 | $40,370 | $79,990 | 250 | 1.43 |
| South Carolina | $34,560 | $26,120 | $62,150 | 680 | 0.83 |
| South Dakota | $44,510 | $36,700 | $61,840 | 200 | 1.2 |
| Tennessee | $55,640 | $42,400 | $69,180 | 540 | 0.47 |
| Texas | $49,500 | $31,740 | $70,090 | 4,310 | 0.86 |
| Utah | $56,670 | $35,210 | $74,440 | 440 | 0.72 |
| Vermont | $60,560 | $36,270 | $84,690 | 120 | 1.15 |
| Virginia | $45,260 | $30,140 | $75,910 | 1,050 | 0.72 |
| Washington | $55,260 | $45,190 | $92,390 | 1,710 | 1.36 |
| West Virginia | $44,760 | $29,130 | $50,820 | 250 | 1 |
| Wisconsin | $47,080 | $28,720 | $60,360 | 810 | 0.77 |
| Wyoming | $48,030 | $28,020 | $76,850 | 50 | 0.5 |
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 travel agents
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 5,900. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 12%.
- 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 travel agents
- 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
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Selling Skills and Sales Operations CIP 52.1804
- Tourism and Travel Services Marketing Operations CIP 52.1905
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Collect payment for transportation and accommodations from customer.
- Plan, describe, arrange, and sell itinerary tour packages and promotional travel incentives offered by various travel carriers.
- Converse with customer to determine destination, mode of transportation, travel dates, financial considerations, and accommodations required.
- Compute cost of travel and accommodations, using calculator, computer, carrier tariff books, and hotel rate books, or quote package tour's costs.
- Record and maintain information on clients, vendors, and travel packages.
- Book transportation and hotel reservations, using computer or telephone.
- Print or request transportation carrier tickets, using computer printer system or system link to travel carrier.
- Provide customer with brochures and publications containing travel information, such as local customs, points of interest, or foreign country regulations.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (in demand)
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Microsoft Outlook (in demand)
- Amadeus CRS (in demand)
- Sabre Central Command (in demand)
- Intuit QuickBooks (hot technology)
- Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- SAP Concur (hot technology)
- Zoom (hot technology)
- Apollo Reservation System
- Colibripms Software Colibri
- DataSwell
- Galor Travel Booster
- Global distribution system GDS software
Transferable skills for career changers: Service Orientation, Social Perceptiveness, Persuasion, Judgment and Decision Making, Coordination, Negotiation.
Common job titles: Auto Travel Counselor, Beach Expert, Corporate Travel Consultant, Destination Specialist, International Travel Consultant, Tour Coordinator, Tour Counselor, Travel Agent, Travel Consultant, Travel Counselor.
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 travel agents make?
The national median annual wage for travel agents was $50,160 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $34,610 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $76,660. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do travel agents 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 travel agents a growing career?
BLS projects employment of travel agents to change +0.2% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 5,900 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay travel agents the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Nevada ($63,400), District of Columbia ($61,560), Montana ($61,330). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.