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Travel guide: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 28, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$38,120median pay per year, or $18.33 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $28,520lowest 10% earn less
  2. $32,91025th percentile
  3. $38,120median
  4. $47,70075th percentile
  5. $60,930top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

The median pay for tour and travel guides was $38,120 a year in May 2025[1]. Jobs are projected to grow faster than the average for all occupations[2][3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+6.3%[2]
Openings per year
11,900[6]
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent[7]

How much do travel guides make?

The median pay for tour and travel guides was $38,120 a year, or $18.33 an hour, in May 2025[1]. Half earned more and half earned less. The average was higher, at $43,720 a year or $21.02 an hour[8]. The median for all occupations was $50,980 a year[5].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $28,520 a year, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $60,930[4]. BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[9].

Percentile Annual pay Hourly pay
10th[4][10] $28,520 $13.71
25th[4][10] $32,910 $15.82
Median[1] $38,120 $18.33
75th[4][10] $47,700 $22.93
90th[4][10] $60,930 $29.29

These figures cover people paid a wage or salary. They leave out the self-employed, bonuses not tied to production, and the cost of benefits[11]. About 9.2% of tour and travel guides were self-employed in 2025[12].

Pay by state and city

Washington had the highest median pay at $54,160 a year, followed by the District of Columbia at $49,210 and Wyoming at $47,020[13]. Iowa had the lowest published state median, at $22,490[13].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA had the highest median at $63,630, followed by San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $59,330[14].

The most jobs were in California (6,900), New York (2,870) and Florida (2,720)[15]. Among metro areas, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim had the most at 2,360, with a median of $42,870[16].

Show median pay in 49 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
Washington[13]$54,1601,420
District of Columbia$49,210380
Wyoming$47,020560
California$46,0006,900
Hawaii$45,9401,370
Vermont$45,920140
Maine$44,940270
New York$44,4502,870
Alaska$44,2101,660
Kansas$43,700400
Colorado$42,8402,150
Florida$41,6002,720
New Hampshire$41,600260
Maryland$40,310510
Georgia$40,1901,080
Montana$40,100680
Minnesota$39,650630
Nevada$39,360620
Oregon$39,260530
Utah$38,5401,630
Rhode Island$38,310210
Idaho$37,960460
Massachusetts$37,8401,760
Arizona$37,5602,450
New Mexico$37,080360
Illinois$36,7801,090
New Jersey$36,640390
Kentucky$36,0701,010
North Dakota$35,36090
South Carolina$35,190660
South Dakota$35,100440
Connecticut$35,090220
Michigan$35,0901,160
Arkansas$34,290160
Tennessee$33,7601,840
Delaware$33,210330
Texas$33,0802,250
Pennsylvania$32,9101,970
Ohio$32,8001,000
North Carolina$32,5701,650
Oklahoma$32,150350
Louisiana$32,060580
Missouri$31,9801,360
Alabama$31,700410
Nebraska$31,580340
Indiana$31,030700
Wisconsin$30,160910
West Virginia$28,570270
Mississippi$27,460150
Iowa$22,490330

How to become a travel guide

BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education, with no work experience needed and moderate-term on-the-job training[7].

Some guides choose a bachelor's degree, with no standard program. Common fields include business, education and the arts. Knowing more than one language may help[19].

License rules depend on the place and the work:

Certification is not required but may show skill[24].

In an O*NET survey of 27 tour guides and escorts, 31% said an associate's degree is required, 30% said a bachelor's degree and 22% said a high school diploma or equivalent[25]. In a survey of 18 travel guides, 46% said a high school diploma or equivalent[26].

What travel guides do

O*NET describes two related jobs. Tour guides and escorts lead people on sightseeing tours or through places of interest such as public buildings and art galleries[27]. Travel guides plan, organize and run long-distance trips and expeditions[28]. Common tasks include:

Workers report titles such as docent, museum guide, tour manager and tour escort[31][32].

Where travel guides work

Museums, historical sites and similar institutions were the largest employers in 2025, at 26% of jobs[33]. Guides also work in places such as gardens. They may stand or walk for long periods, be outdoors, or ride with groups on buses. Those on long-distance tours may be away from home for long periods[34].

Part-time work is common. Schedules vary and can include weekends, evenings and holidays, and the work may be seasonal[35]. Travel guides may go on trips lasting several days in a row, often with long days and time off in between[36].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment of tour and travel guides to grow 6.3% from 2025 to 2035, from about 62,200 to 66,100 jobs, a gain of 3,900[2]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5%[3].

About 11,900 openings a year are projected on average[6]. Openings count jobs left by workers who retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs[6]. Each year, 7.7% of guides are projected to leave the labor force and 10.2% to move to a different occupation[37].

Is it a good fit?

The facts suggest this job suits people who want to start with a high school diploma and learn on the job[7][18]. Pay was below the all-occupations median[1][5], and part-time, seasonal and irregular schedules are common[35]. Projected growth is faster than average[2][3]. Check local license rules before you start[20][21].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[38].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a travel guide make an hour?
The median was $18.33 an hour in May 2025, and the average was $21.02[1][8].
What education do you need to be a travel guide?
A high school diploma or equivalent is the typical requirement, and some guides choose a bachelor's degree[7][19].
Do tour guides need a license?
Some do. Local licenses may be needed in places such as New York City and Washington, D.C.[20], and state licenses for hunting or fishing trips[21].
Is travel guide a growing job?
Employment is projected to grow 6.3% from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations[2][3].
What is the highest paying state for travel guides?
Washington, with a median of $54,160 a year in May 2025[13].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Tour and Travel Guides in the US was $38,120 per year and $18.33 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Tour and Travel Guides is projected to grow 6.3% from 2025 to 2035, from about 62,200 to 66,100 jobs (a change of +3,900). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Tour and Travel Guides: 10th percentile $28,520, 25th percentile $32,910, 75th percentile $47,700, 90th percentile $60,930. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 11,900 openings for Tour and Travel Guides are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Tour and Travel Guides: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Tour and Travel Guides was $43,720 per year and $21.02 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Tour and Travel Guides: 10th percentile $13.71, 25th percentile $15.82, 75th percentile $22.93, 90th percentile $29.29. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS Employment Projections: 9.2% of Tour and Travel Guides were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  13. Median annual wage for Tour and Travel Guides in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Tour and Travel Guides (areas with at least 100 jobs): Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $63,630; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $59,330; San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA $54,550; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $52,480; Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA $50,320; Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL $49,540; Kahului-Wailuku, HI $49,430; Bozeman, MT $49,080. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Tour and Travel Guides jobs: California 6,900; New York 2,870; Florida 2,720; Arizona 2,450; Texas 2,250. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Tour and Travel Guides jobs: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 2,360 (median $42,870); New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 2,180 (median $45,610); Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ 1,330; Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 1,290 (median $38,440); Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 1,280 (median $46,130); Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 1,060 (median $34,290). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. O*NET 39-7011.00 (Tour Guides and Escorts) survey of workers (27 respondents), education level they say is required: Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree 31%, Bachelor's Degree 30%, High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 22%, Post-Secondary Certificate 8% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  26. O*NET 39-7012.00 (Travel Guides) survey of workers (18 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 46%, Some College Courses 21%, Less than a High School Diploma 18%, Post-Secondary Certificate 9%, Bachelor's Degree 6% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  27. O*NET description of Tour and Travel Guides. O*NET OnLine
  28. O*NET description of Tour and Travel Guides. O*NET OnLine
  29. O*NET task list for Tour and Travel Guides. O*NET OnLine
  30. O*NET task list for Tour and Travel Guides. O*NET OnLine
  31. O*NET 39-7011.00 (Tour Guides and Escorts) sample job titles reported by workers: Art Museum Docent, Discovery Guide, Docent, Guide, Historical Interpreter, Museum Docent, Museum Educator, Museum Guide. O*NET OnLine
  32. O*NET 39-7012.00 (Travel Guides) sample job titles reported by workers: Cruise Counselor, Guide, Naturalist Guide, Tour Coordinator, Tour Escort, Tour Manager, Tour Operations Specialist, Tour Operator. O*NET OnLine
  33. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of tour and travel guides in 2025: Museums, historical sites, and similar institutions 26%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  34. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  35. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  36. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  37. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Tour and Travel Guides: 7.7% of workers leave the labor force each year and 10.2% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  38. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.