Enter your pay and a location to see where you stand against BLS and H-1B pay, your estimated take-home pay, and your purchasing power.
Pay range for Tour and Travel Guides
Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Percentile
All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay
$28,520
25th
$32,910
Median (50th)
$38,120
75th
$47,700
90th — top pay
$60,930
Hourly ⇄ annual pay
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Monthly—
Every 2 weeks—
Weekly—
Daily—
Based on
hrs/week ×
weeks/year
= 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035
Job outlook for Tour and Travel Guides
BLS projects employment of tour and travel guides to grow 6.3% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations.
About 11,900 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.
Jobs 2025 → 2035
62,200 → 66,100
+3,900 jobs
Projected change
+6.3%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
11,900
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
No related experience required
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Self-employed
9.2% of workers (2025)
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 2)
Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
BLS state medians, plus the same figure adjusted for local prices (BEA Regional Price Parities). Tap a state for its full range and H-1B pay.
State
Median
Jobs
Cost-adjusted
Profile
Tour and Travel Guides salaries by metro area
Search by city, ZIP code or metro name. Tap a metro for its full range.
Metro area
Median
Jobs
Cost-adjusted
Profile
Skills & tools
Skills needed for Tour and Travel Guides
How important each skill and knowledge area is for this job, rated by O*NET on a 1–5 scale from surveys of workers and occupational analysts.
Top skills
Speaking3.9
Service Orientation3.6
Active Listening3.6
Social Perceptiveness3.6
Coordination3.4
Persuasion3.2
Reading Comprehension3.1
Time Management3.1
Critical Thinking3.0
Monitoring3.0
Top knowledge areas
Customer and Personal Service4.4
English Language3.7
Education and Training3.0
Geography2.9
Transportation2.8
Public Safety and Security2.7
Sales and Marketing2.7
Administration and Management2.7
Software and technology used
Microsoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareAdobe PhotoshopApple SafariFacebookMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft WordStructured query language SQLTableauZoomCentaur Systems Centaur Travel Business Management System TBMSCustomer information databasesData visualization softwareEmail softwareFinancial accounting softwareGlobal positioning system GPS software
Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).
Source: 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.
About the job
What tour and travel guides do
BLS reports pay for this group as one occupation. The details below combine O*NET's 2 detailed occupations: Tour Guides and Escorts; Travel Guides.
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.
Arrange for tour or expedition details such as accommodations, transportation, equipment, and the availability of medical personnel.
Admitting Office EscortAdventure GuideAlpine GuideArt Museum AideCruise AgentCruise ConsultantCruise CoordinatorCruise DirectorCruise GuideDestination CoordinatorDestination Imagination CoordinatorDuck DriverDude WranglerEnvironmental EducatorEscortEscort Service AttendantEstablishment GuideEvent GuideExperience GuideFishing GuideGuest AmbassadorGuest Experience AmbassadorHaunted History Tour GuideHistorical Site GuideHunter GuideHunting and Fishing GuideHunting GuideInternational Guest CoordinatorKayak GuideLicensed GuideMountain GuideMountain Services ManagerMuseum AttendantNational Park Tour GuideOutdoor GuidePagePark AmbassadorPark GuidePlant GuidePresenterProgram GuideRaft GuideRiver Expedition GuideRiver GuideRiver Rafting GuideSightseeing GuideSite AttendantStudent Tour GuideTour Bus GuideTour ConductorTour ConsultantTour Travel SpecialistTourist EscortTourist GuideTrail GuideTravel GuideVIP Tour Guide (Very Important Person Tour Guide)Wilderness GuideZipline Guide
Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.
Similar jobs and how they pay
Occupations O*NET lists as closely related to Tour and Travel Guides, with BLS national medians compared with this occupation's $38,120.
