How much does a tour and travel guide make?
The median tour and travel guide in the United States earns $38,120 per year, about $18.33 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all tour and travel guides earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 39-7010.
Tour and travel guide salary range
Pay for tour and travel guides spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $28,520 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $60,930. The average (mean) wage of $43,720 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $28,520 | $13.71 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $32,910 | $15.82 | |
| Median (50th) | $38,120 | $18.33 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $47,700 | $22.93 | |
| 90th percentile | $60,930 | $29.29 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for tour and travel guides (SOC 39-7010), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Tour and travel guide salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Tour and travel guides earn the most in Washington at $54,160 a year, and the least in Iowa at $22,490. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $54,160 | 1,420 |
| District of Columbia | $49,210 | 380 |
| Wyoming | $47,020 | 560 |
| California | $46,000 | 6,900 |
| Hawaii | $45,940 | 1,370 |
| Vermont | $45,920 | 140 |
| Maine | $44,940 | 270 |
| New York | $44,450 | 2,870 |
| Alaska | $44,210 | 1,660 |
| Kansas | $43,700 | 400 |
| Colorado | $42,840 | 2,150 |
| Florida | $41,600 | 2,720 |
| New Hampshire | $41,600 | 260 |
| Maryland | $40,310 | 510 |
| Georgia | $40,190 | 1,080 |
| Montana | $40,100 | 680 |
| Minnesota | $39,650 | 630 |
| Nevada | $39,360 | 620 |
| Oregon | $39,260 | 530 |
| Utah | $38,540 | 1,630 |
| Rhode Island | $38,310 | 210 |
| Idaho | $37,960 | 460 |
| Massachusetts | $37,840 | 1,760 |
| Arizona | $37,560 | 2,450 |
| New Mexico | $37,080 | 360 |
| Illinois | $36,780 | 1,090 |
| New Jersey | $36,640 | 390 |
| Kentucky | $36,070 | 1,010 |
| North Dakota | $35,360 | 90 |
| South Carolina | $35,190 | 660 |
| South Dakota | $35,100 | 440 |
| Connecticut | $35,090 | 220 |
| Michigan | $35,090 | 1,160 |
| Arkansas | $34,290 | 160 |
| Tennessee | $33,760 | 1,840 |
| Delaware | $33,210 | 330 |
| Texas | $33,080 | 2,250 |
| Pennsylvania | $32,910 | 1,970 |
| Ohio | $32,800 | 1,000 |
| North Carolina | $32,570 | 1,650 |
| Oklahoma | $32,150 | 350 |
| Louisiana | $32,060 | 580 |
| Missouri | $31,980 | 1,360 |
| Alabama | $31,700 | 410 |
| Nebraska | $31,580 | 340 |
| Indiana | $31,030 | 700 |
| Wisconsin | $30,160 | 910 |
| West Virginia | $28,570 | 270 |
| Mississippi | $27,460 | 150 |
| Iowa | $22,490 | 330 |
State median wages for tour and travel guides (SOC 39-7010), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for tour and travel guides
The BLS projects employment of tour and travel guides to grow 6.3% from 2025 to 2035. That is faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 62,200 jobs in 2025 moving toward 66,100 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 11,900 openings a year for tour and travel guides. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a tour and travel guide
The typical entry-level education for tour and travel guides is a high school diploma or equivalent, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete moderate-term on-the-job training to reach full competency.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a tour and travel guide earns
Employer, clientele, region, and in many cases tips shape pay. Established professionals in affluent, high cost areas earn near the top of the range.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Washington, $54,160) and the lowest (Iowa, $22,490) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 53,500 people work as tour and travel guides in the United States. At $38,120 a year, the job pays below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Tour and travel guide salary FAQ
How much does a tour and travel guide make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a tour and travel guide is $18.33. The middle half of tour and travel guides earn between $15.82 and $22.93 per hour.
What is the highest tour and travel guide salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of tour and travel guides earn more than $60,930 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a tour and travel guide make a year?
The median annual salary for a tour and travel guide is $38,120. The average (mean) wage of $43,720 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a tour and travel guide a well paid job?
At $38,120 a year, a tour and travel guide earns below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 53,500 people work as tour and travel guides in the United States.
Which state pays tour and travel guides the most?
Washington has the highest median salary for tour and travel guides at $54,160 a year. District of Columbia ($49,210) and Wyoming ($47,020) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a tour and travel guide a good career?
Employment of tour and travel guides is projected to grow 6.3% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 11,900 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a tour and travel guide?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for tour and travel guides as a high school diploma or equivalent, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
Related salaries
See more in Personal Care & Service salaries or browse the highest paying jobs in the U.S.