How much does a travel agent make?
The median travel agent in the United States earns $50,160 per year, about $24.11 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all travel agents earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 41-3041.
Travel agent salary range
Pay for travel agents spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $34,610 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $76,660. The average (mean) wage of $54,660 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 | $34,610 | $16.64 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $41,950 | $20.17 | |
| Median (50th) | $50,160 | $24.11 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $63,060 | $30.32 | |
| 90th percentile | $76,660 | $36.86 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for travel agents (SOC 41-3041), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Travel agent salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Travel agents earn the most in Nevada at $63,400 a year, and the least in South Carolina at $34,560. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Nevada | $63,400 | N/A |
| District of Columbia | $61,560 | 160 |
| Montana | $61,330 | 200 |
| New Jersey | $61,090 | 1,660 |
| Connecticut | $60,640 | 650 |
| Vermont | $60,560 | 120 |
| Rhode Island | $59,790 | 250 |
| Oregon | $56,810 | 620 |
| Utah | $56,670 | 440 |
| Colorado | $56,570 | 1,100 |
| Massachusetts | $56,450 | 1,810 |
| North Carolina | $56,180 | 1,250 |
| Tennessee | $55,640 | 540 |
| New York | $55,580 | 3,180 |
| Washington | $55,260 | 1,710 |
| Kansas | $53,600 | 250 |
| Arizona | $51,800 | 1,100 |
| California | $51,030 | 4,760 |
| Florida | $50,060 | 9,430 |
| Nebraska | $49,690 | 240 |
| Texas | $49,500 | 4,310 |
| Kentucky | $49,370 | 220 |
| Maryland | $49,160 | 360 |
| Illinois | $49,090 | 2,120 |
| Mississippi | $49,050 | 160 |
| Georgia | $48,880 | 2,300 |
| Indiana | $48,530 | 640 |
| Idaho | $48,110 | 220 |
| Wyoming | $48,030 | 50 |
| Pennsylvania | $47,720 | 1,470 |
| Alaska | $47,650 | 190 |
| Alabama | $47,640 | 380 |
| Hawaii | $47,560 | 580 |
| Minnesota | $47,260 | 890 |
| New Hampshire | $47,190 | 130 |
| Wisconsin | $47,080 | 810 |
| Michigan | $46,250 | 1,150 |
| Ohio | $46,000 | 1,140 |
| Missouri | $45,460 | 1,500 |
| Iowa | $45,440 | 290 |
| Virginia | $45,260 | 1,050 |
| West Virginia | $44,760 | 250 |
| North Dakota | $44,740 | 150 |
| New Mexico | $44,700 | 120 |
| South Dakota | $44,510 | 200 |
| Oklahoma | $36,980 | 600 |
| Arkansas | $36,600 | 180 |
| Louisiana | $35,970 | 310 |
| South Carolina | $34,560 | 680 |
State median wages for travel agents (SOC 41-3041), 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 travel agents
The BLS projects employment of travel agents to hold roughly steady from 2025 to 2035. That is little or no change, compared with 3.5% average growth for all occupations. That works out to roughly 61,500 jobs in 2025 moving toward 61,700 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 5,900 openings a year for travel agents. 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 travel agent
The typical entry-level education for travel agents 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 travel agent earns
Commission structure, product, employer, and territory drive a wide pay spread. Top performers in high ticket sales earn far above the median.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Nevada, $63,400) and the lowest (South Carolina, $34,560) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 55,110 people work as travel agents in the United States. At $50,160 a year, the job pays below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Travel agent salary FAQ
How much does a travel agent make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a travel agent is $24.11. The middle half of travel agents earn between $20.17 and $30.32 per hour.
What is the highest travel agent salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of travel agents earn more than $76,660 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a travel agent make a year?
The median annual salary for a travel agent is $50,160. The average (mean) wage of $54,660 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 travel agent a well paid job?
At $50,160 a year, a travel agent earns below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 55,110 people work as travel agents in the United States.
Which state pays travel agents the most?
Nevada has the highest median salary for travel agents at $63,400 a year. District of Columbia ($61,560) and Montana ($61,330) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a travel agent a good career?
Employment of travel agents is projected to hold roughly steady 0.2% from 2025 to 2035, little or no change, compared with 3.5% average growth for all occupations. The BLS projects about 5,900 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a travel agent?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for travel agents as a high school diploma or equivalent, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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