Tour and Travel Guide Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Tour and Travel Guides in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $42,870 a year — 12% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $35,365 take-home, or $2,947 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median tour and travel guide salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,964
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,658
- Medicare (1.45%)$622
- California income tax$704
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$557
- Take-home pay$35,365
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Tour and Travel Guide pay by experience in Los Angeles, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,640 | $17.62 | $30,689 | $2,557 |
| 25th percentile | $38,290 | $18.41 | $31,927 | $2,661 |
| Median (50th) | $42,870 | $20.61 | $35,365 | $2,947 |
| 75th percentile | $48,260 | $23.20 | $39,384 | $3,282 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $63,490 | $30.52 | $50,502 | $4,208 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $42,870 buys in Los Angeles, CA
Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 13.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.70× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median tour and travel guide's $35,365 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,140 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Tour and Travel Guide jobs are about as common in Los Angeles, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.09).
Best-paying cities for tour and travel guides, adjusted for cost of living
Los Angeles, CA ranks #1 of 1 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles, CA | $42,870 | $35,365 | $31,140 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 1 metros →
About the job: tour and travel guides
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +6.3% (faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a tour and travel guide make in Los Angeles, CA?
The median tour and travel guide salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $42,870 a year, or about $20.61 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $38,290 and $48,260.
What is a tour and travel guide’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?
On the median $42,870 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $35,365 a year ($2,947 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,261 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a tour and travel guide?
Pay here is 12% above the national median of $38,120. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,140 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #1 of 1 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a tour and travel guide afford rent in Los Angeles, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Los Angeles, CA is $2,245 a month ($2,755 for two bedrooms) — 76% of a median tour and travel guide’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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