Tour and Travel Guide Salary
Tour and Travel Guides earn a median $38,120 a year nationally. Personal Care and Service Occupations
U.S. median
$38,120
$18.33 per hour
Range
$28,520 – $60,930
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
53,500
across the U.S.
▲4.0%
Pay trend: The median for tour and travel guides in the U.S. rose from $36,660 (May 2024) to $38,120 (May 2025). That beat inflation (2.4%), a real raise of about 1.6%.
What tour and travel guides do
- 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)
- Openings per year
- 11,900
- Self-employed
- 9%
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. About 11,900 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Tour and Travel Guide take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$32,809
per year · effective tax rate 13.9%
$2,734Monthly
$1,367Twice a month
$1,262Every 2 weeks
$15.77Hourly
- Federal income tax$2,394
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,363
- Medicare (1.45%)$553
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$32,809
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,520 | $13.71 | $25,096 |
| 25th percentile | $32,910 | $15.82 | $28,623 |
| Median (50th) | $38,120 | $18.33 | $32,809 |
| 75th percentile | $47,700 | $22.93 | $40,507 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $60,930 | $29.29 | $51,137 |
Best cities for tour and travel guides (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles, CA | $42,870 | $35,365 | $31,140 | 2,360 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- Los Angeles, CA — $42,870
Tour and Travel Guide salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $54,160 | +10.9% | $45,698 | $37,540 – $76,790 | 1,420 |
| District of Columbia | $49,210 | −5.6% | $39,934 | $36,940 – $76,790 | 380 |
| Wyoming | $47,020 | −4.1% | $39,961 | $23,580 – $61,460 | 560 |
| California | $46,000 | +9.0% | $37,714 | $36,500 – $66,220 | 6,900 |
| Hawaii | $45,940 | +3.0% | $37,101 | $31,040 – $59,870 | 1,370 |
| Vermont | $45,920 | −14.0% | $37,972 | $40,070 – $65,250 | 140 |
| Maine | $44,940 | +15.5% | $36,438 | $32,910 – $55,240 | 270 |
| New York | $44,450 | +18.5% | $36,092 | $34,220 – $85,740 | 2,870 |
| Alaska | $44,210 | −1.8% | $37,703 | $33,410 – $58,890 | 1,660 |
| Kansas | $43,700 | +30.5% | $35,654 | $30,900 – $57,790 | 400 |
| Colorado | $42,840 | +3.0% | $35,425 | $31,380 – $55,600 | 2,150 |
| Florida | $41,600 | +18.0% | $35,606 | $30,520 – $64,340 | 2,720 |
| New Hampshire | $41,600 | +16.8% | $35,606 | $30,010 – $61,790 | 260 |
| Maryland | $40,310 | +13.2% | $33,018 | $31,200 – $47,670 | 510 |
| Georgia | $40,190 | +13.5% | $33,010 | $28,430 – $79,510 | 1,080 |
| Montana | $40,100 | +10.3% | $33,272 | $23,770 – $59,280 | 680 |
| Minnesota | $39,650 | +8.6% | $32,736 | $31,230 – $46,040 | 630 |
| Nevada | $39,360 | +4.7% | $33,806 | $29,870 – $50,500 | 620 |
| Oregon | $39,260 | −0.8% | $31,120 | $30,920 – $64,620 | 530 |
| Utah | $38,540 | −0.7% | $32,379 | $31,130 – $57,930 | 1,630 |
| Rhode Island | $38,310 | +6.7% | $32,142 | $32,270 – $96,450 | 210 |
| Idaho | $37,960 | −25.3% | $31,777 | $23,920 – $58,090 | 460 |
| Massachusetts | $37,840 | −3.9% | $30,912 | $33,510 – $50,960 | 1,760 |
| Arizona | $37,560 | — | $31,629 | $31,680 – $62,020 | 2,450 |
| New Mexico | $37,080 | +5.8% | $31,347 | $26,030 – $62,770 | 360 |
| Illinois | $36,780 | +4.9% | $30,057 | $31,200 – $45,930 | 1,090 |
| New Jersey | $36,640 | +4.3% | $31,055 | $32,220 – $80,800 | 390 |
| Kentucky | $36,070 | −0.5% | $30,017 | $28,090 – $47,690 | 1,010 |
| North Dakota | $35,360 | +3.0% | $30,592 | $32,610 – $47,840 | 90 |
| South Carolina | $35,190 | +8.0% | $29,501 | $22,770 – $60,370 | 660 |
| South Dakota | $35,100 | +2.2% | $30,383 | $29,780 – $46,080 | 440 |
| Connecticut | $35,090 | +1.8% | $29,721 | $34,010 – $62,330 | 220 |
| Michigan | $35,090 | +4.7% | $29,134 | $28,130 – $47,250 | 1,160 |
| Arkansas | $34,290 | +9.6% | $28,607 | $26,060 – $47,980 | 160 |
| Tennessee | $33,760 | −2.8% | $29,306 | $28,320 – $43,130 | 1,840 |
| Delaware | $33,210 | +14.3% | $27,698 | $31,200 – $38,140 | 330 |
| Texas | $33,080 | +10.1% | $28,760 | $23,600 – $63,910 | 2,250 |
| Pennsylvania | $32,910 | +2.2% | $27,613 | $23,390 – $53,540 | 1,970 |
| Ohio | $32,800 | +4.7% | $28,415 | $22,400 – $47,110 | 1,000 |
| North Carolina | $32,570 | −2.7% | $27,559 | $22,660 – $47,020 | 1,650 |
| Oklahoma | $32,150 | +0.6% | $27,111 | $18,690 – $46,620 | 350 |
| Louisiana | $32,060 | +7.0% | $27,365 | $21,310 – $78,000 | 580 |
| Missouri | $31,980 | +2.4% | $27,310 | $29,470 – $48,120 | 1,360 |
| Alabama | $31,700 | +6.4% | $26,331 | $24,110 – $41,040 | 410 |
| Nebraska | $31,580 | +4.6% | $26,976 | $28,080 – $46,020 | 340 |
| Indiana | $31,030 | +8.6% | $26,227 | $19,290 – $41,080 | 700 |
| Wisconsin | $30,160 | −14.7% | $25,868 | $26,250 – $54,530 | 910 |
| West Virginia | $28,570 | +11.0% | $24,418 | $21,700 – $49,910 | 270 |
| Mississippi | $27,460 | +0.5% | $23,857 | $21,030 – $41,660 | 150 |
| Iowa | $22,490 | −22.8% | $19,928 | $20,800 – $43,000 | 330 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barber | $38,210 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +3.3% |
| Motion Picture Projectionist | $38,270 | No formal educational credential | -6.2% |
| Concierge | $38,950 | High school diploma or equivalent | +2.6% |
| Baggage Porter and Bellhop | $37,080 | High school diploma or equivalent | -3.0% |
| Recreation Worker | $36,560 | High school diploma or equivalent | +4.3% |
| Gambling Service Workers, All Other | $36,310 | High school diploma or equivalent | +4.2% |
| Locker Room, Coatroom, and Dressing Room Attendants | $36,300 | High school diploma or equivalent | +6.4% |
| Animal Trainer | $39,990 | High school diploma or equivalent | +4.2% |
| Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists | $35,790 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +7.7% |
| Manicurist and Pedicurist | $35,760 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +9.2% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a tour and travel guide make?
The national median salary for tour and travel guides is $38,120 a year ($18.33 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $28,520 and the top 10% earn over $60,930. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays tour and travel guides the most?
Washington has the highest median pay at $54,160. After taxes and local prices, Los Angeles, CA offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many tour and travel guides are there in the U.S.?
About 53,500 people work as tour and travel guides nationwide.