Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
High school diploma or equivalent
None
Moderate-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Tour and travel guides help travelers and visitors have engaging, well-organized experiences. This career combines customer interaction with strong communication and interpersonal skills. National employment stands at 56,000 workers, with projected employment growth of 8.1%. There are about 13,000 annual openings, reflecting ongoing demand for people who can lead groups, share information, and support customers in varied settings. The national median annual salary is $36,660, with higher medians reported in some states and metro areas. Successful guides typically draw on speaking and listening, customer service, and adaptability, along with physical strength and stamina to handle the demands of the workday. Creativity and innovation also play a role, as guides often need to keep experiences engaging and respond to different audiences. This occupation can appeal to people who enjoy interacting with others, communicating clearly, and working in environments that may be active and dynamic rather than desk-based.
Tour and travel guides earn a national median annual salary of $36,660, but pay levels vary by location. Among the top states highlighted, median salaries range from $37,840 in Massachusetts up to $54,160 in Washington, with California at $46,000, New York at $44,450, and Colorado at $42,840. At the metro level, median salaries in top areas are higher than the national median in each case. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA shows a median salary of $59,330, followed by San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA at $52,480 and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV at $46,130. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro reports $45,610, and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH has $38,440. These figures suggest that guides considering this career may want to compare local salary levels and cost of living when deciding where to work or relocate.
Tour and travel guides have national employment of 56,000, with projected employment growth of 8.1%. This same 8.1% growth rate is also reported for top states such as California, Massachusetts, New York, Colorado, and Washington, as well as for leading metro areas including San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA; Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV; and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH. Across the country, about 13,000 annual openings are expected, indicating regular opportunities for new entrants and career changers. Because the growth rate is consistent across the highlighted states and metros, location decisions can focus more on salary, lifestyle preferences, and job concentration rather than major differences in projected growth. Overall, the combination of established employment, documented growth, and recurring annual openings points to a labor market with ongoing hiring activity for this occupation.
Location can significantly shape the experience and rewards of working as a tour and travel guide. Among states with strong opportunity scores, California stands out with the highest employment at 6,900 and a median salary of $46,000, along with an opportunity score of 67.38. Washington reports the highest state median salary listed, at $54,160, with an opportunity score of 56.29, while New York offers a median of $44,450 and an opportunity score of 65.78. Massachusetts and Colorado also provide notable options, with opportunity scores of 65.87 and 56.97, respectively. At the metro level, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA has the highest opportunity score at 77.42 and the highest median salary at $59,330, though employment is 640. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro combines a high opportunity score of 77.27 with employment of 2,180 and a median salary of $45,610. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH also feature solid opportunity scores and distinct salary and employment profiles for guides to compare.
Tour and travel guides typically enter the field with a high school diploma or equivalent. This relatively accessible educational requirement can make the occupation appealing to students, early-career workers, and career changers who want to begin working without lengthy formal education. While the required education level is straightforward, success in this role draws on a broad mix of skills. Speaking and listening and interpersonal abilities are central, as guides interact directly with customers. Customer service, adaptability, and creativity and innovation help guides manage different groups and situations. Physical strength and stamina support the more active aspects of the work. Reading and writing skills, along with science, computers and information technology, and mechanical abilities, can also contribute to performance, depending on the context. Together, these skills suggest that people who enjoy communication, working with the public, and staying active may find a good fit in this career path.
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