Tour and Travel Guides salary in the U.S.
Tour and Travel Guides in the U.S. earn a median of $38,120 a year ($18.33 an hour), based on BLS data for 53,500 workers.
Pay ranges from $28,520 for the lowest-paid 10% to $60,930 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $43,720, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for tour and travel guides in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,520 | $13.71 |
| 25th percentile | $32,910 | $15.82 |
| Median | $38,120 | $18.33 |
| 75th percentile | $47,700 | $22.93 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $60,930 | $29.29 |
| Average (mean) | $43,720 | $21.02 |
Half of tour and travel guides earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,176.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,588.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,466.15 |
| Weekly | $733.08 |
| Hourly | $18.33 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Tour and Travel Guides salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Virgin Islands | $102,020 | 50 |
| 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 |
| Puerto Rico | $27,860 | 490 |
| Mississippi | $27,460 | 150 |
| Iowa | $22,490 | 330 |
Best-paying metro areas for tour and travel guides
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $63,630 | 870 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $59,330 | 640 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $55,870 | 30 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $54,550 | 120 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $52,480 | 970 |
| Casper, WY | $51,120 | 60 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $50,320 | 540 |
| Topeka, KS | $49,780 | 30 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $49,540 | 650 |
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $49,430 | 260 |
| Bozeman, MT | $49,080 | 150 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $47,740 | 280 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $47,170 | 170 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | $47,070 | 150 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $46,920 | 50 |
Metro areas with the most tour and travel guides
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 2,360 | $42,870 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 2,180 | $45,610 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 1,290 | $38,440 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 1,280 | $46,130 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 1,060 | $34,290 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 970 | $52,480 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 950 | $31,980 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 870 | $63,630 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 860 | $43,370 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 850 | $40,450 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 840 | $36,870 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | 700 | $43,860 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 670 | $35,990 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 650 | $49,540 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 640 | $59,330 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Childcare Worker | $34,980 | $16.82 |
| Amusement and Recreation Attendants | $32,150 | $15.46 |
| Recreation Worker | $36,560 | $17.58 |
| Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors | $47,160 | $22.67 |
| Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists | $35,790 | $17.21 |
| Animal Caretaker | $35,360 | $17.00 |
| Manicurists and Pedicurists | $35,760 | $17.19 |
| Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers | $32,910 | $15.82 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Workers | $48,590 | $23.36 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services | $48,560 | $23.34 |
| Residential Advisor | $42,240 | $20.31 |
| Gambling Dealer | $34,320 | $16.50 |
| Skincare Specialist | $45,330 | $21.79 |
| Personal Care and Service Workers, All Other | $41,600 | $20.00 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 39-7010. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a tour and travel guides make in the U.S.?
The median salary for tour and travel guides in the U.S. is $38,120 a year, or $18.33 an hour. Pay ranges from $28,520 for the lowest-paid 10% to $60,930 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid tour and travel guides make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of tour and travel guides in the U.S. earn at least $60,930 a year. The top 25% earn $47,700 or more.
What is the starting pay for tour and travel guides in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $28,520 a year, and a quarter of tour and travel guides earn $32,910 or less.
How many tour and travel guides work in the U.S.?
About 53,500 tour and travel guides are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.