Travel Agent salary in California
Travel Agents in California earn a median of $51,030 a year ($24.53 an hour), based on BLS data for 4,760 workers.
Pay ranges from $38,720 for the lowest-paid 10% to $74,970 for the top 10%. That is 2% higher than the national median of $50,160. California ranks 18th of 49 states for travel agents pay. There are 0.26 travel agents per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.74). The average (mean) salary is $55,120, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for travel agents in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,720 | $18.61 |
| 25th percentile | $45,670 | $21.96 |
| Median | $51,030 | $24.53 |
| 75th percentile | $58,760 | $28.25 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $74,970 | $36.04 |
| Average (mean) | $55,120 | $26.50 |
Half of travel agents 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 | $4,252.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,126.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,962.69 |
| Weekly | $981.35 |
| Hourly | $24.53 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Travel Agent salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $58,760 | 290 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $58,000 | 630 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $55,260 | 40 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $51,760 | 50 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $50,440 | 2,160 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $49,650 | 150 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $49,240 | 350 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $47,890 | 80 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $46,970 | 180 |
| Fresno, CA | $45,440 | 50 |
Highest-paying states for travel agents
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Nevada | $63,400 |
| District of Columbia | $61,560 |
| Montana | $61,330 |
| New Jersey | $61,090 |
| Connecticut | $60,640 |
| Vermont | $60,560 |
| Rhode Island | $59,790 |
| Oregon | $56,810 |
| Utah | $56,670 |
| Colorado | $56,570 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel | $80,850 | $38.87 |
| Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents | $79,730 | $38.33 |
| Insurance Sales Agent | $76,120 | $36.60 |
| Advertising Sales Agent | $80,360 | $38.64 |
| Retail Salesperson | $38,440 | $18.48 |
| Cashier | $37,100 | $17.84 |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | $76,490 | $36.78 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers | $54,870 | $26.38 |
| Counter and Rental Clerks | $45,010 | $21.64 |
| Sales and Related Workers, All Other | $52,810 | $25.39 |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products | $124,220 | $59.72 |
| Parts Salesperson | $44,440 | $21.37 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers | $81,140 | $39.01 |
| Demonstrators and Product Promoters | $46,220 | $22.22 |
More: Sales and Related Occupations · all salaries in California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 41-3041. 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 travel agent make in California?
The median salary for travel agents in California is $51,030 a year, or $24.53 an hour. Pay ranges from $38,720 for the lowest-paid 10% to $74,970 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid travel agents make in California?
The top 10% of travel agents in California earn at least $74,970 a year. The top 25% earn $58,760 or more.
What is the starting pay for travel agents in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $38,720 a year, and a quarter of travel agents earn $45,670 or less.
How many travel agents work in California?
About 4,760 travel agents are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.