Travel Agent salary in Illinois
Travel Agents in Illinois earn a median of $49,090 a year ($23.60 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,120 workers.
Pay ranges from $37,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $77,630 for the top 10%. That is 2% lower than the national median of $50,160. Illinois ranks 24th of 49 states for travel agents pay. There are 0.35 travel agents per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $53,680, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for travel agents in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,200 | $17.89 |
| 25th percentile | $44,540 | $21.42 |
| Median | $49,090 | $23.60 |
| 75th percentile | $59,240 | $28.48 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $77,630 | $37.32 |
| Average (mean) | $53,680 | $25.81 |
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 | $4,090.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,045.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,888.08 |
| Weekly | $944.04 |
| Hourly | $23.60 |
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 Illinois
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $49,160 | 1,740 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $46,460 | 440 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $44,570 | 30 |
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 Illinois
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel | $66,900 | $32.17 |
| Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents | $99,840 | $48.00 |
| Insurance Sales Agent | $64,280 | $30.90 |
| Advertising Sales Agent | $66,290 | $31.87 |
| Cashier | $34,490 | $16.58 |
| Retail Salesperson | $35,370 | $17.00 |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | $73,510 | $35.34 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers | $47,990 | $23.07 |
| Parts Salesperson | $42,240 | $20.31 |
| Counter and Rental Clerks | $38,140 | $18.34 |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products | $107,570 | $51.72 |
| Real Estate Sales Agent | $59,220 | $28.47 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers | $88,820 | $42.70 |
| Demonstrators and Product Promoters | $36,550 | $17.57 |
More: Sales and Related Occupations · all salaries in Illinois
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 Illinois?
The median salary for travel agents in Illinois is $49,090 a year, or $23.60 an hour. Pay ranges from $37,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $77,630 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid travel agents make in Illinois?
The top 10% of travel agents in Illinois earn at least $77,630 a year. The top 25% earn $59,240 or more.
What is the starting pay for travel agents in Illinois?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $37,200 a year, and a quarter of travel agents earn $44,540 or less.
How many travel agents work in Illinois?
About 2,120 travel agents are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.