Tour Guides

Tour guides may find that they have peak and slack periods of the year that correspond to vacation and travel seasons. Many tour guides, however, work eight months of the year. The U.S. Department of Labor reports that in May 2023, hourly wages for tour and travel guides ranged from $12.47 per hour to $28.18 per hour ($25,938 to $45,850 or more annually), with medium hourly pay of $17.34 (or $36,060 a year). Fifty percent of tour guides earned between $14.68 and $21.41 ($30,530 and $44,520 annually). The top 10 percent of tour and travel guides earned $58,620.

Guides receive their meals and accommodations free while conducting a tour, in addition to a daily stipend to cover their personal expenses. Salaries and benefits vary, depending on the tour operators that employ guides and the location in which they are employed. Generally, the highest compensation is offered in Idaho, Wyoming, Washington, the District of Columbia, South Carolina, and Alaska.

Tour guides often receive paid vacations as part of their fringe benefits package; some may also receive sick pay and health insurance. Some companies offer profit sharing and bonuses. Guides often receive discounts from hotels, airlines, and transportation companies in appreciation for repeat business.