# Travel Guides

> Plan, organize, and conduct long-distance travel, tours, and expeditions for individuals and groups.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/travel-guides
- SOC code: 39-7012.00
- Career family: Personal care and service
- Median annual pay: $38,120 (10th percentile $28,520, 90th percentile $60,930)
- Projected growth: Faster than average, +6.3%
- Openings a year: 11,900
- Typical entry education: High school diploma
- Bright outlook: yes
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections
- Pay and outlook are for the broader BLS group "Tour and travel guides".

## Interest profile (code SEC)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 24 |
| Investigative (I) | 22 |
| Artistic (A) | 24 |
| Social (S) | 64 |
| Enterprising (E) | 60 |
| Conventional (C) | 55 |

## What you'd do

- Performing for or Working Directly with the Public (importance 91/100)
- Communicating with People Outside the Organization (importance 88/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 85/100)
- Getting Information (importance 84/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 82/100)
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships (importance 81/100)
- Thinking Creatively (importance 78/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 77/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 65/100)
- Assisting and Caring for Others (importance 65/100)

## Skills

Service Orientation, Speaking, Active Listening, Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Persuasion, Reading Comprehension, Time Management, Active Learning, Complex Problem Solving

## Knowledge

Customer and Personal Service, English Language, Sales and Marketing, Administrative, Transportation, Administration and Management, Geography, Economics and Accounting, Education and Training, Public Safety and Security

## Also called

Adventure Guide, Alpine Guide, Cruise Agent, Cruise Consultant, Cruise Coordinator, Cruise Counselor, Cruise Director, Cruise Guide, Destination Coordinator, Destination Imagination Coordinator

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Hospitality Administration/Management](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5209) (CIP 5209, 641 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Cornell University-New York](https://www.collegesref.com/college/cornell-university-new-york-710) | Hospitality Administration/Management | $92,126 | $112,289 | $10,883 |
| [New York University NYU](https://www.collegesref.com/college/new-york-university-nyu-1866) | Hospitality Administration/Management | $73,456 | $84,375 | not reported |
| [Boston University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/boston-university-286) | Hospitality Administration/Management | $59,073 | $82,302 | $19,500 |
| [University of Denver](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-denver-2906) | Hospitality Administration/Management | $54,472 | $75,118 | $19,204 |
| [Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/virginia-polytechnic-institute-and-state-university-3134) | Hospitality Administration/Management | $59,633 | $72,817 | $22,000 |
| [DePaul University-Illinois](https://www.collegesref.com/college/depaul-university-illinois-795) | Hospitality Administration/Management | $51,160 | $71,556 | not reported |
| [Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/fairleigh-dickinson-university-metropolitan-campus-936) | Hospitality Administration/Management | $47,506 | $71,188 | $19,500 |
| [Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/fairleigh-dickinson-university-florham-campus-935) | Hospitality Administration/Management | $47,506 | $71,188 | $19,500 |

## Related careers

- [Tour Guides and Escorts](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/tour-guides-and-escorts): $38,120 median pay
- [Travel Agents](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/travel-agents): $50,160 median pay
- [Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/reservation-and-transportation-ticket-agents-and-travel-clerks): $44,390 median pay
- [Concierges](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/concierges): $38,950 median pay
- [Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/ushers-lobby-attendants-and-ticket-takers): $32,910 median pay
- [Lodging Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/lodging-managers): $69,250 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.