Loading Page...

Is tour guide a good job?

Tour guides often have rewarding and fun careers, as they're in a position to educate and entertain the tour's participants. Whether you're leading a group to a travel destination or on a college campus, tour guides answer questions and provide guidance.



Being a tour guide is an excellent job for those who are extroverted, passionate about history or culture, and enjoy a non-traditional "office." The pros include meeting people from all over the world, getting paid to travel, and the immense personal satisfaction of creating "once-in-a-lifetime" memories for guests. It also helps develop high-value skills in public speaking, conflict resolution, and logistics. However, it is a physically and mentally demanding career. Guides often work long, irregular hours, spend the entire day on their feet, and must remain "on" and energetic regardless of personal mood or weather conditions. The income can be highly seasonal and unpredictable, especially if you rely on tips or work in a climate-dependent destination. For many, it is a rewarding "lifestyle" job rather than a high-paying corporate path, perfect for those who value variety and human connection over the stability of a 9-to-5 desk role.

People Also Ask

Most entry-level tour guides only earn about $8-$15 per hour. But, there are experienced tour guides that earn upwards of $60,000 per year. These people often work for tour companies as managers. Since this is in the same service industry as restaurant workers, tipping is factored into wages.

MORE DETAILS

Generally speaking, tour guides can earn between $50 and $150 per day taking a lot of factors into consideration such as experience, locations, training, type of tour, and others. Aside from this, many tour companies encourage their passengers to tip the tour guides, so this can bump up your salary dramatically.

MORE DETAILS

The overall job outlook for Tour Guide or Escort careers has been positive since 2012. Vacancies for this career have increased by 130.21 percent nationwide in that time, with an average growth of 16.28 percent per year.

MORE DETAILS

Highest paying cities for Tour Guides near United States
  • Los Angeles, CA. $26.94 per hour. 38 salaries reported.
  • Washington, DC. $26.62 per hour. 71 salaries reported.
  • San Francisco, CA. $26.44 per hour. 62 salaries reported.
  • New York, NY. $26.40 per hour. 68 salaries reported.
  • Memphis, TN. $26.33 per hour. ...
  • Show more nearby cities.


MORE DETAILS

The qualities of a good tour guide
  • Enthusiastic. It's pretty much safe to say that enthusiasm is the most important part of this job. ...
  • Engaging. Great tour guides will share their knowledge in an engaging, interactive and entertaining way. ...
  • Communicative. ...
  • Outgoing. ...
  • Funny. ...
  • Decisive. ...
  • Organized. ...
  • Punctual.


MORE DETAILS

The average salary for Professional Tour Guides employees is around $79,364 per year, or $38 per hour. The highest earners in the top 75th percentile are paid over $90,340.

MORE DETAILS

7 Tips To Be a Better Tour Guide
  1. Skip lengthy introductions or setups at the beginning of the tour.
  2. Bring information to life through a story.
  3. Face guests when sharing information.
  4. You don't have to know everything.
  5. Avoid exaggerating information.
  6. Provide anecdotes when possible.
  7. Be punctual (and ideally early)


MORE DETAILS

Tour guides may lead groups or individuals through historical sites, museums, geographic destinations and on outdoor excursions. Typically, tour guides posses relevant cultural, historical and practical knowledge they can share with tourists.

MORE DETAILS

Tour guides should never touch a guest — unless it's offering a hand for an awkward step or helping with gear related to the tour. Show interest in where they're from: The number one way to engage with guests is to ask them questions.

MORE DETAILS

5 Characteristics of the Perfect Tour Guide
  • There are average tour guides—and then there are the ones people remember forever. ...
  • They're deeply knowledgeable, and can answer questions. ...
  • They're confident with the details of their job. ...
  • They make people laugh. ...
  • They listen. ...
  • They go the extra mile.


MORE DETAILS

Tour guides ensure that itineraries are met and that customers are being informed in an entertaining manner the location they are touring. They are also responsible for ensuring the safety of the group and ensuring that tour groups remain together.

MORE DETAILS

Passion. A tour guide who is passionate about the subject of the tour is often the best option for the position. Being passionate about an area can motivate tour guides to remain well-informed as they enjoy learning about the subject.

MORE DETAILS

Best states for a tour guide Pay, benefits, and opportunities vary greatly by state, and it's no different for tour guides. We found that Alaska is the best state in the nation for tour guides, and people in Anchorage earn the most in the field. The median salary for tour guides in Alaska is $40,533.

MORE DETAILS

On average, a full-time Guide will work 10-20 trips (or 100-200) days per peak season (April-October). In most cases, for every 2-3 weeks working, a guide will have 1 week off.

MORE DETAILS