Tour and travel guides
Salary, job outlook, AI risk & career information
Tour and travel guides in the United States earn a median salary of $38,120 per year — about $18 per hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Roughly 56K people work in this occupation nationwide, with projected employment growth of +8%.
AI & Automation Risk
While AI can automate the digital aspects of the job—such as researching history, planning itineraries, and providing multilingual translations—the core of the role requires physical presence and real-time human interaction. Guides must physically escort groups through unpredictable environments, manage group dynamics, and provide a personal, empathetic experience that digital tools cannot fully replicate.
Salary by City — What You Actually Take Home
Real purchasing power = salary adjusted for cost of living. Higher = more money in your pocket.
| City | Local Salary | Cost of Living | Real Purchasing Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| Topeka, KSBEST VALUE | $49,780 | Below avg (85.8) | $57,992 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $63,630 | Above avg (112.7) | $56,444 |
| Casper, WY | $51,120 | Below avg (92.5) | $55,242 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $59,330 | Above avg (113.1) | $52,477 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $55,870 | Above avg (107.4) | $52,011 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $50,320 | Average (100.5) | $50,079 |
| Bozeman, MT | $49,080 | Average (99.0) | $49,572 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $54,550 | Above avg (111.0) | $49,135 |
| Helena, MT | $45,140 | Below avg (92.1) | $49,009 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $49,540 | Average (101.6) | $48,765 |
| Monroe, LA | $39,260 | Below avg (83.6) | $46,937 |
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $49,430 | Above avg (107.2) | $46,113 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $44,830 | Average (97.3) | $46,070 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $46,920 | Average (101.9) | $46,042 |
| Springfield, IL | $41,660 | Below avg (90.7) | $45,956 |