As of November 01, 2026, the average annual salary for Tour Guide in the US is $64,551, equivalent to $31 per hour, $1,241 weekly, or $5,379 monthly. These figures, sourced from Salary.com’s real-time job posting scans, highlight competitive earning potential for Tour Guide in cities like San Jose, Santa Clara, and San Francisco.

Annually Salaries for Tour Guide in the US vary widely, spanning from $48,796 to $83,079. Most professionals fall between the 25th percentile ($56,304) and 75th percentile ($74,249), while top earners (90th percentile) make $83,079 per year. This $17,945 pay gap underscores opportunities for salary growth through certifications, specialized skills like Customer Service or Lean, or targeting high-paying regions like District of Columbia or California.

Location and experience significantly influence earnings. For example, District of Columbia Tour Guide often earn 10.7% above national averages due to demand from Fortune 48 companies and industry startups. Professionals are advised to focus on high-growth sectors like to offset market challenges.

Based on HR-reported data: a national average with a geographic differential
Tour Guide Salaries by Percentile
Percentile Salary Location Last Updated
10th Percentile Tour Guide Salary $48,796 US November 01, 2026
25th Percentile Tour Guide Salary $56,304 US November 01, 2026
50th Percentile Tour Guide Salary $64,551 US November 01, 2026
75th Percentile Tour Guide Salary $74,249 US November 01, 2026
90th Percentile Tour Guide Salary $83,079 US November 01, 2026
25% $56,304 10% $48,796 90% $83,079 75% $74,249 $64,551 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click
Change Search Criteria

What is a Tour Guide ?

A tour guide (U.S.) or a tourist guide (European) is a person who provides assistance, information on cultural, historical and contemporary heritage to people on organized tours and individual clients at educational establishments, religious and historical sites, museums, and at venues of other significant interest, attractions sites....

Source: Wikipedia (as of 04/17/2019). Read more from Wikipedia

See user submitted job responsibilities for Tour Guide.

Job Openings for Tour Guide

Career Path for this job

  1. This Job:

    Tour Guide

    1 - 3 years experience
    High School Diploma or Technical Certificate

  2. Up a level:

    Travel Coordinator

    3 - 5 years experience
    High School Diploma or Technical Certificate

Understand the total compensation opportunity for a Tour Guide, base salary plus other pay elements

Average Base Salary

Core compensation

 
 
 
56304
74249
64551

Average Total Cash Compensation

Includes base and annual incentives

 
 
 
61901
81285
70573
These charts show the average base salary (core compensation), as well as the average total cash compensation for the job of Tour Guide in the United States. The base salary for Tour Guide ranges from $56,304 to $74,249 with the average base salary of $64,551. The total cash compensation, which includes base, and annual incentives, can vary anywhere from $61,901 to $81,285 with the average total cash compensation of $70,573.

Discover how your pay is adjusted for skills, experience, and other factors

How much should you be paid?

For a real-time salary target, tell us more about your role in the four categories below.

56304
74249

 

Recently searched related titles: Corporate Travel Agent, Travel Associate, Travel Counselor

Jobs with a similar salary range to Tour Guide : Hotel Reservations Agent, Ticketing Agent, Mailhandler