How Much Does a Tour Guide Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$38,120
Tour guides in the U.S. earn a median of $38,120 a year, or $18.33 an hour. Half of tour guides earn more than $38,120 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $60,930.
Pay percentiles for tour guides
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $13.71 | $28,520 |
| 25th | $15.82 | $32,910 |
| 50th (median) | $18.33 | $38,120 |
| 75th | $22.93 | $47,700 |
| 90th | $29.29 | $60,930 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Tour and Travel Guides (SOC 39-7010). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for tour guides
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $54,160 | $26.04 | +42% |
| District of Columbia | $49,210 | $23.66 | +29% |
| Wyoming | $47,020 | $22.60 | +23% |
| California | $46,000 | $22.11 | +21% |
| Hawaii | $45,940 | $22.09 | +21% |
| Vermont | $45,920 | $22.08 | +20% |
| Maine | $44,940 | $21.61 | +18% |
| New York | $44,450 | $21.37 | +17% |
| Alaska | $44,210 | $21.25 | +16% |
| Kansas | $43,700 | $21.01 | +15% |
| United States | $38,120 | $18.33 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many tour guides are there?
BLS counts about 53,500 tour guides employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). These figures cover the BLS occupation “Tour and Travel Guides”. The most jobs are in California (6,900), New York (2,870) and Florida (2,720).
The mean (average) annual wage is $43,720, higher than the median of $38,120.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $3,177
- Biweekly
- $1,466
- Weekly
- $733
- Daily (8 hours)
- $147
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do tour guides make an hour?
The median hourly wage for tour guides is $18.33. The middle 50% earn between $15.82 and $22.93 an hour.
Which state pays tour guides the most?
Washington has the highest median wage for tour guides at $54,160, +42% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for tour guides?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of tour guides earn less than $28,520 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.