Occupations · Personal Care and Service

Tour Guides and Escorts

Escort individuals or groups on sightseeing tours or through places of interest, such as industrial establishments, public buildings, and art galleries.

O*NET 30.3 Database (USDOL/ETA) · occupation code 39-7011.00

Pay over time

Median up 7% between 2010 and 2016, before inflation. The band shows the 10th to 90th percentile.

BLS OEWS, one release per year. Before May 2011 only national estimates were published, so geography detail starts there.

What people in this job actually do

Ordered by how important the work is rated.

Describe tour points of interest to group members, and respond to questions.
Escort individuals or groups on cruises, sightseeing tours, or through places of interest, such as industrial establishments, public buildings, or art galleries.
Monitor visitors' activities to ensure compliance with establishment or tour regulations and safety practices.
Conduct educational activities for school children.
Provide for physical safety of groups, performing such activities as providing first aid or directing emergency evacuations.
Research various topics, including site history, environmental conditions, and clients' skills and abilities to plan appropriate expeditions, instruction, and commentary.
Assemble and check the required supplies and equipment prior to departure.
Greet and register visitors, and issue any required identification badges or safety devices.
Distribute brochures, show audiovisual presentations, and explain establishment processes and operations at tour sites.
Provide directions and other pertinent information to visitors.
Drive motor vehicles to transport visitors to establishments and tour site locations.
Train other guides and volunteers.

O*NET 30.3 task ratings, importance scale

Skills that matter most

Importance, rated 1 to 5.

Speaking3.9

Active Listening3.2

Reading Comprehension3.0

Monitoring3.0

Critical Thinking2.9

Learning Strategies2.2

Active Learning2.2

Writing2.2

Mathematics2.0

Science1.0

O*NET 30.3 skills, importance scale

Software and tools

A dot marks what O*NET flags as in demand.

Adobe Photoshop●Apple Safari●Facebook●Microsoft Access●Microsoft Excel●Microsoft Office software●Microsoft Outlook●Microsoft PowerPoint●Microsoft Word●Zoom●Centaur Systems Centaur Travel Business Management System TBMSEmail softwareGlobal positioning system GPS softwareIBS Software Services Tour PartnerMicrosoft Internet ExplorerPadletPear DeckRBS GoTour OnlineSmugMug FlickrSoftrip Travel Software SystemTourTech Systems TourTools

O*NET 30.3 software skills · hot-technology flag

What this work is actually like

Conditions rated against the average across all occupations — only what makes this job different is listed.

3 / 5Medium preparation — vocational training or an associate degree, plus 1–2 years of work.

O*NET 30.3 Job Zones

Working conditions that stand out

Public Speaking+2.2 above average

Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets−1.6 below average

Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls−1.2 below average

Importance of Repeating Same Tasks−1.2 below average

Consequence of Error−1.1 below average

Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions−1.1 below average

Spend Time Sitting−1.1 below average

O*NET 30.3 work context, frequency scale · observed 2020-08

How people actually get in

Share of workers by the education they hold.

Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)31%

Bachelor's Degree30%

High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)22%

Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)8%

O*NET 30.2 education, training and experience · observed 2020-08

What kind of person the work suits

Occupational interest profile, rated 1 to 7.

Social5.3

Enterprising3.6

Artistic3.5

O*NET 30.2 occupational interests (RIASEC)

What you take with you

Skills rated for how well they transfer into other occupations.

Social Perceptiveness3.2

Service Orientation3.1

Coordination3.0

Time Management3.0

Judgment and Decision Making2.8

Persuasion2.6

Instructing2.4

Complex Problem Solving2.1

O*NET 30.3 transferable skills, importance scale

Knowledge the work draws on

Customer and Personal ServiceEnglish LanguageHistory and ArcheologyCommunications and MediaEducation and TrainingGeography

Abilities it leans on

Oral ExpressionOral ComprehensionSpeech ClaritySpeech RecognitionFar VisionWritten Comprehension

O*NET 30.3 abilities and knowledge, importance scale

How this job is advertised

The same work is posted under many titles — this is what to search for.

PageGuideEscortDocentPresenterTour GuidePark GuideTour EscortDuck DriverKayak GuideEvent GuidePlant GuideMuseum GuideAlpine Guide

O*NET 30.3 job titles reported for this occupation

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What changed since 2015

Comparing O*NET release 20.1 (2015-10-01) with 30.3 (2026-05-01). Signs, not colour alone, carry the meaning. 2 entries that were only relabelled between releases are left out.

Now listed 8

+Zoom+Facebook+Microsoft PowerPoint+SmugMug Flickr+Padlet+Apple Safari+Adobe Photoshop+Pear Deck

Diff across the O*NET releases held here in full since October 2015, following occupations through merges and retirements. O*NET re-surveys occupations on a rolling cycle, so “no change” can also mean “not re-surveyed”.

O*NET 30.3 related occupations

Also called

PageGuideEscortDocentDeckhandPresenterPark GuideTour GuideTour EscortRiver GuideTour DriverPlant Guide

O*NET 30.3 alternative titles

The same work in Europe

ESCO occupation	ISCO	Match
guide	5113.1	exact
tour organiser	4221.5	close
tourist animator	2659.4	close
mountain guide	3423.4	broader
park guide	5113.1.2	broader
zoo educator	5113.1.3	broader

Official ESCO ↔ O*NET crosswalk (ESCO Secretariat with USDOL/ETA)

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