Occupations · Personal Care and Service

Travel Guides

Plan, organize, and conduct long-distance travel, tours, and expeditions for individuals and groups.

O*NET 30.3 Database (USDOL/ETA) · occupation code 39-7012.00

Pay over time

Median up 8% 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.

Explain hunting and fishing laws to groups to ensure compliance.
Lead individuals or groups to tour site locations and describe points of interest.
Pilot airplanes or drive land and water vehicles to transport tourists to activity or tour sites.
Arrange for tour or expedition details such as accommodations, transportation, equipment, and the availability of medical personnel.
Plan tour itineraries, applying knowledge of travel routes and destination sites.
Resolve any problems with itineraries, service, or accommodations.
Sell or rent equipment, clothing, and supplies related to expeditions.
Attend to special needs of tour participants.
Pay bills and record checks issued.
Sell travel packages.
Evaluate services received on the tour, and report findings to tour organizers.
Verify amounts and quality of equipment prior to expeditions or tours.

O*NET 30.3 task ratings, importance scale

Skills that matter most

Importance, rated 1 to 5.

Speaking4.0

Active Listening3.9

Reading Comprehension3.2

Writing3.1

Critical Thinking3.1

Active Learning3.1

Monitoring3.0

Learning Strategies2.8

Mathematics2.5

Science1.0

O*NET 30.3 skills, importance scale

Software and tools

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

Facebook●Microsoft Access●Microsoft Excel●Microsoft Office software●Microsoft Outlook●Microsoft PowerPoint●Microsoft Word●Structured query language SQL●Tableau●Customer information databasesData visualization softwareFinancial accounting softwareGlobal positioning system GPS softwareTravel Agent CMSWeb browser software

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.

2 / 5Some preparation — a school diploma and a few months of on-the-job training.

O*NET 30.3 Job Zones

Working conditions that stand out

Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets−1.0 below average

Deal With External Customers or the Public in General+1.0 above average

Exposed to Contaminants−0.9 below average

Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions+0.9 above average

Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals+0.9 above average

Telephone Conversations+0.9 above average

In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment+0.9 above average

O*NET 30.3 work context, frequency scale · observed 2022-08

How people actually get in

Share of workers by the education they hold.

High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)46%

Some College Courses21%

Less than a High School Diploma18%

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)9%

O*NET 30.2 education, training and experience · observed 2022-08

What kind of person the work suits

Occupational interest profile, rated 1 to 7.

Social4.8

Enterprising4.6

Conventional4.3

O*NET 30.2 occupational interests (RIASEC)

What you take with you

Skills rated for how well they transfer into other occupations.

Service Orientation4.1

Social Perceptiveness3.9

Coordination3.8

Persuasion3.8

Time Management3.2

Complex Problem Solving3.1

Judgment and Decision Making3.1

Negotiation3.1

O*NET 30.3 transferable skills, importance scale

Knowledge the work draws on

Customer and Personal ServiceEnglish LanguageSales and MarketingAdministrativeTransportationAdministration and Management

Abilities it leans on

Oral ComprehensionOral ExpressionSpeech ClaritySpeech RecognitionWritten ComprehensionNear Vision

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.

GuideRaft GuideTrail GuideTour EscortRiver GuideEvent GuideTravel GuideCruise AgentTour ManagerAlpine GuideCruise GuideTour OperatorDude WranglerProgram 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.

Now listed 7

+Microsoft Access+Microsoft PowerPoint+Tableau+Facebook+Data visualization software+Microsoft Word+Structured query language SQL

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

GuideRaft GuideTour GuideEvent GuideTrail GuideTour EscortRiver GuideAlpine GuideTour ManagerTravel GuideCruise AgentTravel Agent

O*NET 30.3 alternative titles

The same work in Europe

ESCO occupation	ISCO	Match
travel agent	4221.6	close
guide	5113.1	close
travel consultant	4221.7	close
tour organiser	4221.5	broader

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

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