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Business & Finance

Travel Agents

Plan and sell transportation and accommodations for customers. Determine destination, modes of transportation, travel dates, costs, and accommodations required. May also describe, plan, and arrange itineraries and sell tour packages. May assist in resolving clients' travel problems.

Median salary (BLS)

$50,160

10th–90th percentile (BLS)

$35k – $77k

Job outlook

+2% (about average)

AI exposure

Early-career check: graduates of the matching programs below typically earn $112,000 ten years after starting college — an early-career figure, vs. the all-experience BLS median above. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard.

Plan a path to Travel Agents

Qualification costsStack incomeBest cities/statesSchool ROIJob-posting fitTailored resume

Education

Typical entry: Associate degree

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How to qualify

Estimate

Cost to qualify

$8,500–$25,000

Time to qualify

2.5 yr

Renewal

—

  1. 1

    Associate degree (community college)

    Degree

    Two years at in-district rates — average published tuition & fees ≈ $4,050/yr, plus ~$1,200/yr books & supplies.

    $8,000–$22,000 · 2 years source

  2. 2

    Industry certification (optional for many roles)

    Certification

    Role-dependent — e.g. CPA, Series 7/65, PMP, SHRM. Not always required, but often expected for advancement.

    $500–$3,000 · 6 months source

Estimated typical U.S. route for "Travel Agents" — built from BLS education requirements and College Board 2024–25 average published prices (public, in-state tuition + fees + books). Not yet verified against a specific state's licensing rules — confirm with your state licensing board or program.

Typical progression

  1. Junior Travel Agents

    Entry / Junior

    $34,610

    ~2 yrs to advance

  2. Travel Agents

    Established

    $50,160

    ~3 yrs to advance

  3. Senior Travel Agents

    Senior

    $63,410

Key skills

A typical day

  • •Collect payment for transportation and accommodations from customer.
  • •Plan, describe, arrange, and sell itinerary tour packages and promotional travel incentives offered by various travel carriers.
  • •Converse with customer to determine destination, mode of transportation, travel dates, financial considerations, and accommodations required.
  • •Compute cost of travel and accommodations, using calculator, computer, carrier tariff books, and hotel rate books, or quote package tour's costs.
  • •Record and maintain information on clients, vendors, and travel packages.

Fields of study

Any field

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Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.