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Social Services

Travel Guides

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

Median salary (BLS)

$38,120

10th–90th percentile (BLS)

$29k – $61k

Job outlook

+8% (faster than average)

AI exposure

Plan a path to Travel Guides

Education

Typical entry: No degree required

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How to qualify

EstimateLicense required

Cost to qualify

$200–$1,150

Time to qualify

1.5 yr

Renewal

$75/yr

  1. 1

    High school diploma or GED

    Course

    Expected by most employers; if you need the GED, test fees run $0–$150 depending on the state.

    $0–$150 · 3 months · varies by state source

  2. 2

    On-the-job training

    Experience

    Employer-provided and typically paid — days to a few months for most no-degree roles.

    Cost varies · 3 months source

  3. 3

    State license — supervised hours + exam

    License

    Most counseling and social-work roles (LCSW/LPC pattern) require supervised experience hours and a state exam.

    $200–$1,000 · 12 months · varies by state · renews every 2 yr source

Estimated typical U.S. route for "Travel Guides" — 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 Guides

    Entry / Junior

    $28,520

    ~2 yrs to advance

  2. Travel Guides

    Established

    $38,120

    ~3 yrs to advance

  3. Senior Travel Guides

    Senior

    $49,525

Key skills

A typical day

  • 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.
  • Attend to special needs of tour participants.
  • Sell travel packages.

Fields of study

Any field

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