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Fishing guide vs river guide

The differences between fishing guides and river guides can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a fishing guide and a river guide. Additionally, a fishing guide has an average salary of $55,902, which is higher than the $39,322 average annual salary of a river guide.

The top three skills for a fishing guide include customer service, trout and anglers. The most important skills for a river guide are safety procedures, summer season, and emergency situations.

Fishing guide vs river guide overview

Fishing GuideRiver Guide
Yearly salary$55,902$39,322
Hourly rate$26.88$18.90
Growth rate--
Number of jobs870950
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 72%Bachelor's Degree, 74%
Average age3434
Years of experience22

Fishing guide vs river guide salary

Fishing guides and river guides have different pay scales, as shown below.

Fishing GuideRiver Guide
Average salary$55,902$39,322
Salary rangeBetween $12,000 And $247,000Between $13,000 And $113,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between fishing guide and river guide education

There are a few differences between a fishing guide and a river guide in terms of educational background:

Fishing GuideRiver Guide
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 72%Bachelor's Degree, 74%
Most common majorBusinessEnvironmental Science
Most common collegeStanford UniversityStanford University

Fishing guide vs river guide demographics

Here are the differences between fishing guides' and river guides' demographics:

Fishing GuideRiver Guide
Average age3434
Gender ratioMale, 91.6% Female, 8.4%Male, 69.2% Female, 30.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 9.8% Asian, 9.6% White, 69.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%Black or African American, 6.5% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 10.4% Asian, 9.2% White, 67.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between fishing guide and river guide duties and responsibilities

Fishing guide example responsibilities.

  • Manage payroll - specifically manage overtime.
  • Service and maintain hunting vehicles along with working equipment such as gators, tractors, bush hogs, hay mowers ect.
  • Facilitate a therapeutic outdoor adventure experience for teenagers struggling with a variety of behavioral, mental health and substance abuse challenges.
  • Train guests on hunter safety and handling a firearm and help instruct guests on numerous occasions at the trap range.
  • Manage commercial whitewater rafting outfit.

River guide example responsibilities.

  • Lead students and leaders backpacking into the wilderness while using the natural settings to teach technical teamwork and leadership skills.
  • Manage payroll - specifically manage overtime.
  • Focus on safety, service, and leadership.
  • Facilitate a therapeutic outdoor adventure experience for teenagers struggling with a variety of behavioral, mental health and substance abuse challenges.
  • Spot VIP guest immediately and provide special treatment including prefer tables.

Fishing guide vs river guide skills

Common fishing guide skills
  • Customer Service, 26%
  • Trout, 15%
  • Anglers, 13%
  • CPR, 8%
  • Elk, 6%
  • RAN, 5%
Common river guide skills
  • Safety Procedures, 56%
  • Summer Season, 12%
  • Emergency Situations, 6%
  • Kayaks, 4%
  • I-III, 4%
  • III-IV, 3%

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