Guide demographics and statistics in the US
Guide demographics research summary. Zippia estimates guide demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our guide estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about guides after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 10,337 guides currently employed in the United States.
- 50.7% of all guides are women, while 49.3% are men.
- The average guide age is 34 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of guides is White (67.3%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (10.4%), Asian (9.9%) and Black or African American (6.5%).
- Guides are most in-demand in Los Angeles, CA.
- The technology industry is the highest-paying for guides.
- San Francisco, CA pays an annual average wage of $42,641, the highest in the US.
- In 2022, women guides earned 91% of what men earned.
- 9% of all guides are LGBT.
- Alaska is the best state for guides to live.
- Guides are 62% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to public companies.
On this page
Guide demographics by:
Guide gender statistics
50.7% of guides are women and 49.3% of guides are men.
- Female, 50.7%
- Male, 49.3%
Guide gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Female | 50.7% |
| Male | 49.3% |
Guide gender pay gap
Women earn 91¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$37,258
Female income
$34,004
Guide gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in guide positions over time. Currently, 50.7% of guides are female.
Guide gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 54.61% | 45.39% |
| 2011 | 57.59% | 42.41% |
| 2012 | 57.24% | 42.76% |
| 2013 | 59.06% | 40.94% |
| 2014 | 57.80% | 42.20% |
| 2015 | 52.88% | 47.12% |
| 2016 | 58.90% | 41.10% |
| 2017 | 59.37% | 40.63% |
| 2018 | 55.22% | 44.78% |
| 2019 | 56.72% | 43.28% |
| 2020 | 61.97% | 38.03% |
| 2021 | 49.33% | 50.67% |
Guide related jobs gender ratio
We compared guides with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, hunting guide and fishing guide have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Art Museum Docent | 21% | 79% |
| Tour Coordinator | 30% | 70% |
| Art Museum Aide | 30% | 70% |
| Guide | 49% | 51% |
| Driver/Guide | 77% | 23% |
| Fishing Guide | 92% | 8% |
| Hunting Guide | 94% | 6% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Guide demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among guides is White, which makes up 67.3% of all guides. Comparatively, 10.4% of guides are Hispanic or Latino and 9.9% of guides are Asian.
- White, 67.3%
- Hispanic or Latino, 10.4%
- Asian, 9.9%
- Black or African American, 6.5%
- Unknown, 5.4%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
Guide race
| Guide race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 67.3% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 10.4% |
| Asian | 9.9% |
| Black or African American | 6.5% |
| Unknown | 5.4% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.5% |
Guide race and ethnicity over time
See how guide racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Guide race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 75.60% | 5.34% | 6.10% | 9.44% |
| 2011 | 72.85% | 8.27% | 6.03% | 9.51% |
| 2012 | 71.46% | 9.32% | 5.81% | 9.19% |
| 2013 | 70.34% | 9.36% | 6.88% | 9.97% |
| 2014 | 70.18% | 7.73% | 6.15% | 10.23% |
| 2015 | 70.61% | 6.36% | 8.24% | 10.25% |
| 2016 | 67.68% | 8.20% | 9.21% | 11.11% |
| 2017 | 71.55% | 6.73% | 8.47% | 9.12% |
| 2018 | 71.62% | 6.47% | 6.88% | 11.08% |
| 2019 | 70.96% | 7.49% | 8.49% | 9.58% |
| 2020 | 65.52% | 7.77% | 7.12% | 12.31% |
| 2021 | 67.25% | 6.47% | 9.89% | 10.36% |
Guide wage gap by race
According to our data, asian guides have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Black or african american guides have the lowest average salary at $33,870.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $37,512 |
| White | $36,009 |
| Black or African American | $33,870 |
| Asian | $41,102 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $38,178 |
Guide age breakdown
The average age of guides is 20-30 years years old, representing 45% of the guide population.
Guide age breakdown
| Guide Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 31% |
| 30-40 years | 17% |
| 20-30 years | 45% |
Guide educational attainment
The most common degree for guides is bachelor's degree, with 61% of guides earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 13% and associate degree degree at 12%.
- Bachelor's, 61%
- Associate, 13%
- High School Diploma, 12%
- Master's, 8%
- Other Degrees, 6%
Guides by degree level
| Guide degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 61% |
| Associate | 13% |
| High School Diploma | 12% |
| Master's | 8% |
| Other Degrees | 6% |
Guide jobs you might like
Guide wage gap by degree level
According to the data, guides with a Associate degree earn more than those without, at $41,627 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, guides earn a median annual income of $40,489 compared to $35,226 for guides with an High School Diploma degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $35,226 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $40,489 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $41,627 |
Guide employment statistics
Most guides work for a private in the hospitality industry.
Company size where guides work
Below, you can see the size of companies where guides work.
Guide jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 13% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 20% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 23% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 8% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 16% |
| > 10,000 employees | 20% |
Guide jobs by company type
Employees with the guide job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most guides prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Guide jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 14% |
| Public | 21% |
| Private | 62% |
| Government | 4% |
Guide jobs by industry
The most common industries for guides are hospitality, education and professional.
Guide industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Hospitality | 12% |
| Education | 11% |
| Professional | 9% |
| Fortune 500 | 8% |
| Health Care | 7% |
| Retail | 7% |
| Non Profits | 7% |
| Technology | 6% |
| Media | 5% |
| Start-up | 5% |
| Internet | 4% |
| Manufacturing | 4% |
| Finance | 3% |
| Government | 3% |
| Transportation | 2% |
| Insurance | 2% |
| Automotive | 1% |
| Utilities | 1% |
| Construction | 1% |
| Telecommunication | 1% |
| Agriculture | 1% |
| Energy | 1% |
Guide turnover and employment statistics
Guide unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for guides between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Guide unemployment rate by year
| Year | Guide unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 9.66% |
| 2011 | 10.21% |
| 2012 | 8.21% |
| 2013 | 8.92% |
| 2014 | 8.97% |
| 2015 | 5.96% |
| 2016 | 5.63% |
| 2017 | 5.79% |
| 2018 | 4.93% |
| 2019 | 5.72% |
| 2020 | 12.65% |
| 2021 | 10.96% |
Average guide tenure
The average guide stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 20,555 guides resumes in Zippia's database.
Guide tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 37% |
| 1-2 years | 28% |
| 3-4 years | 12% |
| 5-7 years | 14% |
| 8-10 years | 4% |
| 11+ years | 5% |
Guide LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of guides that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job title | LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Game Operator | 3.67% | 31,688 |
| Guide | 9.47% | - |
| Animal Daycare Provider | 10.47% | 42,565 |
| Slot Attendant | 11.36% | 45,107 |
| Residence Director | 11.45% | 6,007 |
| Usher/Ticket Taker | 14.79% | 1,556 |
| Funeral Director | 15.24% | 5,746 |
Similar guide jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Game Operator | 3.67% | 31,688 |
| Animal Daycare Provider | 10.47% | 42,565 |
| Slot Attendant | 11.36% | 45,107 |
| Residence Director | 11.45% | 6,007 |
| Usher/Ticket Taker | 14.79% | 1,556 |
| Funeral Director | 15.24% | 5,746 |
Foreign languages spoken by guides
The most common foreign language among guides is Spanish at 50.1%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 12.5% and Chinese is the third-most popular at 5.4%.
- Spanish, 50.1%
- French, 12.5%
- Chinese, 5.4%
- German, 5.0%
- Mandarin, 4.2%
- Other, 22.8%
Guide languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 50.1% |
| French | 12.5% |
| Chinese | 5.4% |
| German | 5.0% |
| Mandarin | 4.2% |
| Other | 22.8% |
