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Outdoor guide vs mountain guide

The differences between outdoor guides and mountain guides can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both an outdoor guide and a mountain guide. Additionally, an outdoor guide has an average salary of $49,220, which is higher than the $47,584 average annual salary of a mountain guide.

The top three skills for an outdoor guide include responder, GPS and outdoor education. The most important skills for a mountain guide are CPR, responder, and safety procedures.

Outdoor guide vs mountain guide overview

Outdoor GuideMountain Guide
Yearly salary$49,220$47,584
Hourly rate$23.66$22.88
Growth rate--
Number of jobs911851
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 84%Bachelor's Degree, 76%
Average age3434
Years of experience22

Outdoor guide vs mountain guide salary

Outdoor guides and mountain guides have different pay scales, as shown below.

Outdoor GuideMountain Guide
Average salary$49,220$47,584
Salary rangeBetween $12,000 And $199,000Between $12,000 And $187,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between outdoor guide and mountain guide education

There are a few differences between an outdoor guide and a mountain guide in terms of educational background:

Outdoor GuideMountain Guide
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 84%Bachelor's Degree, 76%
Most common majorRecreation ManagementEnvironmental Science
Most common collegeStanford UniversityUniversity of Pennsylvania

Outdoor guide vs mountain guide demographics

Here are the differences between outdoor guides' and mountain guides' demographics:

Outdoor GuideMountain Guide
Average age3434
Gender ratioMale, 67.8% Female, 32.2%Male, 75.9% Female, 24.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.7% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 10.8% Asian, 9.4% White, 67.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%Black or African American, 5.2% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 10.9% Asian, 10.1% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between outdoor guide and mountain guide duties and responsibilities

Outdoor guide example responsibilities.

  • Manage payroll - specifically manage overtime.
  • Steer a large voyageur canoe, teach paddling skills, and safety practices.
  • Guide backpacking, canoe, white-water raft trips with a non-profit outdoor youth development program.
  • Facilitate a therapeutic outdoor adventure experience for teenagers struggling with a variety of behavioral, mental health and substance abuse challenges.
  • Manage commercial whitewater rafting outfit.

Mountain guide example responsibilities.

  • Manage payroll - specifically manage overtime.
  • Instruct clients on techniques, equipment, leadership, and decision-making in mountain environments.
  • Advance leadership abilities, and constantly double-check tasks for correctness and safety
  • Facilitate a therapeutic outdoor adventure experience for teenagers struggling with a variety of behavioral, mental health and substance abuse challenges.
  • Manage commercial whitewater rafting outfit.

Outdoor guide vs mountain guide skills

Common outdoor guide skills
  • Responder, 25%
  • GPS, 16%
  • Outdoor Education, 14%
  • Natural History, 14%
  • Adventure Programs, 7%
  • Customer Service, 6%
Common mountain guide skills
  • CPR, 41%
  • Responder, 34%
  • Safety Procedures, 25%

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