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A tour guide takes visitors on guided tours at historical or culturally relevant sites that are unfamiliar to them. Guides share interesting information and entertaining insight into the places to provide tourists with a more in-depth experience. Following the lead of a tour guide in a foreign place usually guarantees that you will not get lost, and you will find the best spot to see and have a great meal, or a fun night out.
Guides sometimes obtain vocational training in travel or tourism, but they are not required to have a degree to hold this position. Language skills are great to have, and experience in the service industry, such as hotels or travel trades, can also be useful.
You will be walking around a lot as a guide, so make sure you are at least more fit than the average tourist if you take on this job. You should not shy away from speaking in public. Unless you advertise yourself as a Zen guide, you will be expected to keep the info and fun titbits coming all day long.
Avg. Salary $32,323
Avg. Salary $59,228
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.66%
Asian 9.95%
Black or African American 6.56%
Hispanic or Latino 10.50%
Unknown 5.35%
White 66.99%
Genderfemale 53.16%
male 46.84%
Age - 28American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 28Stress level is manageable
7.1 - high
Complexity level is intermediate
7 - challenging
Work life balance is good
6.4 - fair
| Skills | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Local History | 21.84% |
| Customer Service | 18.90% |
| Safety Practices | 15.97% |
| Public Speaking | 7.56% |
| Front Desk | 3.71% |
Tour guide certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific tour guide certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.
The most common certifications for tour guides include First Aid, CPR and AED Instructor and Travel and Tourism Professional (TTP).
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your tour guide resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a tour guide resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Now it's time to start searching for a tour guide job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

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The average tour guide salary in the United States is $32,323 per year or $16 per hour. Tour guide salaries range between $18,000 and $55,000 per year.
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