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What is a tour guide and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read

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.

ScoreTour GuideUS Average
Salary
2.5

Avg. Salary $32,323

Avg. Salary $59,228

Diversity
1.1
Race

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%

Gender

female 53.16%

male 46.84%

Age - 28
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 28
Stress level
6.3

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level
6.1

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance
7.3

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Tour guide career paths

Key steps to become a tour guide

  1. Explore tour guide education requirements

    Most common tour guide degrees

    Bachelor's

    70.0 %

    High School Diploma

    10.6 %

    Associate

    9.9 %
  2. Start to develop specific tour guide skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Local History21.84%
    Customer Service18.90%
    Safety Practices15.97%
    Public Speaking7.56%
    Front Desk3.71%
  3. Complete relevant tour guide training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New tour guides learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a tour guide based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real tour guide resumes.
  4. Gain additional tour guide certifications

    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).

    More About Certifications
  5. Research tour guide duties and responsibilities

    • Manage the canoe landing including guests, workers, and canoe traffic in a way that all run smoothly and safely.
    • Aid clients with matters regarding passports and visas.
    • Receive multiple positive reviews on the company Facebook page.
    • Complete extensive training as well as first aid, CPR and a certification.
  6. Prepare your tour guide resume

    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.

    Choose from 10+ customizable tour guide resume templates

    Build a professional tour guide resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your tour guide resume.
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  7. Apply for tour guide jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a tour guide job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first tour guide job

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Average tour guide salary

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.

Average tour guide salary
$32,323 Yearly
$15.54 hourly

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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