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Best states for a tour guide
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Are you thinking of becoming a tour guide and really want to work at The Walt Disney Company? Turns out, your chances to become a tour guide are better in some states than others.Pay, benefits, and opportunities vary greatly by state, and it's no different for tour guides. We found that Alaska is the best state in the nation for tour guides, and people in Anchorage earn the most in the field.
The median salary for tour guides in Alaska is $40,533. Compare that to the median salary in Minnesota of $25,542, which ranked worst for tour guides, and you can see how your location is important for your career.We found that the Midwest is best for tour guides, and the West is the worst. San Francisco, CA is the best city in the country for tour guide jobs, where as Alaska is the best state in the country.
10 best states for tour guides in 2025
1. Alaska
Total tour guide jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $40,533 Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Location Quotient: 7.54
2. California
Total tour guide jobs: 65 Average annual salary: $39,666 Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Location Quotient: 1.75
3. Oregon
Total tour guide jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $34,213 Lowest 10 percent earn: $21,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Location Quotient: 1.52
4. Tennessee
Total tour guide jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $32,726 Lowest 10 percent earn: $19,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Location Quotient: 1.34
5. Connecticut
Total tour guide jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $37,782 Lowest 10 percent earn: $17,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Location Quotient: 1.19
6. Virginia
Total tour guide jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $36,382 Lowest 10 percent earn: $19,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Location Quotient: 0.75
7. Indiana
Total tour guide jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $35,065 Lowest 10 percent earn: $20,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Location Quotient: 0.6
8. Vermont
Total tour guide jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $34,591 Lowest 10 percent earn: $15,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $78,000 Location Quotient: 2.05
9. Kansas
Total tour guide jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $34,624 Lowest 10 percent earn: $22,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Location Quotient: 0.52
10. Massachusetts
Total tour guide jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $36,767 Lowest 10 percent earn: $16,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Location Quotient: 0.77
Tour guide jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a tour guide
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a tour guide
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $40,533 | $25,000 | 739,795 | 8 |
| 2 | California | $39,666 | $25,000 | 39,536,653 | 65 |
| 3 | Oregon | $34,213 | $21,000 | 4,142,776 | 8 |
| 4 | Tennessee | $32,726 | $19,000 | 6,715,984 | 10 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $37,782 | $17,000 | 3,588,184 | 5 |
| 6 | Virginia | $36,382 | $19,000 | 8,470,020 | 9 |
| 7 | Indiana | $35,065 | $20,000 | 6,666,818 | 5 |
| 8 | Vermont | $34,591 | $15,000 | 623,657 | 2 |
| 9 | Kansas | $34,624 | $22,000 | 2,913,123 | 2 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $36,767 | $16,000 | 6,859,819 | 9 |
| 11 | Arkansas | $30,322 | $18,000 | 3,004,279 | 5 |
| 12 | Maine | $31,909 | $13,000 | 1,335,907 | 3 |
| 13 | West Virginia | $29,417 | $16,000 | 1,815,857 | 2 |
| 14 | New Hampshire | $35,766 | $15,000 | 1,342,795 | 0 |
| 15 | Washington | $32,978 | $19,000 | 7,405,743 | 5 |
| 16 | Idaho | $32,171 | $20,000 | 1,716,943 | 0 |
| 17 | Nebraska | $28,585 | $18,000 | 1,920,076 | 10 |
| 18 | North Carolina | $30,388 | $17,000 | 10,273,419 | 8 |
| 19 | Utah | $28,880 | $19,000 | 3,101,833 | 10 |
| 20 | Texas | $29,983 | $18,000 | 28,304,596 | 19 |
| 21 | Missouri | $29,666 | $18,000 | 6,113,532 | 8 |
| 22 | Ohio | $28,865 | $15,000 | 11,658,609 | 15 |
| 23 | New Mexico | $31,049 | $20,000 | 2,088,070 | 0 |
| 24 | Oklahoma | $29,436 | $18,000 | 3,930,864 | 3 |
| 25 | Kentucky | $30,191 | $17,000 | 4,454,189 | 0 |
| 26 | Colorado | $29,170 | $19,000 | 5,607,154 | 19 |
| 27 | Nevada | $28,460 | $18,000 | 2,998,039 | 4 |
| 28 | New York | $32,611 | $15,000 | 19,849,399 | 14 |
| 29 | Arizona | $28,921 | $18,000 | 7,016,270 | 10 |
| 30 | Michigan | $27,918 | $15,000 | 9,962,311 | 10 |
| 31 | Wyoming | $29,569 | $19,000 | 579,315 | 0 |
| 32 | North Dakota | $28,990 | $17,000 | 755,393 | 0 |
| 33 | Delaware | $27,620 | $13,000 | 961,939 | 4 |
| 34 | District of Columbia | $29,422 | $15,000 | 693,972 | 3 |
| 35 | Mississippi | $28,944 | $17,000 | 2,984,100 | 1 |
| 36 | Georgia | $29,088 | $17,000 | 10,429,379 | 7 |
| 37 | Alabama | $27,832 | $16,000 | 4,874,747 | 4 |
| 38 | Illinois | $27,790 | $16,000 | 12,802,023 | 15 |
| 39 | Montana | $26,483 | $16,000 | 1,050,493 | 12 |
| 40 | Pennsylvania | $27,623 | $13,000 | 12,805,537 | 10 |
| 41 | South Carolina | $28,067 | $16,000 | 5,024,369 | 2 |
| 42 | Maryland | $29,803 | $15,000 | 6,052,177 | 4 |
| 43 | New Jersey | $30,737 | $14,000 | 9,005,644 | 1 |
| 44 | Florida | $26,860 | $15,000 | 20,984,400 | 24 |
| 45 | Iowa | $27,642 | $16,000 | 3,145,711 | 0 |
| 46 | Rhode Island | $27,719 | $12,000 | 1,059,639 | 0 |
| 47 | Hawaii | $31,937 | $27,000 | 1,427,538 | 0 |
| 48 | South Dakota | $27,237 | $16,000 | 869,666 | 0 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $27,515 | $16,000 | 4,684,333 | 0 |
| 50 | Wisconsin | $27,035 | $15,000 | 5,795,483 | 1 |
| 51 | Minnesota | $25,542 | $14,000 | 5,576,606 | 7 |
Highest paying states for tour guides
| Rank | State | Avg. Tour Guide Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $40,533 |
| 2 | California | $39,666 |
| 3 | Oregon | $34,213 |
| 4 | Tennessee | $32,726 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $37,782 |
| 6 | Virginia | $36,382 |
| 7 | Indiana | $35,065 |
| 8 | Vermont | $34,591 |
| 9 | Kansas | $34,624 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $36,767 |
| 11 | Arkansas | $30,322 |
| 12 | Maine | $31,909 |
| 13 | West Virginia | $29,417 |
| 14 | New Hampshire | $35,766 |
| 15 | Washington | $32,978 |
| 16 | Idaho | $32,171 |
| 17 | Nebraska | $28,585 |
| 18 | North Carolina | $30,388 |
| 19 | Utah | $28,880 |
| 20 | Texas | $29,983 |
| 21 | Missouri | $29,666 |
| 22 | Ohio | $28,865 |
| 23 | New Mexico | $31,049 |
| 24 | Oklahoma | $29,436 |
| 25 | Kentucky | $30,191 |
| 26 | Colorado | $29,170 |
| 27 | Nevada | $28,460 |
| 28 | New York | $32,611 |
| 29 | Arizona | $28,921 |
| 30 | Michigan | $27,918 |
| 31 | Wyoming | $29,569 |
| 32 | North Dakota | $28,990 |
| 33 | Delaware | $27,620 |
| 34 | District of Columbia | $29,422 |
| 35 | Mississippi | $28,944 |
| 36 | Georgia | $29,088 |
| 37 | Alabama | $27,832 |
| 38 | Illinois | $27,790 |
| 39 | Montana | $26,483 |
| 40 | Pennsylvania | $27,623 |
| 41 | South Carolina | $28,067 |
| 42 | Maryland | $29,803 |
| 43 | New Jersey | $30,737 |
| 44 | Florida | $26,860 |
| 45 | Iowa | $27,642 |
| 46 | Rhode Island | $27,719 |
| 47 | Hawaii | $31,937 |
| 48 | South Dakota | $27,237 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $27,515 |
| 50 | Wisconsin | $27,035 |
| 51 | Minnesota | $25,542 |
Tour guide best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025