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Tour guide salary
Average tour guide salary
$15.54
Understanding Tour Guide Salaries
The salary for a tour guide varies significantly based on several factors. As of October 2025, the average annual salary stands at $32,323, or about $16 an hour. However, this figure can fluctuate based on the state, the guide's experience, and the specific sector of tourism they work in.
State-by-State Salary Breakdown
Tour guides in states like California and Florida tend to earn higher salaries due to their popular tourist attractions. For instance, California offers an average salary of $38,000, while Florida averages around $36,000. In contrast, states with fewer tourism activities may see salaries closer to $28,000.
Industry Impact on Earnings
Tour guides working in specialized sectors, such as adventure tourism or luxury travel, often earn more than those in traditional sightseeing roles. Additionally, guides with extensive knowledge and experience can command higher fees, especially in niche markets. Understanding these dynamics can help aspiring tour guides make informed decisions about where to work and how to advance their careers.
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Where can a Tour Guide earn more?
Tour guide salary estimates from across the web
Average tour guide salary by state
The highest-paying states for tour guides are Alaska, California, and Connecticut. The lowest average tour guide salary states are Louisiana, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for tour guides
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $40,533 | $19.49 |
| 2 | California | $39,666 | $19.07 |
| 3 | Oregon | $34,213 | $16.45 |
| 4 | Tennessee | $32,726 | $15.73 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $37,782 | $18.16 |
| 6 | Virginia | $36,382 | $17.49 |
| 7 | Indiana | $35,065 | $16.86 |
| 8 | Vermont | $34,591 | $16.63 |
| 9 | Kansas | $34,624 | $16.65 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $36,767 | $17.68 |
| 11 | Arkansas | $30,322 | $14.58 |
| 12 | Maine | $31,909 | $15.34 |
| 13 | West Virginia | $29,417 | $14.14 |
| 14 | New Hampshire | $35,766 | $17.20 |
| 15 | Washington | $32,978 | $15.85 |
| 16 | Idaho | $32,171 | $15.47 |
| 17 | Nebraska | $28,585 | $13.74 |
| 18 | North Carolina | $30,388 | $14.61 |
| 19 | Utah | $28,880 | $13.88 |
| 20 | Texas | $29,983 | $14.41 |
| 21 | Missouri | $29,666 | $14.26 |
| 22 | Ohio | $28,865 | $13.88 |
| 23 | New Mexico | $31,049 | $14.93 |
| 24 | Oklahoma | $29,436 | $14.15 |
| 25 | Kentucky | $30,191 | $14.51 |
| 26 | Colorado | $29,170 | $14.02 |
| 27 | Nevada | $28,460 | $13.68 |
| 28 | New York | $32,611 | $15.68 |
| 29 | Arizona | $28,921 | $13.90 |
| 30 | Michigan | $27,918 | $13.42 |
| 31 | Wyoming | $29,569 | $14.22 |
| 32 | North Dakota | $28,990 | $13.94 |
| 33 | Delaware | $27,620 | $13.28 |
| 34 | District of Columbia | $29,422 | $14.15 |
| 35 | Mississippi | $28,944 | $13.92 |
| 36 | Georgia | $29,088 | $13.98 |
| 37 | Alabama | $27,832 | $13.38 |
| 38 | Illinois | $27,790 | $13.36 |
| 39 | Montana | $26,483 | $12.73 |
| 40 | Pennsylvania | $27,623 | $13.28 |
| 41 | South Carolina | $28,067 | $13.49 |
| 42 | Maryland | $29,803 | $14.33 |
| 43 | New Jersey | $30,737 | $14.78 |
| 44 | Florida | $26,860 | $12.91 |
| 45 | Iowa | $27,642 | $13.29 |
| 46 | Rhode Island | $27,719 | $13.33 |
| 47 | Hawaii | $31,937 | $15.35 |
| 48 | South Dakota | $27,237 | $13.09 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $27,515 | $13.23 |
| 50 | Wisconsin | $27,035 | $13.00 |
| 51 | Minnesota | $25,542 | $12.28 |
Highest paying cities for tour guides
The highest-paying cities for tour guides are San Francisco, CA, Juneau, AK, and Fredericksburg, VA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $41,520 | $19.96 |
| 2 | Juneau, AK | $37,838 | $18.19 |
| 3 | Fredericksburg, VA | $36,370 | $17.49 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $36,280 | $17.44 |
| 5 | Indianapolis, IN | $35,112 | $16.88 |
| 6 | Bend, OR | $34,005 | $16.35 |
| 7 | New York, NY | $32,647 | $15.70 |
| 8 | Kailua, HI | $31,987 | $15.38 |
| 9 | Asheville, NC | $30,348 | $14.59 |
| 10 | Frankfort, KY | $30,281 | $14.56 |
| 11 | Baltimore, MD | $29,818 | $14.34 |
| 12 | Austin, TX | $29,792 | $14.32 |
| 13 | Saint Louis, MO | $29,759 | $14.31 |
| 14 | Washington, DC | $29,413 | $14.14 |
| 15 | Duluth, GA | $29,362 | $14.12 |
| 16 | Las Vegas, NV | $28,418 | $13.66 |
| 17 | Philadelphia, PA | $27,784 | $13.36 |
| 18 | Gainesville, FL | $27,707 | $13.32 |
| 19 | Charleston, SC | $27,705 | $13.32 |
| 20 | Des Moines, IA | $27,609 | $13.27 |
Tour guide salary details
A tour guide's salary ranges from $18,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $55,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a tour guide's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $55,000 | $4,583 | $26 |
| 75th Percentile | $42,000 | $3,500 | $20 |
| Average | $32,323 | $2,694 | $16 |
| 25th Percentile | $24,000 | $2,000 | $12 |
| 10th Percentile | $18,000 | $1,500 | $9 |
Top companies hiring tour guides now:
Which companies pay tour guides the most?
Tour guide salaries at Harley-Davidson and Bridgewater State University are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average tour guide salary at companies like Kohler Co. and Central Lakes College are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harley-Davidson | $75,774 | $36.43 |
| 2 | Bridgewater State University | $51,961 | $24.98 |
| 3 | Kohler Co. | $51,290 | $24.66 |
| 4 | Central Lakes College | $48,435 | $23.29 |
| 5 | Student Conservation Association | $47,676 | $22.92 |
| 6 | Andersen | $46,506 | $22.36 |
| 7 | National Radio Astronomy Observatory | $40,050 | $19.25 |
| 8 | Legends Hospitality | $39,188 | $18.84 |
| 9 | Ryman Hospitality Properties | $39,094 | $18.80 |
| 10 | Bluewater Waterfront Grill | $37,577 | $18.07 |
| 11 | Deschutes Brewery | $37,436 | $18.00 |
| 12 | Iowa Department of Transportation | $36,391 | $17.50 |
| 13 | Covenant College | $36,078 | $17.35 |
| 14 | WarnerMedia | $35,528 | $17.08 |
| 15 | Iowa State Association of Counties | $35,385 | $17.01 |
| 16 | *n/a* | $35,196 | $16.92 |
| 17 | Sun Country Airlines | $35,170 | $16.91 |
| 18 | Unitek Learning | $35,170 | $16.91 |
| 19 | Segway | $35,139 | $16.89 |
| 20 | LAZ Parking | $35,011 | $16.83 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Tour Guide salary by industry
The average tour guide salary varies across industries:
- The average tour guide salary in the education industry is $37,620, the highest of any industry.
- The average tour guide salary in the finance industry is $32,465.
- Tour guides in the professional industry earn an average salary of $28,761, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for tour guides
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Education | $37,620 | $18.09 |
| 2 | Hospitality | $32,465 | $15.61 |
| 3 | Manufacturing | $31,072 | $14.94 |
| 4 | Media | $30,995 | $14.90 |
| 5 | Professional | $28,761 | $13.83 |
High paying tour guide jobs
Tour guide salary trends
The average tour guide salary has risen by $5,940 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average tour guide earned $26,383 annually, but today, they earn $32,323 a year. That works out to a 16% change in pay for tour guides over the last decade.
Compare tour guide salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average tour guide salary over time
Compare tour guide salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Tour guide salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $32,300 | $15.54 | +6.3% |
| 2024 | $30,300 | $14.56 | +3.7% |
| 2023 | $29,200 | $14.02 | +3.0% |
| 2022 | $28,300 | $13.59 | +1.6% |
| 2021 | $27,800 | $13.38 | +3.3% |
Recently added tour guide salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| My1060Wd | Wrigley Field Tour Guide | Chicago, IL | 06/30/2025 | $34,644 |
| Leisure Co | Sales Tour Guide | Steamboat Springs, CO | 06/29/2025 | $52,175 |
| SPS Corp | Tour Guide (Portuguese & Spanish-Speaking)-Top of The Rock Rockefeller | New York, NY | 06/29/2025 | $41,740 |
| Travel + Leisure Co | Tour Guide | Napa, CA | 06/28/2025 | $34,436 |
| Fox Corporation | Tour Guide | Los Angeles, CA | 06/28/2025 | $39,653 |
| Hilton Worldwide | Tour Guide-Hotel DEL Coronado, Curio Collection By Hilton | Coronado, CA | 06/27/2025 | $41,740 |
| The Walt Disney Company | Disney Special Activities VIP Tour Guide Bench, Seasonal | Orlando, FL | 06/27/2025 | $41,218 |
| Us Ghost Adventures | Tour Guide | Las Vegas, NV | 06/27/2025 | $13,044 |
| ACL Digital | Tour Guide | Mukilteo, WA | 06/27/2025 | $58,436 |
| Disney Worldwide Services | Disney Special Activities VIP Tour Guide Bench, Seasonal | Buena Vista, CA | 06/26/2025 | $41,218 |
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