Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between travel agents and travel coordinators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a travel agent and a travel coordinator. Additionally, a travel coordinator has an average salary of $43,628, which is higher than the $33,128 average annual salary of a travel agent.
The top three skills for a travel agent include reservations, booking and AAA. The most important skills for a travel coordinator are customer service, reservations, and booking.
| Travel Agent | Travel Coordinator | |
| Yearly salary | $33,128 | $43,628 |
| Hourly rate | $15.93 | $20.98 |
| Growth rate | 20% | 20% |
| Number of jobs | 34,166 | 22,775 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 39% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Average age | 51 | 51 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Travel agents help plan, choose, and organize travel schedules. Generally, they ensure that clients can efficiently process their travel plans and get the best travel experience possible. Primarily, they assist individuals, groups, and business travelers in booking their flights and hotel accommodations, buying tickets to events, and arranging their transport from one place to the other. They also provide recommendations for itineraries and offer travel packages from different airlines, hotels, or cruise lines. Travel agents can work as freelancers or mostly be employed by travel agencies.
Travel Coordinators are administrative employees who specifically work on the travel-related needs of the company and its employees. They arrange travel based on the request of the involved department. They manage flight and hotel bookings, shuttle services, and car rentals. They coordinate with accredited travel agencies or providers to meet the requirements. Travel Coordinators should be familiar with the travel-related policies of the company to ensure that they follow the guidelines. They should also be mindful of the company budget. Travel Coordinators manage the list of accredited travel providers and maintain a good working relationship with these vendors.
Travel agents and travel coordinators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Travel Agent | Travel Coordinator | |
| Average salary | $33,128 | $43,628 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $41,000 | Between $28,000 And $67,000 |
| Highest paying City | Madison, WI | Santa Barbara, CA |
| Highest paying state | Wisconsin | California |
| Best paying company | Perkins Coie | Aramco Services Company |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a travel agent and a travel coordinator in terms of educational background:
| Travel Agent | Travel Coordinator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 39% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between travel agents' and travel coordinators' demographics:
| Travel Agent | Travel Coordinator | |
| Average age | 51 | 51 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 21.9% Female, 78.1% | Male, 21.4% Female, 78.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.2% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 13.1% Asian, 8.7% White, 66.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 7.2% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 13.1% Asian, 7.9% White, 67.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 17% | 17% |