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The differences between travel agents and travel counselors 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 counselor. Additionally, a travel counselor has an average salary of $44,934, 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 counselor are reservations, apollo, and ground transportation.
| Travel Agent | Travel Counselor | |
| Yearly salary | $33,128 | $44,934 |
| Hourly rate | $15.93 | $21.60 |
| Growth rate | 20% | 20% |
| Number of jobs | 34,166 | 32,840 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 39% | Bachelor's Degree, 49% |
| 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.
A travel counselor is a certified travel agent specializing in planning and providing their clients' travel needs, from helping them choose their destination to arranging their accommodation and transportation. Among their duties include performing research and assessments to provide a list of recommendations that suits their clients' needs and preferences, preparing travel arrangements, giving travel tips, and advising them about travel safety, including visa and immunization policies. Additionally, a travel counselor assists clients by answering inquiries, discussing other services, and maintaining an open communication line should there be any issues or concerns.
Travel agents and travel counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Travel Agent | Travel Counselor | |
| Average salary | $33,128 | $44,934 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $41,000 | Between $28,000 And $70,000 |
| Highest paying City | Madison, WI | - |
| Highest paying state | Wisconsin | - |
| Best paying company | Perkins Coie | - |
| Best paying industry | Technology | - |
There are a few differences between a travel agent and a travel counselor in terms of educational background:
| Travel Agent | Travel Counselor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 39% | Bachelor's Degree, 49% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between travel agents' and travel counselors' demographics:
| Travel Agent | Travel Counselor | |
| Average age | 51 | 51 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 21.9% Female, 78.1% | Male, 24.5% Female, 75.5% |
| 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, 7.5% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 13.5% Asian, 7.9% White, 66.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 17% | 17% |