What Does A Ticket Agent Do (including Their Typical Day at Work)

Stan T.Career, Overview

Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz

Ticket Agents

Ticket Agents make and confirm reservations for transportation or lodging, or sell transportation tickets. May check baggage and direct passengers to designated concourse, pier, or track; deliver tickets and contact individuals and groups to inform them of package tours; or provide tourists with travel or transportation information.

Salary
$45710
Becoming One
Easy
Education
No degree required
Job Satisfaction
Job Growth

Personality
Interest Match


What they do

Ticket Agents make and confirm reservations for transportation or lodging, or sell transportation tickets. May check baggage and direct passengers to designated concourse, pier, or track; deliver tickets and contact individuals and groups to inform them of package tours; or provide tourists with travel or transportation information.

  • Examine passenger documentation to determine destinations and to assign boarding passes.
  • Trace lost, delayed, or misdirected baggage for customers.
  • Check baggage and cargo and direct passengers to designated locations for loading.
  • Provide boarding or disembarking assistance to passengers needing special assistance.

Typical day

On a daily basis, Ticket Agents examine passenger documentation to determine destinations and to assign boarding passes. They check baggage and cargo and direct passengers to designated locations for loading.

A typical day for a Ticket Agent will also include:

  • Announce arrival and departure information, using public address systems.
  • Confer with customers to determine their service requirements and travel preferences.
  • Provide clients with assistance in preparing required travel documents and forms.
  • Trace lost, delayed, or misdirected baggage for customers.
  • Answer inquiries regarding information, such as schedules, accommodations, procedures, or policies.

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Ticket Agents also contact motel, hotel, resort, and travel operators to obtain current advertising literature. They may also contact customers or travel agents to advise them of travel conveyance changes or to confirm reservations.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Ticket Agents prepare customer invoices and accept payment. They might also make and confirm reservations for transportation and accommodations, using telephones, faxes, mail, and computers.

In addition, they determine whether space is available on travel dates requested by customers, assigning requested spaces when available.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them open or close information facilities.

To some Ticket Agents, it is also their responsibility to provide customers with travel suggestions and information sources, such as guides, directories, brochures, or maps.

What is the job like

Job satisfaction

High

Is this job meaningful

Low

70% said they were satisfied with their job and 30% said they found their job meaningful.


Pros

Suitable for people who like to follow routines.

Suitable for people who value relationships between co-workers and customers and want to work in a friendly non-competitive environment.

This career is perfect for people who love to work indoors.

It is easy to get into this career. Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career.

Cons

Not suitable for people who like to solve problems mentally.

One of the lowest paying jobs.

Demand for this career is declining.

How much do they make

Average salary

$45710 per year

Average hourly wage

$22 per hour

Entry-level Ticket Agents with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $26,320 to $30,600 per year or $13 to $15 per hour.

Salary by experience Annual Hourly
Highest (Top 10%) $74,960 $36
Senior (Top 25%) $62,550 $30
Median $39,430 $19
Junior (Bottom 25%) $30,600 $15
No experience (Bottom 10%) $26,320 $13

This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Ticket Agents based on their average annual salary.

Salary by industry Annual Hourly
Freight Transportation Arrangement $53320 $25.64
Rail Transportation $52360 $25.18
Scheduled Air Transportation $51430 $24.73
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals $50170 $24.12
Local Government $46370 $22.29
Deep Sea, Coastal, and Great Lakes Water Transportation $46080 $22.15
Nonscheduled Air Transportation $44670 $21.48
State Government $44080 $21.19
Amusement Parks and Arcades $41750 $20.07
Travel Arrangement and Reservation Services $41010 $19.72

View more salary by industries here.

Where can they work

Where can Ticket Agents work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Ticket Agents including the average salary in that industry.

Employers Total Employed Annual Salary Hourly Wages
Scheduled Air Transportation 57780 $51430 $24.73
Travel Arrangement and Reservation Services 21160 $41010 $19.72
Support Activities for Air Transportation 12090 $35700 $17.16
Traveler Accommodation 4910 $37390 $17.98
Rail Transportation 2680 $52360 $25.18
Management of Companies and Enterprises 1490 $38770 $18.64
Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation 1040 $34870 $16.77
Taxi and Limousine Service 960 $34940 $16.80
Local Government 700 $46370 $22.29
Nonscheduled Air Transportation 680 $44670 $21.48

What is the work day like

Working hours

Less than 40 hours
63%

40 hours
36%

More than 40 hours
1%

Working schedule

60%

31%

9%

Email

How often do you use email in this job?

Once a week
10%

Every day
39%

Telephone

How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?

Once a week
14%

Every day
78%

Group discussions

How often do you have group discussions in this job?

Once a week
0%

Every day
85%

Public speaking

How often does this job require you to do public speaking?

Never
32%

Once a year
0%

Once a month
1%

Once a week
22%

Every day
44%

Level of competition

How much competitive pressure is in this job?

Not competitive at all
50%

Slightly competitive
0%

Moderately competitive
32%

Highly competitive
10%

Extremely competitive
7%

What is the work environment like

Office-style environment

Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition

Never
4%

Once a year or more
0%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
7%

Every day
88%

Warehouse-style environment

Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse

Never
93%

Once a year or more
0%

Once a month or more
7%

Once a week or more
0%

Every day
0%

Outdoors

Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions

Never
37%

Once a year or more
14%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
16%

Every day
32%

Outdoors – Under Cover

Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)

Never
90%

Once a year or more
9%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
0%

Every day
1%

How to become one

Difficulty to become one

Easy
You may need some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience. Most careers in this difficulty category usually don’t require a degree. However, you will need a few months of on-the-job training with experienced employees. Similar careers include Customer Service Representatives, Security Guards, and Bank Tellers.

Required level of education

What level of education do you need to perform the job?

Less than a High School Diploma
9%

High School Diploma or equivalent
75%

Post-Secondary Certificate
1%

Some College Courses
12%

Associate’s Degree or similar
2%

Bachelor’s Degree
1%

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
0%

Master’s Degree
0%

Post-Master’s Certificate
0%

First Professional Degree
0%

Doctoral Degree
0%

Post-Doctoral Training
0%

Relevant majors

No majors found

Relevant work experience

How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?

None
58%

1 month
1%

1 to 3 months
0%

3 to 6 months
1%

6 months to 1 year
17%

1 to 2 years
7%

2 to 4 years
17%

4 to 6 years
0%

6 to 8 years
0%

8 to 10 years
0%

Over 10 years
0%

On The Job Training

How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?

None or short demonstration
7%

1 month
20%

1 to 3 months
32%

3 to 6 months
22%

6 months to 1 year
18%

1 to 2 years
0%

2 to 4 years
0%

4 to 10 years
0%

Over 10 years
0%

Should you become one

Best personality type for this career

The Organizer

People with this personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.

The Builder
24%

People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.


The Thinker
19%

People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.


The Artist
24%

People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.


The Helper
57%

People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.


The Leader
81%

People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.


The Organizer
90%

People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.


You can read more about these career personality types here.

People who are suitable for this job tend to like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.

They also like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.

Work Values

Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?

Achievement
48%

You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.

Working Conditions
45%

You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.

Recognition
43%

You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.

Relationships
71%

You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.

Support
52%

You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.

Independence
52%

You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.

FAQ


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