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.
Table of contents
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
Is this job meaningful
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
Average hourly wage
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
Working schedule
How often do you use email in this job?
Telephone
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
Group discussions
How often do you have group discussions in this job?
Public speaking
How often does this job require you to do public speaking?
Level of competition
How much competitive pressure is in this job?
What is the work environment like
Office-style environment
Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition
Warehouse-style environment
Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse
Outdoors
Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions
Outdoors – Under Cover
Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)
How to become one
Difficulty to become one
Required level of education
What level of education do you need to perform the job?
Relevant majors
Relevant work experience
How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?
On The Job Training
How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?
Should you become one
Best personality type for this career
People with this personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.
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.
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.
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.
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.
People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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