Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz
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Tour Guides
Tour Guides escort individuals or groups on sightseeing tours or through places of interest, such as industrial establishments, public buildings, and art galleries.
Table of contents
What they do
Tour Guides escort individuals or groups on sightseeing tours or through places of interest, such as industrial establishments, public buildings, and art galleries.
- Describe tour points of interest to group members, and respond to questions.
- Escort individuals or groups on cruises, sightseeing tours, or through places of interest such as industrial establishments, public buildings, or art galleries.
- Conduct educational activities for school children.
- Monitor visitors’ activities to ensure compliance with establishment or tour regulations and safety practices.
Typical day
On a daily basis, Tour Guides and Escorts assemble and check the required supplies and equipment prior to departure. They greet and register visitors, and issue any required identification badges or safety devices.
A typical day for a Tour Guide and Escort will also include:
- Solicit tour patronage and sell souvenirs.
- Describe tour points of interest to group members, and respond to questions.
- Provide directions and other pertinent information to visitors.
- Provide information about wildlife varieties and habitats, as well as any relevant regulations, such as those pertaining to hunting and fishing.
- Distribute brochures, show audiovisual presentations, and explain establishment processes and operations at tour sites.
Other responsibilities
Besides their typical day, Tour Guides and Escorts also teach skills, such as proper climbing methods, and demonstrate and advise on the use of equipment. They may also provide information about wildlife varieties and habitats, as well as any relevant regulations, such as those pertaining to hunting and fishing.
On a weekly to monthly basis, Tour Guides and Escorts conduct educational activities for school children. They might also distribute brochures, show audiovisual presentations, and explain establishment processes and operations at tour sites.
In addition, they research various topics, including site history, environmental conditions, and clients’ skills and abilities to plan appropriate expeditions, instruction, and commentary.
Although specific duties may vary, many of them provide directions and other pertinent information to visitors.
To some Tour Guides and Escorts, it is also their responsibility to monitor visitors’ activities to ensure compliance with establishment or tour regulations and safety practices.
What is the job like
Job satisfaction
Is this job meaningful
69% said they were satisfied with their job and 60% said they found their job meaningful.
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Pros
Suitable for people who like to help and teach others.
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 not too difficult to get into this career. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career.
Short working hours (Less than 40 hours per week).
Cons
Not suitable for people who like to follow routines.
One of the lowest paying jobs.
How much do they make
Average salary
Average hourly wage
Entry-level Tour Guides with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $20,430 to $24,200 per year or $10 to $12 per hour.
| Salary by experience | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Highest (Top 10%) | $47,660 | $23 |
| Senior (Top 25%) | $37,730 | $18 |
| Median | $29,460 | $14 |
| Junior (Bottom 25%) | $24,200 | $12 |
| No experience (Bottom 10%) | $20,430 | $10 |
This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Tour Guides based on their average annual salary.
| Salary by industry | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Deep Sea, Coastal, and Great Lakes Water Transportation | $60100 | $28.89 |
| Sporting Goods, Hobby, and Musical Instrument Stores | $47760 | $22.96 |
| Gambling Industries | $44920 | $21.60 |
| Other Schools and Instruction | $42070 | $20.22 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools | $40760 | $19.60 |
| Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations | $38650 | $18.58 |
| Employment Services | $38520 | $18.52 |
| Other Support Services | $38090 | $18.31 |
| Federal Executive Branch | $38010 | $18.27 |
| Inland Water Transportation | $37080 | $17.83 |
View more salary by industries here.
Where can they work
Where can Tour Guides work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Tour Guides including the average salary in that industry.
| Employers | Total Employed | Annual Salary | Hourly Wages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions | 13710 | $29440 | $14.15 |
| Travel Arrangement and Reservation Services | 6480 | $36960 | $17.77 |
| Other Amusement and Recreation Industries | 4350 | $32320 | $15.54 |
| Local Government | 1540 | $29790 | $14.32 |
| Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Land | 1330 | $34130 | $16.41 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | 1040 | $29030 | $13.96 |
| Amusement Parks and Arcades | 940 | $31640 | $15.21 |
| Federal Executive Branch | 880 | $38010 | $18.27 |
| State Government | 870 | $28930 | $13.91 |
| Beverage Manufacturing | 530 | $33990 | $16.34 |
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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
History
Archeology
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 work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.
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 working with, communicating with, and teaching people. They like helping or providing service to others.
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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