Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks
Also called: Reservation and 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.
Also called: Aircraft Agent, Aircraft Cabin Agent, Airline Agent, Airline Reservation Agent, Airline Reservationist, Airline Station Agent
Median pay
$44,390
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$32,140 – $78,150
People employed
118,710
Holland code
CSE
Conventional · Social · Enterprising
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Are you OK repeating the same tasks most of the day?
- 2.Are you happy talking and working with people most of the day?
- 3.Do you want to stay at 40 hours a week or less?
- 4.Do you enjoy serving customers or the public?
- 5.Do you work well under tight deadlines?
- 6.Are you OK with hours that change?
- 7.Do you want a job with little physical risk?
The hard parts
- Tight deadlines are common
- Dealing with conflict is part of the job
Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (49 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks salary in every state →
What reservation and transportation ticket agents and travel clerks do
- 01Make and confirm reservations for transportation and accommodations, using telephones, faxes, mail, and computers.
- 02Promote particular destinations, tour packages, and other travel services.
- 03Confer with customers to determine their service requirements and travel preferences.
- 04Prepare customer invoices and accept payment.
- 05Keep information facilities clean during operation.
- 06Open or close information facilities.
Skills that matter most
- Speaking
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Writing
- Active Learning
Knowledge
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Computers and Electronics
- Public Safety and Security
- Transportation
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Cooperation
- Social Orientation
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a high school diploma (O*NET Job Zone 2).
- Related work experience: none.
- On-the-job training: over 1 month, up to and including 3 months.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from reservation and transportation ticket agents and travel clerks
- Flight Attendants85% · +43%
- Travel Agents83% · +13%
- Concierges83% · −12%
- Counter and Rental Clerks81% · −7%
- Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance79% · +13%
Change into reservation and transportation ticket agents and travel clerks
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Concierges91% · $38,950
- Travel Agents84% · $50,160
- Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers84% · $32,910
- Telephone Operators81% · $41,740
- Passenger Attendants80% · $37,720