Travel Agents
Plan and sell transportation and accommodations for customers. Determine destination, modes of transportation, travel dates, costs, and accommodations required. May also describe, plan, and arrange itineraries and sell tour packages. May assist in resolving clients' travel problems.
Also called: Auto Travel Counselor, Beach Expert, Booking Agent, Business Travel Consultant, Certified Travel Counselor, Corporate Travel Agent
Median pay
$50,160
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$34,610 – $76,660
People employed
55,110
Holland code
ECS
Enterprising · Conventional · Social
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 comfortable sitting at a desk most of the day?
- 2.Do you want a job with little physical risk?
- 3.Do you prefer working indoors?
- 4.Do you enjoy serving customers or the public?
- 5.Do you prefer doing your own work rather than directing others?
The hard parts
- Tight deadlines are common
Travel Agents pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (48 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What travel agents do
- 01Collect payment for transportation and accommodations from customer.
- 02Plan, describe, arrange, and sell itinerary tour packages and promotional travel incentives offered by various travel carriers.
- 03Converse with customer to determine destination, mode of transportation, travel dates, financial considerations, and accommodations required.
- 04Compute cost of travel and accommodations, using calculator, computer, carrier tariff books, and hotel rate books, or quote package tour's costs.
- 05Record and maintain information on clients, vendors, and travel packages.
- 06Book transportation and hotel reservations, using computer or telephone.
Skills that matter most
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
- Writing
Knowledge
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Sales and Marketing
- Geography
- Computers and Electronics
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 vocational training or an associate degree (O*NET Job Zone 3).
- Related work experience: over 1 year, up to and including 2 years.
- On-the-job training: over 3 months, up to and including 6 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 travel agents
- Customer Service Representatives87% · −11%
- Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks84% · −12%
- Real Estate Sales Agents81% · +5%
- Customs Brokers78% · group pay
- New Accounts Clerks77% · −5%
Change into travel agents
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks83% · $44,390
- Concierges81% · $38,950
- Loan Interviewers and Clerks77% · $50,020
- New Accounts Clerks77% · $47,670
- Telemarketers76% · $35,450
Majors that lead here
- Selling Skills and Sales Operations
- Tourism and Travel Services Marketing Operations
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.