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Tour & Travel Guides

Personal care professionals in this category specialize in guiding and escorting individuals or groups through various destinations and points of interest. They plan itineraries, arrange travel logistics, and provide informative commentary during tours of museums, historical sites, or extended expeditions. These professionals ensure visitor safety while delivering educational experiences in diverse settings from local attractions to international destinations.

Median Annual Pay
$36,060
Range: $25,930 - $58,620
Training Time
2 to 4 years
AI Resilience
🟡AI-Augmented
Education
Associate's degree

🎬Career Video

🤖AI Resilience Assessment

AI Resilience Score

Score 2/6: high AI task exposure indicates this career is being transformed by AI (estimated from legacy data)

🟠In Transition

How we calculated this:

AI Exposure
High+0

92% of tasks can be accelerated by AI

Job Growth
Stable+1

0% projected (2024-2034)

Human Advantage
Moderate+1

EPOCH score: 17/25

Total Score2/6
Methodology: v2.0 - GPTs are GPTs / BLS / EPOCH Additive ScoringUpdated: 2026-01-09

📋Key Responsibilities

  • 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.
  • Monitor visitors' activities to ensure compliance with establishment or tour regulations and safety practices.
  • Conduct educational activities for school children.
  • Research various topics, including site history, environmental conditions, and clients' skills and abilities to plan appropriate expeditions, instruction, and commentary.
  • Provide directions and other pertinent information to visitors.
  • Select travel routes and sites to be visited based on knowledge of specific areas.
  • Arrange for tour or expedition details such as accommodations, transportation, equipment, and the availability of medical personnel.

💡Inside This Career

Personal care professionals in the guiding and escort field spend their days transforming destinations into memorable experiences for travelers and visitors. Their mornings often begin with preparation—reviewing itineraries, checking weather conditions, coordinating with local vendors, and ensuring all logistics are in place. Once groups arrive, these professionals take on the role of storyteller, educator, and facilitator, weaving together historical facts, cultural insights, and local knowledge to bring locations to life. They move fluidly between indoor venues like museums and galleries to outdoor sites such as historic districts, natural landmarks, or cultural attractions, adapting their presentation style to match the environment and audience.

Throughout the day, personal care professionals manage group dynamics while maintaining safety and schedules. They handle unexpected situations—from weather changes to transportation delays—while keeping participants engaged and informed. Their work involves constant interaction with diverse groups of people, requiring them to read their audience and adjust their communication style accordingly. Whether leading a two-hour city walking tour or managing a multi-day expedition, they coordinate with drivers, restaurant staff, attraction managers, and local authorities to ensure seamless experiences.

The variety in this field is considerable, with professionals working in urban settings, rural landscapes, historical sites, and cultural centers. Some days focus on intimate small-group experiences, while others involve managing larger crowds. The work combines physical activity with intellectual engagement, as professionals must stay current on local developments, historical research, and cultural events while maintaining the stamina to guide groups through various terrains and conditions.

📈Career Progression

What does this mean?

This shows how earnings typically grow with experience. Entry level represents starting salaries, while Expert shows top earners (90th percentile). Most workers reach mid-career earnings within 5-10 years. Figures are national averages and vary by location and employer.

1
Entry (10th %ile)
0-2 years experience
$25,930
$23,337 - $28,523
2
Early Career (25th %ile)
2-6 years experience
$30,530
$27,477 - $33,583
3
Mid-Career (Median)
5-15 years experience
$36,060
$32,454 - $39,666
4
Experienced (75th %ile)
10-20 years experience
$44,520
$40,068 - $48,972
5
Expert (90th %ile)
15-30 years experience
$58,620
$52,758 - $64,482

📚Education & Training

Requirements

  • Entry Education: Associate's degree
  • Experience: One to two years
  • On-the-job Training: One to two years
  • !License or certification required

Time & Cost

Education Duration
2-3 years (typically 2)
Estimated Education Cost
$7,581 - $22,059
Public (in-state):$22,059
Community college:$7,581
Source: college board (2024)
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💻Technology Skills

Adobe PhotoshopApple SafariCentaur Systems Centaur Travel Business Management System TBMSEmail softwareFacebookGlobal positioning system GPS softwareIBS Software Services Tour PartnerMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Internet ExplorerMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft WordPadlet

Key Abilities

Oral Expression
Oral Comprehension
Speech Clarity
Written Comprehension
Far Vision
Speech Recognition
Problem Sensitivity
Near Vision
Written Expression
Deductive Reasoning

🏷️Also Known As

Tour & Travel GuidesAdmitting Office EscortAdventure GuideAlpine GuideArt Museum AideArt Museum DocentDiscovery GuideDocentDuck DriverEnvironmental Educator+20 more

📑Specializations

This career includes 2 specialized roles with different focuses and compensation levels.

🔗Related Careers

Other careers in personal-care

🔗Data Sources

Last updated: 2026-01-09

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