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How Much Do Travel Agents Make? Travel Agent Salary 2024

There's a whoooole lot to consider when looking at how much travel agents make. Beyond the more obvious factors (like working hours or having more experience), here are a few things that impact a travel agent's income.

• Employee vs. Self-employed? The vast majority of leisure travel agents are now entrepreneurs (most of whom align with a host agency ). This is a change from the old-school days when most travel agents were storefront agency employees. Why does this matter? Because there are going to be a lot more factors that impact income for those who run their own business compared to employees who clock in and out of a 9 to 5.
• Travel Agent Niche: A corporate advisor will typically earn a higher salary than leisure/vacation travel agents. However, within the leisure sector, niche makes a big difference. Adventure and luxury travel, for example, earned higher averages than family and Disney travel in some of HAR's more recent research reports .
• Time Investment: Self employed travel advisors who set their own schedules work varied hours. Time investment also has a huge impact on earning potential.
• Industry Experience: Experience level also plays a large role in travel advisor income, with travel advisors typically making more as they get a foothold in the industry.

The thing with travel advisors in the 21st century is that there is no "norm." Organizations outside the industry that report on travel agent salaries are ill-equipped to offer a nuanced picture. The Bureau of Labor and Statistics , for example, doesn't include self-employed travel advisors in their data, only employees.

Here's the thing though. Being self employed is, by far, the most popular pathway to becoming a travel agent .

Organizations reporting on travel agent salaries outside the travel industry aren’t aware of the nuances of our field.

So that’s why we’re here! :)

As a company that focuses solely on travel advisors, we’ll break down some of those nuances so you can get a more accurate picture of travel agent salaries. I know you're curious to know if travel agents make good money but it not quite as simple as yes or no.

We’re going to dig into some in-house data to break down travel agent salaries and earnings into digestible categories.

Here’s what you can expect:

• ALL travel agents (employees and self-employed: hosted and independent)
• Self-employed travel agents (includes hosted travel agents and independently accredited agents).
• Travel agent employees (advisors who get 'ye old W2, employed by a travel agency)
• Corporate travel advisor employees and corporate travel managers (employees who book corporate travel)

So take a seat. Pour a waterfall of melted butter on a mountain of popcorn and settle in!

How Much Do Travel Agents Make? All of 'Em.

Phocuswright's 2023 US Travel Agency Landscape offered a great overview of current travel advisor income. They offer a big picture look at how much all advisors earn based on experience.

Here's the key takeaways:

• Overall, 39% of advisors earned less than $25,000 per year. However, 80% of advisors in the lowest income bracket had been selling travel for two years or less.
• Experienced agents, typically earned $50,000+ annually and 25% of experienced travel agents earned $100,000+ annually.

In summary?Experience has a big impact on income! That's in large part due to commissions not being paid until after a client travels or in the case of cruises, 30-60 days prior to departure. It makes the first few years tough if you depend on commissions.

But don't get discouraged if you're just starting out! Travel agents can make good money but it can take some time to build up your client base and to start to see the money coming in.

Here's more on how much self-employed travel advisor earn their first few years.

What does the Bureau of Labor and Statistics Say About Travel Agent Salaries?

The Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) offers a somewhat different vantage point. While Phocuswright's number reflect primarily home-based independent advisors, BLS data predominantly profiles travel advisor employees.

The BLS data has shown a 26% increase in travel advisor salaries over the past decade. The graph below illustrates how it's increased over time.

The BLS’ latest numbers (2024) reported an average travel agent salary of $50,040 1 .

Here’s a few things to keep in mind about the BLS numbers:

• BLS only profiles employees. The BLS site sums it up here: “Estimates do not include self-employed workers.” Here at HAR, we survey full-time and part-time self-employed travel agents in addition to employees.
• BLS only looks at full-time travel agents. Here's how they crunch their numbers, "Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a 'year-round, full-time' hours." 2

Alright, so we took a look at the BLS data, which you now know skews heavily towards employees. Because of that, it doesn’t reflect the true industry landscape where the majority of travel advisors are self-employed.

So let's dive in to see if self-employed travel agents make good money!

What does HAR's research say about how much ALL travel agents make?

Host Agency Reviews' survey respondents were 95% self-employed and 5% employees.

Here's a birds-eye view of average income of our survey respondents. We break it down into full-time advisors and all advisors (both FT and PT).

When homing in on experienced and full-time advisors, results from HAR’s 2023 survey clock in higher than the BLS number, with data indicating that full-time travel advisors earned a $56,632 a year on average.

Since it’s hard to get accurate numbers on how much a travel agent makes when we look at everyone—corporate/leisure, employee/self-employed—next up, we’ll take a detailed look at average travel agent salaries for:

• self-employed advisors,
• travel advisor employees,
• travel managers,
• and corporate travel advisors.

Gotta cover all our bases! 😀

How Much Do Travel Agents Make? Self-Employed Travel Agents

Self-employed travel advisors are those who run their own businesses (rather than work as an employee). I’m going to throw some industry lingo at you now. Are you ready?

The self-employed category contains two primary segments of advisors:

• Hosted advisors (those who use another agency’s accreditation number, called a host agency ) and
• Independently accredited travel advisors (those who have their own travel accreditation

Here’s the big picture you need to know about self-employed advisors. Over time, the number of self-employed advisors has been growing exponentially, while the number of storefront travel agencies has decreased. In particular, hosted agencies have become the leading path to bringing new talent to the travel agency distribution channel.

So how much do self-employed travel agents make?

In our 2023 travel advisor research reports , full-time hosted advisors with 3+ years of experience earned $60,146 on average and their independently-accredited counterparts earned $76,252.

Why the income drop for hosted advisors?I chat more on that in this Masters in Travel podcast episode .

Here's the short story: we know two big factors that influences how much a travel agent makes is their experience level and if they work full time or part time. Hosted advisors are more likely to be newer to the industry and to work part time. The median years of experience for hosted advisors was 5 years , compared to 18 years for independent travel agents.

Owner Deductions (and how it impacts how much self-employed travel agents make)

I want to bring up one last thing that complicates things when it comes to self-employed travel agent salaries. Because why not? You've already read this far! 😊

When we're talking about income for self-employed agents, income/salary numbers can be artificially deflated.

Why? Three things:

• Business owners may not be reporting all of their income. Since cash transactions leave no paper trail for the IRS to follow, many small businesses won't report cash transactions and in not doing so, they lower the income/earnings they report to the government.
• Business owners get write-offs. I can write off my office. I can write off my work trips. I can write off my work phone and meals with colleagues where I discuss business. When I do that, it lowers what I report for my taxable income (ahem, salary) to the IRS. Not only that, but travel agents will vary WILDLY in terms of how much of their income they write off. (Take a look at what travel expenses you can (and can't) write off .)
• Salary and income are separate things for some business structures. Depending on the agency's business structure, the owner may pay themselves a salary (say $45k) but the income of the company may actually be much higher. All the IRS requires with these S Corp business structures is that the owner pays themselves a “reasonable” salary. ( Learn about the different travel agency business structures .)

So, keep those things in mind when you're looking at earning potential.

How Much Do Travel Agents Make? Travel Agent Employees Only

This section on employee travel agent salary is going to give you numbers that will be close to what you can expect if you get hired on at an agency. Travel agent employee salaries have less variance when compared to self-employed travel agents.

For the majority of travel advisor employees, income is not dependent on commissions alone.

The set salary of a travel agent employee offers stability not afforded to self-employed advisors. Additionally, employees also often receive benefits and are not subject to the added complexity and expense of paying business taxes .

When looking at travel advisor employees only, HAR’s salary data lands much closer to what the BLS reports. In HAR’s 2023 survey, salary only employees made $50,792. But if you ever wondered if travel agents make good money, they def can! Full-time travel agent employees earning salary and commission brought home $88,909 . 😲

Employee compensation models play a substantial role when it comes to how much a travel agent employee makes. The graph below takes a look at the average income of the three most common compensation models.

Lesson on that? If you're looking for an employee position at a travel agency, find one that pays salary, plus commission! 😀

How Much Do Travel Agents Make? Corporate Employees & Travel Managers

Corporate travel advisors.

Corporate travel advisors (those who book travel for corporations) typically earn more than those who sell leisure travel. Below offers a look at corporate advisor income compared to leisure advisor income (among FT advisors).

Do you have an interest in becoming a Corporate Travel Agent? You can sink your teeth into a few juicy tidbits of info here: 

• HAR’s article, Breaking into corporate travel
• Our podcast interview (below) with corporate agent Karen Hurlbut:
• A podcast interview with entertainment travel specialist Molly Williams who moves bands around the world:

Travel Managers

Looking ahead on the corporate travel agent career trajectory, Travel Manager/Supervisory positions start with a much higher baseline.

Business Travel News (BTN) report on Travel Managers/Supervisors' salary cover people working for corporate entities as an in-house advisor (not working for a travel agency). The overall average for a corporate travel manager salary registered at $128,439.

Nice, huh?! You can make some pretty good money as a corporate travel agent. :)

Beyond Travel Agent Salaries, Why Advisors Love Their Jobs

We've looked at travel agent salaries from a whole bunch of different perspectives. You made it through the spinning, twirling madness of data acrobats. 

HAR’s research reports offer a ton of info on travel agent salaries. But ultimately, how much you make as a travel agent depends on a lot of factors, including:

• what type of advisor you are (corporate, leisure, employee, self-employed, etc.),
• what type of travel you sell,
• your experience level,
• hours worked,
• and all that other fun stuff!

While naming one number for a travel agent salary is impossible, there is one thing that is consistent among all the surveys: the majority of travel advisors are happy with their career choice. 

HAR’s 2023 Hosted Travel Advisor Survey indicated that 95% of advisors would choose to become a travel advisor again if given the choice.

Corporate travel managers taking BTN’s survey were a bit more lukewarm in response to income satisfaction. 48% of travel managers reported their earnings were equitable, 12% felt “well compensated,” and 41% felt their salary was “low for responsibilities.”

And here’s the thing to remember about being in the travel industry. It goes beyond dollars.

Many advisors report that the primary benefit of working in travel is rooted in a personal passion for travel and the ability to share their love of travel with others.

Additionally, advisors often have access to great travel experiences they may not otherwise via familiarization trips or travel advisor rates for those who reach sales thresholds or meet requirements. 

In general, positions in travel may offer a lower salary than other industries. But here’s the kicker, occupations in other industries don't include travel benefits and working in travel !

Interested in Becoming an Advisor? Here’s Where to Start

This leads us to the question of what type of travel advisor career you’d like to pursue.

Do you want to become a self-employed travel advisor so you can have the creativity to book the type of travel you love and the flexibility to be your own boss? Or do you want the structure of 9-5 with benefits and the income security of a travel advisor employee?

Employees at a travel agency may have a salary cap if their compensation model is strictly hourly/salary (about 42% of employees), but for those who own their own business, the sky's the limit. Plus, it's hard to put a price on visiting beautiful places, touring the newest properties , and the freedom and flexibility to work anywhere that goes with owning your own home-based travel agency.

How do you decide what type of travel you want to sell? Do you want to do leisure or corporate? If you do leisure, which types of travel agent niches are the most lucrative? If you go the corporate route, how do you break into booking business travel ? 

💕 If you're thinking of joining the industry, here are a few resources you're gonna love: 💕

• Starting a travel agency from home
• Free 15-page travel agency business plan template
• HAR's nifty course on how to start a travel agency!

We’re here to help! If you have questions about what route to take or how to get started, give us a holler in the comments or reach out to us at [email protected] .

• https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes413041.htm ↩
• Source: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes413041.htm ↩

About the Author

Steph grew up in the travel industry, helping on and off with her mom's homebased travel agency. She has worked with thousands of agents in her role as a former host agency director before leaving in 2012 to start HAR. She's insatiably curious, loves her pups Fennec and Orion, and -- in case you haven't noticed -- is pretty quirky and free-spirited.

If you’re looking for Steph, she leaves a trace where ever she goes! You can find her on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn (her fav) and Pinterest as 'iamstephly'. 🙂 You can also catch her on her Substack, Bumblin' Around, where she writes on things outside the world of HAR.

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THE JOURNAL

Travel Advisor Resources

How Much Do Travel Agents Make? Fora’s Full Guide

The Modern Travel Agency

Fora Travel

https://www.foratravel.com/the-journal/how-much-do-travel-agents-make

How much do travel agents make? What factors go into how much a travel agent — or as we prefer, travel advisor — earns? We’re telling all. 

Alternatively, you can learn exactly how much you can make by becoming a Fora Advisor . Sign up today and we’ll answer all your questions. 

First, is there a high demand for travel agents? (Hint: yes!)

And demand is growing. Since travel restrictions were lifted after the COVID-19 pandemic, more people than ever are going on vacations and business trips (check out jobs where you travel ) — more importantly, they’re smarter about how they go about it. And there’s no better way to book a trip than to use a travel advisor to get awesome perks, deals and the kind of personal touches that turns a good trip into a great one. 

(Wondering how to become a travel agent ? Our guide has you covered.)

How do travel agents get compensated?

There are a few different ways travel advisors earn income, and the source typically depends on the service. Here’s how it breaks down.

(Wondering about startup and upkeep costs? Check out our guide to how much it costs to become a travel agent .)

Travel partners (or suppliers, in industry lingo) pay commissions: think hotels, travel insurance, rental cars, cruise incentives, tours…

Image courtesy of Turtle Bay Resort

A large portion of a travel advisor’s income comes from commissions, which are a percentage — usually between 10 and 15 percent — of whatever service their client is benefiting from, be it a hotel reservation, travel insurance and so on. (Here are 5 types of bookings you can make as a Fora Advisor that aren’t hotels .)

Suppliers, such as hotel brands, cruise lines and rental car providers pay these commissions; and Fora Advisors don’t charge their clients for commissionable services. In other words? Fora Advisors get paid, and their clients don't have to pay anything extra.

The cool thing is that many of the best hotels and services know that happy travel advisors will send new clients back, so the suppliers will throw in complimentary perks to sweeten the deal. This is why Fora Advisors can offer the same rate as an online travel agency for a hotel room at, say, Virgin Hotels New Orleans (one of the most unique places to stay in New Orleans , by the way), yet offer cool extras for their clients at no additional cost. 

Our guide to how much do travel agents make per booking gets into the details of the process if you’re curious.

Clients pay planning & service fees: non-commissionable bookings, vacation packages & custom itineraries…

Besides commissions, planning and service fees are the other major sources of income for travel advisors. 

Why might advisors charge fees? In most cases, an advisor may charge a fee to develop a custom itinerary for a client. In this case, the client compensates the advisor for their time, much in the same way one would pay a financial advisor. 

At Fora, it’s generally up to the advisor to decide how much to charge (if at all) for custom itineraries.

How much do travel agents make exactly? It depends

There’s no simple answer to this question, because Fora Advisors have the flexibility to work as much or as little as they want. Some treat their advisor position as a travel side hustle , only spending a few hours per month on booking rooms for friends and family, while others make a very lucrative living. 

Can you make ‘good’ money as a travel agent? You bet

Is being a travel agent worth it ? Fora Advisors will say yes. Many top Fora Advisors earn six figures per year. Again, when you join Fora, you can work as much or as little as you'd like, so the money earned will vary, but regardless, we'll teach you how to maximize your earnings.

Ready to start your lucrative career in travel? Become a Fora Advisor today .

What’s the average travel agent salary in the USA?

We can’t speak for all travel agencies, but some of the top Fora travel advisor salaries are measured in seven figures. And while such a salary is quite a bit above average, these top earners put in a lot of work, and have been doing this for a while.

On the flip side, plenty of Fora Advisors treat their travel business like a side hustle on top of their day job, earning an extra couple of hundred to several thousand dollars per month.

Factors that might affect how much a travel agent makes

A lot of factors go into how much travel agents make per month. Here are some of the most common.

Remote vs. brick-and-mortar travel agencies

There are a lot of advantages to becoming a travel agent online , but the biggest might be the substantial difference in overhead. 

Travel agents who work from brick-and-mortar establishments have to pay rent or property taxes for office space. Remote travel agents only have to worry about internet connection and a comfy spot to sit.

In either case, you have to factor in your expenses when calculating how much you’re making as a travel agent, and remote agents have a clear advantage.

Independent vs. employed travel agents

Let's break it down. There are essentially three different types of travel agent jobs .

Employed travel advisors — that is, advisors who work for a company that sells travel — typically earn base pay, but there are a lot of trade-offs that make this business model less attractive to the advisor. Most importantly, there may be caps on the number of clients you have and / or reduced commissions that severely impact your bottom line. 

One potential positive: marketing resources may be available through the company, but oftentimes, they’re not exactly modern in their approach (unlike Fora's!). And finally, employed travel advisors generally have to adhere to a traditional nine-to-five schedule — with little flexibility.

Fully independent travel advisors, on the other hand, can enjoy all the flexibility they want. But, as business owners, they also have to consider things like licensing fees, marketing materials, business insurance and so on that employed advisors don’t have to worry about. These fees and extra expenses can dampen profit margins, and can be prohibitive for prospective advisors who don’t necessarily want to risk the startup costs. 

Our guide on how to start a travel agency from scratch provides more details, but we’ll be frank: there’s a much easier path to making great money as a travel agent.

The third option (and sweet spot)? Join Fora. Fora Advisors are technically independent travel agents — sometimes referred to as independent contractors — except they operate under Fora’s licenses and have access to an incredible wealth of resources (including extensive travel agent training ).

Plus, thanks to Fora's global network of travel partners, our advisors unlock tons of exclusive client perks at thousands of hotels. 

Want to learn more? Here’s how to become an independent travel agent through Fora. 

In a literal sense, how do travel agents get paid?

Across the industry, travel advisors are paid via the old-school, commission-check-in-the-mail method. At Fora, travel advisors are paid via direct deposit. And our advisors don't have to chase down their commission payments. We take care of all that.

Read about how travel agents get paid for more details.

Are there ways to maximize the earnings a travel agent makes?

Certainly. How much a travel agent makes depends heavily on factors like their niche, host agency (if applicable) and — of course — travel planning skills.

Can’t wait to start your travel career? Become a Fora Advisor .

1. Consider adopting a niche

A niche can go a long way in boosting how much a travel agent makes because it gives them a focus. Rather than trying to be good at everything, niche travel agents become great at only one or two aspects of travel — at least to start. This allows them to build a wealth of knowledge in their niche that will impress clients, potentially drawing in business from new clients seeking a similar trip. 

At Fora, there’s no limit to the type of niches an advisor adopts. You could specialize in selling cruises, Disney vacations, trips to a certain location (such as Las Vegas or Barcelona) — whatever you’re most passionate about.

(BTW: learn how to become a cruise travel agent or how to become a Disney travel agent .)

2. Expand your partnerships with hotel reps, tour operators and other travel-related services

Image courtesy of The Rubens at the Palace

Incentives like VIP hotel perks — complimentary hotel upgrades, meals, etc. — give travel advisors an edge over online travel agencies (OTAs) like Booking.com. As such, expanding these partnerships allows travel advisors to offer a wider range of trip benefits while remaining competitive. 

Fora Advisors can unlock awesome perks for their clients at over 4,500 hotels around the world and counting. And Fora’s HQ is constantly working to expand its network of partnerships.

3. Work with a travel company that cares about your success

This may be a shameless plug, but our advisors will back us up on this one. Just check out our advisor-sourced guide to the best reasons to become a Fora Advisor . 

In any case, your choice of host agency is critical. Plenty of old-school agencies essentially throw their advisors into the wild, only stepping in if sales quotas aren’t met.

At Fora, we offer unwavering support to all our advisors, plus loads of awesome resources, including a bevy of marketing materials, thorough travel agent training and access to an engaged community filled with travel experts. 

Here are a few insider tips for how to be a successful travel advisor . 

4. Give your clients the star treatment (because thoughtful advisors will get repeat business)

Possibly the most important factor affecting how much a travel agent makes: their customer service skills. 

The simple truth is that clients will only use your services if you actually help them. Putting the time and effort into making sure your clients have an amazing experience will pay dividends later. Not only will you likely win their future business, but you could win the business of their family members, friends and peers, too. 

(Read about how travel agents get clients .)

5. Keep at it: being a travel agent can be stressful, but so worth it

Finally, patience and dedication have a dramatic effect on how much travel agents make. 

Chances are, you’re not going to start with a dozen clients planning 20 trips. It takes a lot of time and effort to get to that point, but if you can, you’ll find that travel planning can be a very rewarding career. 

Need to know more? See what it takes to become a travel agent .

How much do travel agents make? Ask (or become) a Fora Advisor

Ultimately, the best way to find out how much you can make as a travel agent is to try it out for yourself. Sign up to become a Fora Advisor today .

Not quite ready? Check out these travel advisor resources, too:

How to Market Your Travel Business Like a Pro: Tips from the Experts  

How to Become a Luxury Travel Agent: the 2023 Guide  

Travel Agent Certification: Options and FAQs  

Debunking 3 Myths about Becoming a Travel Advisor  

A Window into Fora's Certified Training   

Book a Cruise With a Virgin Voyages Travel Agent   

Why Group Bookings Are Great: Tips from an Expert

Are you the go-to person for travel tips?

Transform your passion for travel into your dream job. We'll set you up with everything you need to succeed as a travel advisor. From training to top-notch tech, marketing assets, community, commission tracking & payments (and more), we've got you.

Travel Agent Resources

How much do travel agents make.

• X (Twitter)

By Courtney Eisen

January 9, 2024

Are you considering becoming a travel agent but want to know how much earning potential this career path has? Here is a rundown of how to determine how much you might be able to make as well as some averages that will give you insight into baseline earnings for travel agents.

Travel agents' earnings can vary widely, and the answer to " how much do travel agents make? " isn't straightforward. There are several factors that influence their income.

One significant factor is whether an agent is an employee or operates independently. Most leisure travel agents today are independent contractors who partner with a  host agency , which differs from the past when many were employees of travel agencies. This distinction is crucial because running a business introduces additional variables that affect income compared to those who work standard hours as employees.

Suggested Article: How to Select the Best Host Travel Agency For Your Business

The specialty area of a travel agent also plays a role in their earnings.  Corporate advisors  often have higher salaries (we will discuss this further) than those focusing on leisure or vacation travel. Within the leisure sector, niches such as adventure and luxury travel tend to yield higher incomes than family or Disney travel.

The amount of time invested and the level of industry experience also significantly impact potential earnings. Independent advisors who manage their own schedules may work various hours, and generally, the more time and experience they have, the more they earn.

In the modern era, there's no typical scenario for travel advisors; the field is filled with exceptions rather than rules, making it an exciting career choice. However, this diversity makes it challenging for external organizations to provide an accurate picture of travel agent salaries. For instance, the Bureau of Labor and Statistics doesn't include self-employed travel advisors in their data, even though self-employment is a common route in this profession.

To offer a clearer view of travel agent salaries, let's delve into some specific categories:

All Travel Agents : Including hosted, independent, and employee agents.

Independent Travel Agents : This group includes both hosted agents and those with their own accreditation who are self-employed.

Travel Agent Employees : These are advisors employed by a travel agency and receive a traditional W2 form.

According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, travel advisor salaries have increased by 26% over the last decade. However, their data, which reported an average  travel agent salary  of $46,400 in 2023, only considers full-time employees and excludes self-employed agents. In contrast, surveys that include both full-time and part-time self-employed agents show different results. For example,  experienced full-time travel advisors  reported earning an average annual income of $56,632 in a recent survey.

Self-Employed Travel Agents

Self-employed travel advisors run their businesses and fall into two main categories: hosted advisors affiliated with a  host agency  and  independently accredited travel agents  with their own credentials. The number of self-employed advisors has grown significantly, while traditional travel agency numbers have declined. Surveys indicate that  full-time hosted travel agents  with over three years of experience earned an average of $60,146, while their independently accredited counterparts earned $76,252. It should be noted that  LuxRally Travel agents  are trained to earn more than these average numbers. Our founder, David Eisen, earns seven figures just from his commissions.

These figures can be affected by factors like unreported income, tax write-offs, and the difference between a travel agent salary and company income in certain business structures.

Travel Agent Employees

For travel agent employees, salaries are more consistent and less dependent on commissions. They often enjoy benefits and a simpler tax situation compared to self-employed agents. According to a recent survey, full-time travel agent employees earned an average of $50,115.

Corporate Employees & Travel Managers

Corporate travel advisors typically earn more than leisure travel advisors. A report profiling corporate travel managers indicated an average travel agent salary of $128,439 for those in supervisory positions within companies.

LuxRally Travel is not a corporate host travel agency; we have no desire for our agents to handle the numerous low priced flights and hotel rooms. That being said, we do service corporations in their group travel needs, such as incentive trips and conferences. Training our agents to handle these aspects of travel services for corporations means higher earnings in less time. We explain group bookings thoroughly in our free travel agent training program.

Beyond salaries, many travel advisors find joy in their careers due to their passion for travel and the unique experiences the industry offers. Surveys show that a majority of advisors are satisfied with their income levels and the perks of the job, such as travel opportunities.

For those interested in becoming a travel advisor, there are choices to make regarding the type of travel to sell and whether to pursue a career as a self-employed advisor or an employee. Each path offers different benefits, from the freedom and flexibility of running your own business to the stability and structure of employment at a travel agency.

Your First Year is the Hardest

In your first year, you will learn sales tools, build your knowledge about destinations and travel vendors, and gain your first clients. Because you will be doing so much groundwork in year one, expect to earn less income. Additionally, it is essential to note that you don't make your commission right away; you get paid after your client travels, usually 30-60 days after travel (depending on how quickly the hotel pays your host agency). This delay in payment can cause earnings for bookings made in year one to fall into year two. Our highest-earning new agent made $73,012 in their first year (2023). Our founder, David Eisen , earned $60,000 in his first year as an agent and $250,000 in year two; He is now well into making seven figures consistently from his own bookings. We have built the training program to reduce the learning curve for others, are constantly pushing to maximize the earnings of our agents, and are continually refining our training and resources.

Suggested Article: How to Start a Travel Business

According to a survey done by Host Agency Reviews , the average annual income for a travel agent in the first year is $2,470 (part-time agents) and $2,662 (full-time agents). Our agents earn $28,904 on average in their first year, with no prior experience, and earn from a few thousand to over a million in commissions annually. If you are trying to determine how much you can make, know that it varies dramatically from person to person. Here are some tips to consider when thinking about how lucrative this career could be for you specifically.

Suggested Article: Travel Agent Commissions

After year one, if you have put in the effort and taken this career seriously, your name will have permeated your networks, and you will receive new clients regularly from referrals. Expect to spend 3-4 years maturing your networks.

You Get Out What You Put In

Earning six or seven figures as a travel agent requires dedication and hard work. Our founder makes upwards of one million dollars a year in commissions from his bookings. We have found a glitch in the money-making matrix and want to share it with others. However, this is different from a get-rich-quick scheme. You will need to both push yourself and be patient. To earn seven figures in this industry, you must put in the hours, develop knowledge of multiple travel products, and understand how to gain and retain clients. All of these skills are emphasized in our training process.

Suggested Article: How do Travel Agents Get Paid?

When you go above and beyond for your clients, you are more likely to get referrals, and word-of-mouth referrals can bring you some big clients. Many ultra-high-net-worth travelers only work with people who are referred by a friend or family member. If you live in America, one of the wealthiest countries in the world, you most certainly have high-spending people in your network. You might not know them personally yet and may not win them as clients right away, but if you commit to this industry and implement our best practices (we disagree with most travel agencies' best practices), you will likely get them. It may take years, but it's absolutely possible. That is the first thing to understand: if you play your cards right, you will eventually find your way to the right people. You may be separated by five degrees from a billionaire, and that billionaire may get referred to you by someone who makes $40,000 a year. We've seen it happen. Working your network and giving your clients positive things to talk about with their friends, family, and co-workers goes a long way in increasing your earnings.

Your Network Will Determine Your Earnings

Don't know anyone? Have a hard time being social? This might not be the right industry for you. Most of your clients will come from your personal networks, and if you know a lot of wealthy people, you will earn exponentially more. That doesn't mean you can't become an agent if most of your network is middle class; All-inclusive resorts and cruise lines pay high commissions. However, it does mean that knowing people with large amounts of disposable income will make it easier for you to become a high-earning agent. We started as an exotic car rally, so our networks largely came from the car community, which is comprised of everyone from billionaires to broke car photography kids. These connections, at all levels, allowed us to build a reputation and gain massive amounts of clients.

Suggested Article:  Exploring Travel Agent Niches

When considering how much you think you can earn, consider how easy it will be for you to sell travel to your networks. This is obvious but a major indicator of success. Know a bunch of teachers? Perfect. Be prepared to do volume in bookings for the summer season and national holidays. One of your teacher clients likely has wealthy people in their network and will refer them to you in year two or three. No matter where you start in your network, you can grow revenue year over year. Just expect a less wealthy network to take longer to mature into a six-figure income stream.

Get it While it's Hot

When dealing with your VIP clients, you need to be ready when they are ready. We mean it. If you need to step out of an IMAX screening of a movie you've been waiting to see to make a $5,000 commission, we expect you to leave and take the call. Waiting to service a client who is excited about booking a trip can cause you to lose the deal. We read travel agent forums frequently and know there are many agents who disagree with this stance. We are here for the money, and so are our agents. We may or may not be the host for you, but if you like money and understand that buying out a theatre costs less than $1,000, you'll enjoy working with us.

Making the Big Bucks

To be a top earner, prioritizing high-priced and high-commission items is critical. While all-inclusive resorts pay high commissions and are easy to sell, all of our agents still sell them; you want to make sure your network understands that you can handle ultra-luxury and large bookings with competency. It is critical to properly position yourself in the consideration set for these high-earning opportunities.

Suggested Article: How to Sell Yourself as a Travel Agent

While you may not have the clients for hyper-lucrative bookings off the bat, it is still important to let your network know that you are capable of competently handling such trips. If people think you only do all-inclusive resorts, they won't refer you to their wealthy friends. Consider the following. First-class and business-class international flights pay up to 25%, and they aren't cheap. Even at the lower end of $10,000 per seat, you could bring in a couple thousand dollars in commission just from booking the flights. Each ultra-high-net-worth client you have can bring in hundreds of thousands of dollars if they regularly do long stays in presidential suites. We sell one suite in Houston that ranges from $50,000 to $100,000+ a night. At 10% commission, an agent will make $5,000 per night that a client stays there. Group bookings are also incredibly lucrative, from destination weddings to incentive trips for sales teams; these contracts can make you large sums of money with minimal work. Our agents are able to easily snap up group contracts as we don't charge fees and negotiate aggressively. If you know business owners or decision-makers for group travel, this could be a huge opportunity to increase your earnings. We have seen a single group contract yield over $300,000 in commissions. Landing one group in your first year will have you earning multiples of the average agent. Getting a multi-year contract with a group will also provide income stability.

Your Training Matters

We train our agents to be fast, accurate, and service-oriented. Part of our travel agent training focuses on quick-quoting. Average travel agents can take days or weeks to plan a trip. We teach you how to plan, quote, and close deals in under 45 minutes (unless it is an ultra-high-touch booking like a group trip, which requires a bidding process that can take a week or more to complete). Our clients have a better experience because they get immediate gratification, and our agents earn more per hour because they use their time efficiently.

Suggest Article: The Ivy League of Travel Agent Schools

We don't train our agents to make lengthy itinerary PDFs to pitch clients, we ban charging fees, we push our agents to be hyper-responsive to clients through texting or whichever communication method the client prefers, and we always work on tools that increase productivity. These are just of the few ways we are different from other host agencies.

How Much Time Do You Have?

This is another important variable to consider. The more time you have to focus on this job, the faster your earnings will increase. If you have a solid lead message at noon but cannot get back to them until the evening, you may have a harder time closing the deal. They might be busy in the evening, which will delay a meaningful conversation. While the two of you play phone tag, the lead might decide to book elsewhere. Being available is critical to closing leads and satisfying clients.

Suggested Article: Why You Should Be a 24 Hour Travel Agent

A Travel Agent Side Hustle Can Be Worth It If...

Circling back to our opening remarks, there is no straightforward answer to the question: how much do travel agents make? However, if you know luxury travelers or frequent travelers, people who make decisions on group bookings, or have a diverse network of people taking a variety of trips, becoming a travel agent can be a lucrative side hustle and eventually become your full-time career. If you have a large network of ultra-high-net-worth individuals, you can make six figures from each VIP client.

Suggested Article: Is Being a Travel Agent a Good Side Hustle?

The largest single leisure booking we've seen made was for $600,000, and the agent made a little over $60,000 in commission. This was one trip, one booking, and took a few hours to oversee. Who you know plays a big role in how much you can make as a travel agent. This should not discourage you if you don't know any high-net-worth people, but it is an insight that you should start finding ways to get your name in front of high-net-worth people if you want to maximize earnings from your travel business.

Conclusion: Earn More by Working With Us

This article has touched on some high-level insights into how to think about your potential earnings. Our training, however, goes much deeper. We are, unapologetically, the best host travel agency for highly motivated new travel agents. We have free comprehensive travel agent training with full travel agent certification and don't make money until you do so. Rest assured, we are very motivated to help you close deals. 

More Resources

Why You Should Be a 24 Hour Travel Agent

How Do Travel Agents Make Money?

How to Start a Travel Agency From Home

What Is a Travel Agent and How Much Do They Get Paid?

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I have a passion for the English countryside and especially anywhere in Yorkshire. I drink far too much Yorkshire tea on my travels and even take it with me when abroad. My passion is to share travel experiences with my readers which may help them plan their holidays and save money.

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If you love to travel and are looking for a new flexible career with work-from-home opportunities, being a travel agent may be the perfect fit.

Understanding what working as a travel agent involves and the earning potential in this career can help you decide if this job is truly right for you.

In This Article – We’ll explain what a travel agent does, how much they get paid, and share tips for breaking into the travel sector. 

Table of Contents

What is a travel agent?

A travel agent is a professional that markets and sells holidays to customers.

The role mainly involves finding out where a customer would like to travel and the activities they would like to do and organizing a trip including transfers, flights , accommodations, and an itinerary of tours or other experiences.

The role requires in-depth knowledge of the travel industry and a wide range of destinations, with the travel agency arranging individual aspects of the trip or selling a package holiday with all-inclusive travel, accommodation, and food costs.

Travel agents work in a variety of locations and can operate independently or as an employee of a travel company. 

How much do travel agents get paid?

Working as a travel agent is primarily a sales role and most times offers the potential for uncapped earnings and commissions.

Salaries vary by location, company, and level of experience a travel agent has. 

In the US – The national average salary for travel agents is $44,209 per year. 

According to Indeed , UK travel agents earn an average annual salary of £19,051. 

Many travel agent roles come with great benefits like significant discounts on travel for themselves and loved ones and generous bonuses if they meet or exceed company targets. 

What are the typical day-to-day responsibilities of a travel agent?

Travel agents have a customer-facing role that requires strong sales skills.

In addition, employers expect these professionals to coordinate detailed itineraries for their clients, paying great attention to details.

Here are some of the primary duties of a travel agent: 

• Consulting with clients to understand their travel requirements.
• Working with each customer to create a holiday package or itinerary that is within their budget.
• Contacting airlines and accommodation providers to arrange customer bookings and transfers.
• Contacting leisure companies and tour providers to schedule activities for customers during their holiday.
• Assisting customers with queries and complaints.
• Rearranging canceled flights or hotel bookings. 
• Processing customer payments. 
• Helping customers who have problems or emergencies while they are on holiday.
• Advising clients on travel documentation required for their holiday. 
• Arranging travel insurance that is appropriate for the client’s trip.
• Reviewing sales targets.
• Undertaking online and offline marketing activities. 
• Completing administrative tasks. 
• Keeping abreast of the latest travel advice so that customers are correctly advised before travel. 

Most employed travel agents work full-time

Travel agents work hard and clock up a 37 to 40-hour week, perhaps more if they are self-employed.

They have to be available to their customers and may have to work evenings and weekends to do this.

Alongside the sales role, there is a heavy administrative workload so excellent time management skills are essential. 

Travel agents can also work from home

Many travel agents embrace working independently or as part of a franchise.

This flexible arrangement enables travel agents to have complete control over their time and work from home without the overheads of a shop or office.

The travel industry has a wide range of digital tools that travel agents can use to coordinate client itineraries.

These professionals can also build their own relationships with travel sector service providers to procure exclusive rates for their clients.

How to become a travel agent 

A career as a travel agent does not require specific qualifications but demonstrable interest or experience in tourism and hospitality is a bonus.

Here are the steps you need to take to become a travel agent:

1. Complete your GED : at a minimum, you will need to have finished high school and be able to show proficient literacy and numeracy to your prospective employer. 

2. Consider a college degree : a college degree is not essential but subjects like tourism, business, or marketing could make you a desirable candidate for a travel agent role.

3. Look for work experience or internships with travel agents : work placements help you learn more about the role of a travel agent and accrue valuable experience and contacts. 

4. Undertake an apprenticeship : there may be opportunities for you to work as an apprentice in travel agents, gaining experience and a credible vocational qualification. Many apprentices get offered a full-time role when they complete their training. 

5. Apply to entry-level travel agent jobs : create a CV and cover letter that sell you as a strong candidate for travel agent roles and apply to relevant vacancies. You can contact the HR department of larger companies to find out about travel agent career opportunities.

What are the career prospects for a travel agent?

This is a very flexible career that offers a range of career tracks depending on whether you work for an employer or are self-employed.

In an employed role, you have the scope to become a branch manager, travel director, or operations manager.

Alternatively – You can establish and build your own business. Meet or exceed sales targets to build your reputation and maintain high customer service standards.

5 Transferable skills for travel agents

Employers expect travel agents to have a wide range of skills that can support them in providing services to customers.

Valuable skills include the following.

1. Sales and marketing skills

Working as a travel agent is primarily a sales role with set targets that must be achieved to earn a comfortable income.

To achieve this, they become experts in consultative selling.

Travel agents need to confidently market and sell travel experiences to their clients.

They ensure they are well informed about all the aspects of a destination or holiday package so they can handle any questions or concerns the customer has. 

2. Administration skills

Once holiday packages have been sold, travel agents have a heavy administrative workload, as they make all the bookings and transfers that make up the holiday.

This often involves liaising with international travel and accommodation providers and processing the financial transactions that ensure that all aspects of the trip are paid for.

3. Numeracy skills

Travel agents need good numeracy as they are required to calculate prices, track currency conversions and work out their own commission on the packages they sell.

They have a range of industry-related tools to assist them in doing this, but a head for numbers can help the estimate prices and the value they can deliver on the holidays they sell.

As they deliver holiday packages within a strict budget, they must keep track of their expenditure on the client’s behalf.

4. Communication skills

Strong communication skills are an asset in this career.

Travel agents need to be able to engage their clients and understand them to sell them a great holiday.

They are active listeners, which helps them fully comprehend what the client wants and the budget available.

They then can communicate to the client their advice and suggestions on suitable holiday packages. 

5. Attention to Detail

Great attention to detail is vital for preventing mistakes in booking and itineraries that could, at best, disappoint a customer or, at worst, put them at risk.

These professionals scrutinize every detail of the packages they put together to ensure that the holiday is suitable and delivers great value for money. 

In conclusion

Travel agents have an interesting career that requires motivation, imagination, and exemplary organization for success.

It is a great option for a career change and offers good remuneration if you work hard.

And it’s easy to see why it attracts people who love to travel!

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As an affiliate, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases. We get commissions for purchases made through links on this website from Amazon and other third parties.

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Salary for Travel Agents

Also known as:  Auto Travel Counselor, Certified Corporate Travel Executive, Certified Travel Counselor, Corporate Travel Expert, Travel Agent, Travel Consultant, Travel Counselor, Travel Service Consultant

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See more salaries for hospitality and tourism professionals.

The annual compensation for this career has gone up since 2004. Salaries have increased by an average of 57.37 percent nationwide in that time.

Travel Agents tend to make the most in the following industries:

In general, they earn less within the industries below:

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Travel Agent Salary in The United States

The average Travel Agent Salary in The United States is $45,600 per year . Salaries range from $38,400 to $59,900 . The average Travel Agent Hourly Wage is $14.25 per hour . Hourly wages range from $12.00 to $18.70 . Salaries and wages depend on multiple factors including geographic location, experience, seniority, industry, education etc.

What is the Average Annual Salary of Travel Agent in The United States ?

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How Much Do Travel Agents Make?

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SOURCE: TravelPulse

If you are considering a career in travel, becoming a travel advisor may be one of the first things that come to mind. Wondering how much a travel agent makes? It’s a hard number to pin down and one that is reliant on several different factors. However, two are most indicative: education and experience.

When looking at historical data that includes all travel agents, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and  Host Agency Reviews  (HAR) found that the average travel agent made approximately $44,00 on average in 2019 (the last year that normal, pre-pandemic data was available).

BLS pegs the average salary of a travel agent at $44,690 with a range of between $23,360 and $69,420 dividing the lower to upper 10 percent of travel agents.

Host Agency Reviews found that, in 2019, the average salary hovered around $44,312 for hosted travel agents with three or more years of experience.

While this data seems easy enough to digest, it only shows part of the picture of what a travel agent makes. Annual salaries vary widely depending on the type of travel agent a person is, whether or not they are affiliated with a host agency, are an employee or self-employed or an independent contractor for a larger travel agency.

For those looking to work in the travel industry selling travel, host agency reviews found that travel agent employees tend to have a more predictable salary. Holding a position as an employee of a travel agency where salary and commissions play less of a part in overall wages. Overall earnings for these travel agents were as follows according to the Travel Institute in 2019:

–37% of travel agent employees earned less than $24,000 annually –25% earned $24,000-$59,999 –18% earned over $60,000.

Travel agent wages also fluctuate with experience. According to an ASTA report on corporate travel agents with experience earn approximately $13,000 more per year than their newbie counterparts. For leisure travel agents, those with experience earn around $10,000 more annually. According to HAR’s 2019 Travel Agent Income Survey, hosted agents with three or more years of experience earn an average of $44,312 in 2019.

Education also plays a significant role in how much money a travel agent makes. In fact, the Travel Institute found a direct correlation between  earnings and agent education  in its Changing Face of Travel Agents research. The results show that there is a clear line that can be drawn between higher sales numbers and certification levels.

“I look at these results, especially compensation, as a trifecta for our industry beginning with well-trained travel professionals who are earning significantly more money than agents without advanced learning,” said Travel Institute president Diane Petras.

Travel agents do not need to have certification to sell travel in the United States. But  certification and specialization  are directly tied to higher salaries.

The Travel Institute provides a number of educational paths and higher-level certifications to travel agents. That is just one way to earn more, however.

Other programs, such as the Travel Agent Success Kit (TASK) provide a series of educational opportunities that are designed to teach travel agents how to become travel agent entrepreneurs and grow their travel business.

“When TASK was introduced eight years ago, I made a commitment to the industry to have limited online sessions, make sure that agents learn how to make their own money but cultivating relationships with vendors, tour operators here in the USA and abroad,” said Tammy Levent, president of TASK. “The problem facing our industry is that we are accustomed to being told what we are to make. In our TASK live course, we teach our agents how to negotiate from 20 to 40 percent profit–not commissions, but how to become entrepreneurs and make a good profit.”

TASK offers a series of online videos as well as live events, including TASK Live, an agent mastermind event teaching already-seasoned professionals specifically how to grow their business and increase profits. There is an elite-level TASK Live event as well as private consulting.

“I always say, one agent at a time as an advocate and a voice for the travel agent,” said Levent. “I have so many [agents] that want to take my course and find it hard to believe that they can make so much money. At the end of the day, I teach them to take the money and that they deserve it. They did all the work.”

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Exploring The Exciting World Of Travel Agents Salary

• 1.1 The Basics of Travel Agents Salary
• 1.2 Experience Matters: How Seniority Affects Salary
• 1.3 Educational Background and Certifications
• 1.4 Location, Location, Location
• 1.5 Agency Type and Compensation Structure
• 1.6 Additional Perks and Benefits
• 1.7 The Future Outlook for Travel Agents
• 1.8 Conclusion

Unveiling the Secrets of Travel Agents Salary

Have you ever wondered how much travel agents earn? If you’re passionate about travel and considering a career in the industry, understanding the salary prospects can be crucial. In this article, we will uncover the secrets of travel agents’ salaries and explore the factors that influence them.

The Basics of Travel Agents Salary

When it comes to a travel agent’s salary, it can vary depending on several factors. These factors include the agent’s experience, education, location, and the type of agency they work for. Generally, travel agents earn a base salary along with commissions and bonuses, which can significantly impact their overall income.

Experience Matters: How Seniority Affects Salary

As with most professions, experience plays a vital role in determining a travel agent’s salary. Entry-level agents typically earn a lower base salary, but as they gain more experience and develop a strong client base, their earning potential grows. Senior travel agents who have established themselves in the industry can earn significantly higher salaries due to their expertise and reputation.

Educational Background and Certifications

While formal education is not always a requirement to become a travel agent, having a degree in travel and tourism or a related field can positively impact salary prospects. Additionally, obtaining relevant certifications, such as the Certified Travel Associate (CTA) or Certified Travel Counselor (CTC) designations, can enhance an agent’s credibility and earning potential.

Location, Location, Location

The geographical location can also influence a travel agent’s salary. Agents working in major cities or popular tourist destinations often have higher earning potential due to increased demand for their services. On the other hand, agents in rural areas or less touristy locations may have lower salary prospects.

Agency Type and Compensation Structure

The type of agency a travel agent works for can significantly impact their salary. Some agents work for large travel agencies, while others may be self-employed or work for smaller boutique agencies. Each type of agency may have different compensation structures, including varying commission rates and bonus opportunities. It’s important for agents to consider these factors when evaluating their salary potential.

Additional Perks and Benefits

Aside from the base salary and commissions, travel agents often enjoy additional perks and benefits. These can include discounted or free travel opportunities, familiarization trips, and access to exclusive industry events. These perks can add significant value to a travel agent’s overall compensation package.

The Future Outlook for Travel Agents

With the rise of online booking platforms and DIY travel planning, some may wonder about the future prospects for travel agents. While technology has undoubtedly changed the industry, there will always be a need for knowledgeable and experienced travel professionals. As people seek personalized and curated travel experiences, travel agents who can offer expertise and insider knowledge will continue to thrive.

In conclusion, the salary of a travel agent can vary depending on factors such as experience, education, location, and agency type. While entry-level agents may start with a lower base salary, there is potential for growth as they gain experience and establish themselves in the industry. By staying informed, continuously learning, and building a strong client base, travel agents can enjoy a rewarding career with a competitive salary.

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Travel Agent Salary

How much does a travel agent make.

On average, a Travel Agent make $46,580 a year. The lowest-paid 10 percent made $28,280, while the top-paid 10 percent made $74,220.

Annually National Average Salary: $46,580

* Based on information from the May 2021 salary report from the BLS.

Salary by State

Annual salary by state, annual average salary: top 5 states.

The top earning state in the field is Connecticut, where the average salary is $66,480.

These are the top 5 earning states in the field:

Monthly Salary by State

Monthly average salary: top 5 states.

The top earning state in the field is Connecticut, where the average salary is $5,500.

Hourly Salary by State

Hourly average salary: top 5 states.

The top earning state in the field is Connecticut, where the average salary is $31.96.

Travel Agents: Salary Overview

Travel agents offer advice on destinations, plan trip itineraries, and make arrangements for individuals and groups who plan trips.

Their job description typically includes arranging travel, determining customer’s needs and preferences, planning and arranging tour packages, calculating travel costs, booking reservations, describing trips, and giving details about passports and visas to their clients.

Travel agents have to always be prepared to make alternative booking arrangements if changes happen before or during a trip.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for travel agents was $40,660 in May of 2019.

This means that half the workers in this occupation earned less than this amount and half earned more.

Salaries vary widely depending on the agent’s experience and skills but also depending on the employer and industry of employment.

The lowest 10 percent made less than $23,660 a year while the highest 10 percent made more than $69,420 a year.

The wage data published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics includes money earned from commissions.

Travel Agents Salary by Industry

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, travel agents held about 78,000 jobs in 2018, most of them working in the field of travel arrangement and reservation services.

Approximately 11 percent of all travel agents were self-employed workers.

Companies that provide travel arrangement and reservation services hired approximately 58,120 travel agents as of May 2019 and offered them an average annual salary of $44,410 per year.

Approximately 1,450 travel agents worked for companies that provide management of companies and enterprises and were paid, on average, with $47,500 per year.

The mean annual wage was $35,930 per year for travel agents who worked in the field of travel accommodation and $60,090 for those who worked for insurance carriers.

The average annual wage for travel agents who worked for companies that provide management, scientific, and technical consulting services was $53,720 per year.

The highest average annual salary was reported by travel agents who worked for insurance agencies and brokerages.

This field offered an average annual wage of $63,980 per year to travel agents.

However, the best-paying fields, such as insurance agencies or insurance carries, hired only a few travel agents and in order to have better chances of finding employment in this field, you should first earn a college degree and a few years of experience working in a related position.

Commissions, Bonuses and other Benefits

Along with a fixed salary, many travel agents also receive commissions on bookings.

For this reason, their total compensation varies depending on the agency’s sales volume and the compensation package the travel agent has negotiated with their employer.

According to payscale.com, travel agents earned, on average, $4,000 a year in commissions as of May 2020.

Some of them also receive bonuses and profit sharing.

The same report shows that salaried travel agents made approximately $1,500 a year in bonuses and $1,200 in profit sharing.

The numbers published by the United States of Labor Statistics show that approximately 11 percent of all travel agents were self-employed.

As a self-employed travel agent, your earnings will depend on the number of bookings and their value.

Starting your own travel agency can increase your earnings but as a business owner you will also have to pay for rent and other business expenses and these vary depending on the office location, the number of employees, etc.

Among the other perks of being a travel agent, we should also mention discounted travel rates and all-expenses-paid trips offered by tour operators, hotels, and other suppliers.

Travel agents are sometimes invited to complimentary trips to evaluate travel sites and to learn about the destination in order to be able to promote it to potential customers.

* Based on information from the May 2021 salary report from the BLS. The figures represent accumulated data for all states of employment for Travel Agents. BLS data represents averages and medians for workers at all levels of education and experience. This data doesn't represent starting salaries.

* Employment conditions in your area may vary.

See More Salaries

Travel Agent salary

Average travel agent salary, how much does a travel agent make.

The average travel agent salary in the United States is $33,128. Travel agent salaries typically range between $26,000 and $41,000 yearly. The average hourly rate for travel agents is $15.93 per hour. Travel agent salary is impacted by location, education, and experience. Travel agents earn the highest average salary in Wisconsin.

Where can a Travel Agent earn more?

Travel agent salary estimates from across the web, average travel agent salary by state.

The highest-paying states for travel agents are Wisconsin, Maine, and Indiana. The lowest average travel agent salary states are North Carolina, Alabama, and Nebraska.

• County View

Highest paying states for travel agents

Highest paying cities for travel agents.

The highest-paying cities for travel agents are Madison, WI, Chicago, IL, and Los Angeles, CA.

Travel Agent salary details

A travel agent's salary ranges from $26,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $41,000 at the 90th percentile.

What is a travel agent's salary?

Highest paying travel agent jobs.

The highest paying types of travel agents are certified travel counselor, corporate travel expert, and travel manager.

Top companies hiring travel agents now:

• American Express Jobs (260)
• Expedia Group Jobs (103)
• The Walt Disney Company Jobs (77)
• RCI Jobs (32)
• World Travel Holdings Jobs (108)

Which companies pay travel agents the most?

Travel agent salaries at Perkins Coie and Rich Products are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average travel agent salary at companies like THS National and Volt Systems LLC are highly competitive.

Wage gap by gender, race and education

Travel agent salary by industry.

The average travel agent salary varies across industries:

• The average travel agent salary in the technology industry is $33,813, the highest of any industry.
• The average travel agent salary in the finance industry is $33,411.
• Travel agents in the professional industry earn an average salary of $32,486, the lowest of any industry.

Highest paying industries for travel agents

High paying travel agent jobs, travel agent salary trends.

The average travel agent salary has risen by $6,586 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average travel agent earned $26,542 annually, but today, they earn $33,128 a year. That works out to a 16% change in pay for travel agents over the last decade.

Compare travel agent salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.

Average travel agent salary over time

Compare travel agent salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.

Travel Agent salary by year

Recently added travel agent salaries, travel agent salary faqs, what state pays travel agents the most, how do i know if i'm being paid fairly as a travel agent, how are travel agents paid, how do travel agents get paid, what benefits do travel agents get.

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Travel Agent Related Salaries

• Agent Salary
• Travel Consultant Salary
• Travel Coordinator Salary
• Travel Manager Salary
• Travel Specialist Salary

Travel Agent Related Careers

• Auto Travel Counselor
• Corporate Travel Agent
• Corporate Travel Consultant
• Corporate Travel Counselor
• Corporate Travel Expert
• Cruise Counselor
• Senior Travel Consultant
• Travel Consultant
• Travel Coordinator
• Travel Counselor
• Travel Manager
• Travel Service Consultant
• Travel Specialist

Travel Agent Related Jobs

• Traveling Representative

What Similar Roles Do

• What Does an Agent Do
• What Does a Travel Consultant Do
• What Does a Travel Coordinator Do
• What Does a Travel Manager Do
• What Does a Travel Specialist Do
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• Sales Industry
• Travel Agent
• Travel Agent Salary

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How much do self-employed travel agents make?

Table of Contents

Why to become a self-employed travel agent 

The typical income of a self-employed travel agent, how to make the most of your self-employed travel agency, how to manage your business finances for success, business current account , accounting software , discover how countingup saves time with your business finances.

Do you love to travel and plan trips? Working as a self-employed travel agent can be a great way to become your own boss and add flexibility to your schedule. But, it’s fair to wonder how much you can earn annually. 

So, how much do self-employed travel agents make? There are a few things to consider to get an idea of what to expect from your income. 

This guide will discuss how much self-employed travel agents make, including: 

• Why to become a self-employed travel agent
• The typical income of a self-employed travel agent 
• How to make the most of your self-employed travel agency 

People often hire travel agents when they don’t have time to plan trips themselves or don’t know where to start. As a self-employed travel agent, you can enjoy a flexible schedule and focus your services. You’ll be able to set your hours, choose your clients, and plan trips that interest you. 

Working as self-employed allows you to build personal relationships with your clients and offer more specialised advice. Plus, your earnings depend on your client base rather than a set salary. So, the more clients you find, the more you can earn. 

Learn more about becoming a self-employed travel agent with our guide . 

So, how much do self-employed travel agents make? It isn’t easy to predict an income for this career because it relies on your client base and available work. But, according to the UK government website, the average salary for travel agents is between £18,000 and £27,000 annually . 

This income could change based on where you work and what kind of trips you plan. For example, you may earn more from planning group travel than individual trips. Then, if you focus on luxury travel, you may make more from each trip. 

Travel agents often charge around 10% commission for each job, so that can give a general of your profit turnover per job. Keep in mind that planning ten luxury or group trips could lead to a higher profit than twenty smaller trips. As your experience and client relationships grow, you may even increase your commission. 

So, your income can vary depending on your focus and your number of clients. But, as a self-employed travel agent, you’ll keep more of this commission without worrying about your employer taking a cut. 

Plus, employed travel agents may earn a salary rather than a commission-based income. They are likely assigned clients by their employer, which means steady work but less room for growth. 

Since your income will depend on how many clients you have rather than a salary, it’s fair to wonder how much self-employed travel agents make. But with a strong marketing strategy, you can find and grow a client base to earn a steady income for your business. 

First, consider building a business brand that targets your specific market. A brand will help you grow awareness and reach the people you most want to work with. Then, you can market your travel agent services on social media and with a business website to make yourself accessible. 

To find new clients, you could advertise your travel agency on freelance sites like Upwork . You can also create a budget for paid targeting advertising on Google or social media to reach the right audience. 

Once you know how much self-employed travel agents can make, it’s important to consider your financial management to make the most of that money. Strong financial organisation can also help you increase your earnings by analysing the data to improve it.

To organise your business finances, start by getting a business current account, which is just like a regular bank account, except it’s specifically for your business. As a result, you can easily separate your business finances from your personal ones. 

On top of this, accounting software will help you manage your bookkeeping and keep accurate records. You need these records to understand your business performance and do taxes. Countingup’s two in one business account and accounting software put your finances in one place so you can get a better grasp of them. Plus, the app saves you time with financial management. 

With automatic expense categorisation using HMRC approved categories and the receipt capture tool, you can stay on top and find expenses. This can help when you book trips for clients and need organised records to create invoices. 

The Countingup app also lets you create and send unlimited invoices on the go. You’ll get a notification when you receive the invoice, and the app can automatically match it to a payment. With tools like these, you’ll better understand how much you earn and spend for your business. 

On top of these tools, Countingup’s app offers year-round tax estimates that will help you plan for tax season and avoid surprises. Plus, the app generates running cash flow insights. This information will make it easier to create income statements and manage your money. As a result, you’ll know when to cut back on expenses and increase prices to earn more for your business. 

As a self-employed travel agent, organised finances can assist your business growth. But, financial management can be stressful and time-consuming when you’re self-employed. That’s why thousands of business owners use the Countingup app to make their financial admin easier. 

Countingup is the business current account with built-in accounting software that allows you to manage all your financial data in one place. With features like automatic expense categorisation, invoicing on the go, receipt capture tools, tax estimates, and cash flow insights, you can confidently keep on top of your business finances wherever you are. 

You can also share your bookkeeping with your accountant instantly without worrying about duplication errors, data lags or inaccuracies. Seamless, simple, and straightforward! 

Find out more here .

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Average Salary / Media / Moscow

Average salary for Media / Moscow is 3,638,367 RUB per year. The most typical earning is 3,302,251 RUB . All data are based on 15 salary surveys. Salaries are different between men and women. Men receive an average salary of 2,989,876 RUB . Women receive a salary of 2,918,476 RUB .

Based on education, the highest salaries receive people with Doctorate Degree with salary of 5,426,403 RUB . The second most paid education level is Some College with salary of 3,453,977 RUB .

Different experiences affect earning as well. People with 20+ Years of experience receive salary of 8,041,429 RUB . Employees with 8-12 Years of experience receive 4,266,152 RUB .

Levels / Media / Moscow (Gross RUB)

Education / media / moscow (gross rub), experience / media / moscow (gross rub), age / media / moscow (gross rub), work type / media / moscow (gross rub), careers / media / moscow (gross rub), people's individual salary examples (surveys).