Travel agent earnings by seniority

Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.

Travel agent salary by state

State Name Average Salary
Alaska $39,060
Alabama $40,370
Arkansas $34,840
Arizona $40,685
California $45,320
Colorado $40,780
Connecticut $43,510
District of Columbia $54,810
Delaware $40,610
Florida $36,730
Georgia $31,100
Guam $25,100
Hawaii $38,516
Iowa $41,010
Idaho $36,881
Illinois $40,257
Indiana $39,647
Kansas $46,050
Kentucky $38,920
Louisiana $36,130
Massachusetts $47,160
Maryland $34,510
Maine $33,460
Michigan $35,720
Minnesota $44,140
Missouri $31,130
Mississippi $33,380
Montana $39,870
North Carolina $38,530
North Dakota $31,150
Nebraska $39,430
New Hampshire $41,300
New Jersey $42,970
New Mexico $39,950
Nevada $38,880
New York $35,320
Ohio $33,270
Oklahoma $36,780
Oregon $35,260
Pennsylvania $41,337
Puerto Rico $18,660
Rhode Island $35,650
South Carolina $27,200
South Dakota $32,030
Tennessee $40,050
Texas $34,150
Utah $36,970
Virginia $44,810
Vermont $40,680
Washington $51,520
Wisconsin $35,090
West Virginia $35,330
Wyoming $45,940

How much does a Travel Agent earn?

In 2015, the ASTA Labor and Compensation report stated that in 2014, 86% of travel agents working at an agency (including both corporate and leisure agencies) were either salaried or earned a mix of salary/commission. The ASTA report found the average travel agent salary (when working for an agency) to be $34,181.

Experienced agents that booked primarily corporate travel earned an average travel agent salary of $40,677/year versus a salary of $32,249/year for an experienced agent booking primarily leisure travel. Experienced leisure agents bring home approximately $10,000 more compared to travel agents just entering the industry. Experienced corporate travel agent salaries are nearly $13,000 more per year compared to new corporate travel agents.

The ASTA 2014 Independent Agents Report cited that the average independent contractor agent (86% of which are home based) earns approximately $31,056 a year. However, like most small businesses, it takes most independent travel agents a good three to five years to start seeing profits they can live off of and quite a few travel agents never make it past the first or second year.

How do travel agent salaries compare to similar careers?

Travel agents earn about the same as related careers in the United States. On average, they make less than meter readers but more than financial clerks.

Career Median Salary
Meter reader salary $42K
Precious metal worker salary $41K
Postal service clerk salary $44K
Locksmith salary $42K
Family social worker salary $42K
Travel agent salary $40K
Correctional officer salary $42K
Highway maintenance worker salary $41K
Ambulance dispatcher salary $40K
Financial clerk salary $39K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)