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Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks

Typical education: High school diplomaModerate pressure

What they do

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.

Kinds of work

  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.
  • Social: Helping, teaching, caring for and supporting other people.
  • Enterprising: Leading, persuading, selling and starting new projects or businesses.

Moderate pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $44,390 Median per year · $21.34/hr Most earn $32,140–$78,150

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Answer inquiries regarding information, such as schedules, accommodations, procedures, or policies.
  • Assemble and issue required documentation, such as tickets, travel insurance policies, or itineraries.
  • Maintain computerized inventories of available passenger space and provide information on space reserved or available.
  • Make and confirm reservations for transportation and accommodations, using telephones, faxes, mail, and computers.
  • Keep information facilities clean during operation.
  • Announce arrival and departure information, using public address systems.

Job outlook

United States
3% more jobs by 2035, about as fast as average · about 11,800 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Scheduled air transportation63.8%
  • Travel arrangement and reservation services13.9%
  • Support activities for air transportation9.9%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: None

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: High school diplomaExperience before this job: NoneEntry-level

Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agent is an entry-level job: most people start with a high school diploma and no prior experience, and many learn the work on the job within a few months. Those who want to move up often take a few years to build customer service and travel know-how first.

  1. High school diploma

    4 years

    Finish high school, building strong customer service, math, and computer skills, since agents handle bookings, payments, and passenger questions every day.

  2. Customer service or front-desk job

    1-3 months

    Work a short starter job that involves greeting and helping people, such as a counter or rental clerk role, to get comfortable with busy, fast-paced service.

  3. Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agent

    Ongoing

    Learn booking systems, ticketing rules, and airline or bus procedures on the job, then confirm reservations, check bags, and guide travelers to their gates or platforms.

Where it can lead

  1. Travel Agent

    1-2 years of experience first

    Move from working at a ticket counter to planning trips for clients, which usually requires learning travel booking software and more detailed destination knowledge.

  2. Dispatcher

    1-2 years of experience first

    Move into behind-the-scenes coordination of buses, trains, or other transit schedules, which takes experience with schedules, communication, and handling changes quickly.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take math and computer classesStrong math and typing or computer skills help with ticketing, payments, and working with booking software.
  • Take a speech or communication classClear speaking helps you explain schedules, fees, and changes to travelers who may be stressed or in a hurry.
  • Get a part-time job in customer serviceA cashier, food service, or front-desk job teaches you to stay friendly and organized with many people at once.
  • Volunteer as a greeter or information helperHelping at a community event, library, or hospital desk shows you how to give directions and answer questions.
  • Explore local transportation hubsAsk a family member or teacher about a school field trip or job shadow at a bus station, airport, or travel office to see the job firsthand.

In college

  • Take courses in customer service, travel, or hospitalityThese classes introduce booking systems, transportation rules, and service skills that employers look for.
  • Work a campus or part-time customer-facing jobJobs at a campus help desk, bookstore, or front desk give you real experience with customers and computer systems.
  • Join a student travel or hospitality clubClubs like these let you practice planning trips and talking with people, and can lead to useful connections.
  • Look for an internship at an airline, bus company, or travel agencyHands-on experience at a ticket counter or booking office shows employers you already know the daily work.
  • Learn common booking and office softwareBeing comfortable with spreadsheets, databases, and online booking tools makes you a stronger candidate for agent jobs and for moving up to travel agent work.

Tips for getting started

  • Look for part-time customer service work, such as a store cashier or restaurant host, to build the people skills and calm under pressure that employers look for.
  • Get comfortable with computers and typing, since reservation work relies on booking systems and accurate data entry.
  • Ask local airports, bus stations, or travel agencies whether they hire part-time or seasonal help, so you can see the work up close before you commit.

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

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