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Travel Agents

Typical education: Associate degreeModerate pressure

What they do

Plan and sell transportation and accommodations for customers. Determine destination, modes of transportation, travel dates, costs, and accommodations required. May also describe, plan, and arrange itineraries and sell tour packages. May assist in resolving clients' travel problems.

Kinds of work

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

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 $50,160 Median per year · $24.11/hr Most earn $34,610–$76,660

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Collect payment for transportation and accommodations from customer.
  • Converse with customer to determine destination, mode of transportation, travel dates, financial considerations, and accommodations required.
  • Record and maintain information on clients, vendors, and travel packages.
  • Plan, describe, arrange, and sell itinerary tour packages and promotional travel incentives offered by various travel carriers.
  • Provide customer with brochures and publications containing travel information, such as local customs, points of interest, or foreign country regulations.
  • Print or request transportation carrier tickets, using computer printer system or system link to travel carrier.

Job outlook

United States
About the same number of jobs by 2035, little or no change · about 5,900 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

  • Travel arrangement and reservation services72.4%
  • Self-employed (their own business)12.0%
  • Management of companies and enterprises4.1%
  • Deep sea, coastal, and great lakes water transportation2.7%

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

Experience before this job: 1 to 2 years

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: Associate degreeExperience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Travel Agent usually isn't a first job straight out of school. Most people first earn an associate degree or similar training, then spend about 1 to 2 years in a related customer-facing travel role before taking this job.

  1. Associate degree in travel, tourism, or hospitality

    2 years

    You learn the basics of travel planning, booking systems, and customer service, which gives you a foundation for working with clients and suppliers.

  2. Reservation Agent

    1-2 years

    You book flights, trains, or tickets and answer travel questions, which builds the booking-system skills and problem-solving experience that agencies look for.

  3. Travel Agent

    Career goal

    You plan trips, choose transportation and lodging, set budgets and itineraries, and help clients solve travel problems.

Where it can lead

  1. Senior Travel Agent

    3-5 years of experience first

    You take on more complex trips, such as group, corporate, or international itineraries, and often mentor newer agents.

  2. Travel Agency Manager

    3-5 years of experience first

    You oversee a team of agents, handle client accounts and sales goals, and manage the agency's daily operations; this usually requires strong sales and leadership experience.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take math, English, and a computer or business classBudgeting, clear writing, and using booking software are everyday skills for travel agents.
  • Learn a second languageSpeaking another language helps you serve more travelers, especially for international trips.
  • Get a customer-service jobA part-time job at a store, restaurant, or front desk teaches you to listen to customers and solve problems calmly.
  • Join a club like DECA, FBLA, or a school travel or language clubClubs that build presentation, sales, and teamwork skills are useful for a career that involves selling trips to clients.
  • Volunteer at a community event or visitor centerHelping visitors with directions and information gives you real practice answering travel questions.

In college

  • Enroll in a travel, tourism, or hospitality programAn associate or related degree gives you the travel industry knowledge that this career typically requires.
  • Take courses in geography, world cultures, and a second languageKnowing destinations and cultures helps you plan better trips and communicate with travelers.
  • Seek an internship at a travel agency, airline, or hotelHands-on work with real bookings and clients prepares you for the first 1 to 2 years of experience employers expect.
  • Work a campus job in customer service or front deskCampus jobs build the customer-service and problem-solving skills you will use every day as an agent.
  • Consider a travel industry certificationMany schools and local programs offer short courses in travel software or destination knowledge that can strengthen your resume.

Tips for getting started

  • Look for part-time or seasonal jobs at airlines, hotels, or ticket counters. Experience with customers and booking systems helps you get hired as a travel agent later.
  • Practice planning trips for friends or family, such as a weekend or school trip. Keeping a simple itinerary and budget shows you can do the real work.
  • Build your comfort with computers and spreadsheets, and practice writing clear, friendly emails. Agents use these skills every day.

Related jobs that often lead here

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.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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