What does a Tour Guide do?
Tour Guides are commonly employed by local governments and private tour companies to lead groups of visitors around various locations, which may be anywhere within driving range of the tour company’s office. They can work independently, or they can be employees of larger organizations and show visitors around a single site. Their job is to convey information about a location and assist visitors with taking in as many relevant points of interest as possible.
Tour Guide skills and qualifications
Tour Guides have to demonstrate relevant job skills to function effectively. Working in a variety of locations, they meet new people, establish a good rapport, speak well about topics their audience may not know anything about and safely manage groups of people while creating a positive visiting experience. Successful Tour Guides should have these skills:
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A clear and easy to understand speaking voice
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The ability to communicate with people from diverse backgrounds, including possibly in a second language
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Organizational skills for booking travel and transportation, scheduling timely visits to multiple locations and crafting itineraries with many points of interest
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Flexibility and the ability to adapt to sudden changes of plans, visitor requests for more information or a deviation from the tour schedule
Tour Guide experience requirements
Tour Guides usually start with a background in communications and organization-related work. They gain experience on the job and may have worked in a related field before, such as travel agent or transportation. Advancement as a Tour Guide usually comes with time and experience in a single position, mainly because of the diversity of tour locations and the growing familiarity they gain from leading tours at a single site.
Tour Guide education and training requirements
Tour Guides generally have a high school diploma and some training in the specific tour location where they work. Some guides have a bachelor’s degree in communications, logistics or foreign languages, though this is not always necessary. Tour Guides who work in places of historic interest may have or be working toward a degree in history.
Tour Guide salary expectations
According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary for a Tour Guide is $40,866 per year. This average varies with the type of tour being conducted, as well as with the location where the Tour Guide works. Experienced Tour Guides usually earn more than entry-level guides.
Job description samples for similar positions
If a Tour Guide is not the position you need to fill, you might want to hire someone for a related position. Positions similar to Tour Guide include:
Tour Guide job description FAQs
Where can a Tour Guide work?
Tour Guides can work almost anywhere. Some guides, such as museum curators, work at a single location, while others lead walking tours, drive tour buses or lead groups overseas on package travel vacations.
Do Tour Guides get tips?
In the United States, it is customary to tip a Tour Guide 10-20% of the cost of the tour. This is voluntary, but many tour companies price it into their guides’ wage structure.
Do Tour Guides work alone?
While some Tour Guides work as part of a group, it is common for them to lead groups on their own. Some Tour Guides work as part of a team with others in their company, while others are self-employed.
Do Tour Guides need to drive?
Some Tour Guides are expected to maintain a current license to drive, though not all do. Tour bus drivers usually need a passenger endorsement or a Class B license, while walking Tour Guides at single sites might not need to drive at all.
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