Tour and Travel Guides · California

Tour and Travel Guides Salary in California

Tour and Travel Guides in California earn a median annual wage of $46,000 —20.7% above the national median of $38,120. That ranks CA #4 of 50 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$46,000
Median hourly
$22.11
Entry level (P10)
$36,500
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$66,220
90th percentile
Employment
6,900
0.4 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
+20.7%
U.S. $38,120

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$36,500
$38,770
$46,000
$57,510
$36,500$46,000$66,220
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $46,000.

Employment concentration (1.10×) is close to the national average.

Highest-paying states for tour and travel guides

All 50 states ranked by median annual wage. California is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1Washington$54,160$26.041,4201.16
2District of Columbia$49,210$23.663801.59
3Wyoming$47,020$22.605605.80
4California$46,000$22.116,9001.10
5Hawaii$45,940$22.091,3706.35
6Vermont$45,920$22.081401.34
7Maine$44,940$21.612701.25
8New York$44,450$21.372,8700.86
9Alaska$44,210$21.251,66014.79
10Kansas$43,700$21.014000.81

Related occupations in California

Occupations in the same job family, compared within California.

OccupationCalifornia medianU.S. median
Childcare Workers$40,020$34,980
Amusement and Recreation Attendants$37,000$32,150
Recreation Workers$39,780$36,560
Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors$57,990$47,160
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists$38,660$35,790
Animal Caretakers$38,700$35,360

Frequently asked questions

How much do tour and travel guides make in California?

The median annual wage for tour and travel guides in California is $46,000, or $22.11 per hour. That is 20.7% above the national median of $38,120.

What is the entry-level tour and travel guides salary in California?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $36,500 per year ($17.55/hour). The 25th percentile is $38,770.

How many people work as tour and travel guides in California?

About 6,900 people work in this occupation in California, or 0.4 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is California a good state for tour and travel guides?

California ranks #4 of 50 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment concentration (1.10x) is close to the national average.

Which state pays tour and travel guides the most?

Washington has the highest median wage at $54,160 per year, followed by District of Columbia ($49,210) and Wyoming ($47,020).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes