Sales
Travel agent
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.
Median pay
$50,160
Growth to 2035
0%
little or no change
Openings a year
5,900
Time to qualify*
6 months
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Travel agent
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Prior experience
- None
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Travel agent: 48% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- Collect payment for transportation and accommodations from customer.
- Plan, describe, arrange, and sell itinerary tour packages and promotional travel incentives offered by various travel carriers.
- Converse with customer to determine destination, mode of transportation, travel dates, financial considerations, and accommodations required.
- Compute cost of travel and accommodations, using calculator, computer, carrier tariff books, and hotel rate books, or quote package tour's costs.
- Record and maintain information on clients, vendors, and travel packages.
- Book transportation and hotel reservations, using computer or telephone.
- Print or request transportation carrier tickets, using computer printer system or system link to travel carrier.
- Provide customer with brochures and publications containing travel information, such as local customs, points of interest, or foreign country regulations.
Also called: Auto Travel Counselor · Beach Expert · Corporate Travel Consultant · Destination Specialist · International Travel Consultant · Tour Coordinator · Tour Counselor · Travel Agent
Outlook and AI
Travel agents held 61,500 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 61,700 by 2035 (0%, little or no change; all jobs: +3.5%).
Compare with
- Travel agent vs. Reservation and transportation ticket agents and travel clerks
- Travel agent vs. Tour and travel guides
- Travel agent vs. Counter and rental clerks
- Travel agent vs. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Travel agent vs. Customer service representative
- Travel agent vs. Telemarketer
- Travel agent vs. Concierge
- Travel agent vs. Retail salesperson
- Travel agent vs. Receptionists and information clerks