Sales
Travel Agents
Also called: Auto Travel Counselor, Beach Expert, Corporate Travel Consultant, Destination Specialist
US median pay
$50,160
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+0.2%
about average or slower
Openings a year (US)
5,900
61,500 employed
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
Preparation 3/5 · Medium preparation
What this job is
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.
What they do day to day
- 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.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Service Orientation4.1/5
- Social Perceptiveness3.8/5
- Persuasion3.6/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.4/5
- Negotiation3.1/5
- Coordination3.1/5
- Time Management3.0/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.0/5
Knowledge
- Customer and Personal Service4.2/5
- English Language4.0/5
- Sales and Marketing3.9/5
- Geography3.4/5
- Computers and Electronics3.4/5
- Telecommunications3.2/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 3 of 5 — Medium preparation. Usually vocational training, an associate's degree or an apprenticeship.
Typical entry education (BLS): High school diploma or equivalent.
Highest education of people in this job:
- Associate's degree37%
- High school diploma31%
- Bachelor's degree14%
Who this job suits
Mostly Enterprising
Leading, persuading and starting things
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Social
Helping, teaching and caring for people
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.