Travel Agent
Travel agents sell transportation, lodging, and entertainment activities to individuals and groups planning trips.
What the job is
- The work
- Travel agents sell transportation, lodging, and entertainment activities to individuals and groups planning trips.
BLS
Travel Agents — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
- Work environment
- Travel agents typically spend much of their day sitting, working on the phone and on the computer. Most travel agents work for travel agencies; many are self-employed.
BLS
Travel Agents — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
- Good fit for
- Friendly salespeople who know destinations well and are comfortable on the phone and computer all day.
- Career cluster
- Hospitality, Events, & Tourism
Key numbers
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, pay for May 2025 (travel agents).
- Median pay
- $50,160 a year ($24.11 an hour)
BLS
Travel Agents — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
- Jobs in 2025
- 61,500
- Typical entry
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Training after hire
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
Job outlook, 2025–35
- Projected growth
- 0%, which BLS calls "little or no change"
BLS
Travel Agents — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
- Jobs added
- +100 over 2025–35
- All U.S. jobs
- 3.5% over the same period, for comparison
How to become one
- The usual route
- A high school diploma typically is required for someone to become a travel agent. However, employers may prefer to hire candidates who have sales experience or relevant certification or education. Good communication and customer service skills are essential.
BLS
Travel Agents — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
- In short
- A high school diploma is typically required, but employers may prefer sales experience, travel courses or a degree. Employers usually train new agents for at least a month on reservation systems. Some states require travel businesses to register, such as California and Florida's seller of travel laws.
- License
- Some states (seller of travel). Requirements vary by state; contact the state licensing agency. Two states' seller of travel laws, from their own agencies:
- By state
- State rules on the roadmap
- Paying for it
- File the FAFSA (opens by October 1) for grants, work-study and federal loans; a Pell Grant pays up to $7,395 a year (2026–27). Average public four-year tuition and fees: $11,950 in-state vs $31,880 out-of-state (2025–26). Residency rules and regional discounts · Save with 2+2 transfer
- Your state
-
StateChoose a state
- AlabamaState guide
- AlaskaState guide
- ArizonaState guide
- ArkansasState guide
- CaliforniaState guide
- ColoradoState guide
- ConnecticutState guide
- DelawareState guide
- District of ColumbiaState guide
- FloridaState guide
- GeorgiaState guide
- HawaiiState guide
- IdahoState guide
- IllinoisState guide
- IndianaState guide
- IowaState guide
- KansasState guide
- KentuckyState guide
- LouisianaState guide
- MaineState guide
- MarylandState guide
- MassachusettsState guide
- MichiganState guide
- MinnesotaState guide
- MississippiState guide
- MissouriState guide
- MontanaState guide
- NebraskaState guide
- NevadaState guide
- New HampshireState guide
- New JerseyState guide
- New MexicoState guide
- New YorkState guide
- North CarolinaState guide
- North DakotaState guide
- OhioState guide
- OklahomaState guide
- OregonState guide
- PennsylvaniaState guide
- Rhode IslandState guide
- South CarolinaState guide
- South DakotaState guide
- TennesseeState guide
- TexasState guide
- UtahState guide
- VermontState guide
- VirginiaState guide
- WashingtonState guide
- West VirginiaState guide
- WisconsinState guide
- WyomingState guide
Step-by-step roadmap
The routes step by step, the exam gates and the state license step are on one page.
Travel agent: high school diploma, on-the-job training; some states register sellers of travel
See the roadmap
Route 1: Hired by an agency, trained on the job · Route 2: Your own travel business
More careers in Hospitality, Events, & Tourism
Open the cluster hubEvery career page in this cluster, with entry, license, pay and outlook side by side.
Every number links to the BLS page it came from, checked 21 Oct 2026. Education Margdarshan does not recommend paid courses.