How Much Can You Make as a Travel Agent? A Look at Average Agent Salaries

With a career in travel offering flexible schedules, the ability to work from anywhere, and numerous other perks, it’s more enticing than ever to consider a travel advisor career. However, the diverse nature of the industry, with its various roles and earning potential, means income can vary widely depending on experience, job type, and business model.

Travel Market Report recently queried nearly 300 travel agents in the U.S. and Canada with the question: How much do you earn from your travel business or travel selling—whether through business profit or salary?

The answers ranged widely, from less than $50,000 to more than $250,000, depending on role and experience. The most common respondents (51%) identified as independent contractors (ICs), a position typically compensated solely by commission that often attracts early-career agents or hobbyists.

The second-largest group (31%) were owners—those with entrepreneurial mindsets, many of whom transitioned into travel after owning businesses elsewhere and are focused on building profitable companies. Just 16% of respondents were employees of agencies, while less than 1% worked in administrative roles.

Like many industries, those early in their careers (less than 2 years) earned the least, with most making around $50,000. Those earning above $100,000 tended to have more than 10 years of experience and were mostly owners, although one of the eight earning more than $250,000 identified as an IC and had less than 5 years of experience in the industry.

Overall, respondents reported that they have a mean, or average, salary of $86,713 and a median salary of $62,500. Most were under $50,000, though an almost similar amount was making between $50,000 and $200,000. Here are the full results:

These results paint a stronger picture than U.S. government data. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for travel agents in 2023 was $47,410, with an hourly wage of $22.79.