You Never Knew The Average Income Of A Travel Agent

Aside from the added benefit of learning how to avoid some of the sneaky ways airlines trick you into spending money, becoming a travel agent can be a financially viable career. According to Data USA the proof is in the pudding, with 59,700 travel agents working in the field in 2023, and an additional 3.5% more agents anticipated to join the profession over the next decade. The average age of a travel agent in 2023 was 50 years old, and with AARP noting that the industry has become favored by retirees for part-time work, this makes sense. Especially considering what could happen to Social Security once Gen X retires.

The profession also favors women, according to Data USA, with 79.7%, or around 47,602 travel agents identifying as female in 2023. There were also significantly more women working full-time as travel agents in 2023, with 34,629 female agents to 9,800 male agents. Plus, women executives represent five out of 10 CEOs or Presidents at the biggest travel agencies in the U.S., per Travel Weekly, showing that the industry is headed in the right direction where representation is concerned.

According to Travel Weekly, some travel agencies can charge between hundreds and thousands of dollars depending on the planning required. For instance, in 2023, Girasole Travel's planning fee was $500 to start, going up from there depending on the difficulty of the itinerary planning. Other subscription based companies offer annual bundles for clients, with agencies like Journeys Unparalleled offering repeat services over the year for anywhere from $1,750 to $3,500. Meanwhile other agencies like Iantosca Travel offer 20 hours of assistance for $5,000 per year.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2024 travel agents earned a median annual salary of $48,450 per year, or the equivalent of $23.29 per hour. Though it's unclear if this includes the aforementioned service fees, Data USA estimates that travel agents earned an average $51,560 in 2023, with about 1.2% of travel agents earning $200,000 plus. As per a February 2025 study by SmartAsset, to be considered a middle class earner in most major cities you need to earn anywhere from at least $49,478 to $71,359 per year. While $51,560 doesn't exactly put you in the upper class, it does offer a great place to build from.

According to Travefy Academy, there are several ways to make money as a travel agent. The main way is through commissions, with travel agents earning commissions from selling their main product — travel. However, fees and percentages can be dependent on what vacation supplier an agent is selling on behalf of, as well as how much of a cut the host agency is entitled to. Aside from commissions for vacations sold, agents can also get kickbacks from travel insurance companies, tour companies, car rental agencies, and even from flights and accommodation booking. 

Group tours can offer a big pay off for travel agents, since they can earn a commission for each individual booking versus just one party. Plus, some agents have relationships with corporate clients come back to them for business travel, while others specialize in specific types of travel that make them the go-to person for specific travel arrangements like destination weddings or Disney vacations. On top of this, travel agents typically charge service fees for booking or planning an itinerary for their clients. According to a 2023 Travel Weekly study, 71% of travel agencies charge a service fee of some kind. The most popular fees were related to booking flights, consultations, and flat rates per trip. Per the study, these fees can be related to the complexity of planning, or meant to discourage window shopping that can waste an agents valuable time.

Regardless of age or gender, the educational prerequisites needed to become a travel agent may surprise you. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, travel agents are one of those decent paying professions that you don't need a college degree to work in. While a four year degree in hospitality and tourism can look great on paper, and sales experience might be considered an asset to certain employers, the most important quality is an ability to communicate with the public, and put clients at ease. These traits, and a high school diploma, are all you really need to set yourself apart from others in the travel industry. 

Typically, employers offer on-the-job training and, according to Travefy Academy, this training can also be augmented with webinars that include things like bootcamps for new agents, three-day workshops focused on business growth, and sales strategies to help you make more money on the job. Like almost anything else today, podcasts can also offer a way to gain the knowledge you'll need to be successful as a travel agent. For instance, Travefy podcasts talk about everything from using data to track and grow business to navigating potential legal risks in the profession.