What is a mountain guide and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
ScoreMountain GuideUS Average
Salary
3.7

Avg. Salary $47,584

Avg. Salary $59,228

Diversity
1.0
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.67%

Asian 10.14%

Black or African American 5.18%

Hispanic or Latino 10.93%

Unknown 5.36%

White 67.71%

Gender

female 24.07%

male 75.93%

Age - 28
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 28
Stress Level
6.3

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
6.1

Complexity Level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
7.3

Work Life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Mountain Guide career paths

Key steps to become a mountain guide

  1. Explore mountain guide education requirements

    Most common mountain guide degrees

    Bachelor's

    75.5 %

    High School Diploma

    9.2 %

    Master's

    5.1 %
  2. Start to develop specific mountain guide skills

    Skills
    ascdesc
    Percentages
    ascdesc
    CPR40.97%
    Responder33.56%
    Safety Procedures25.46%
  3. Complete relevant mountain guide training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New mountain guides learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a mountain guide based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real mountain guide resumes.
  4. Research mountain guide duties and responsibilities

    • Manage payroll - specifically manage overtime.
    • Instruct clients on techniques, equipment, leadership, and decision-making in mountain environments.
    • Advance leadership abilities, and constantly double-check tasks for correctness and safety
    • Facilitate a therapeutic outdoor adventure experience for teenagers struggling with a variety of behavioral, mental health and substance abuse challenges.
  5. Prepare your mountain guide resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your mountain guide resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a mountain guide resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Mountain Guide Resume templates

    Build a professional Mountain Guide resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Mountain Guide resume.
    Mountain Guide Resume
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    Mountain Guide Resume
    Mountain Guide Resume
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    Mountain Guide Resume
    Mountain Guide Resume
    Mountain Guide Resume
    Mountain Guide Resume
  6. Apply for mountain guide jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a mountain guide job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Mountain Guide Job

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Average mountain guide salary

The average Mountain Guide salary in the United States is $47,584 per year or $23 per hour. Mountain guide salaries range between $12,000 and $187,000 per year.

Average Mountain Guide Salary
$47,584 Yearly
$22.88 hourly

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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