What is a river guide and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
ScoreRiver GuideUS Average
Salary
3.1

Avg. Salary $39,322

Avg. Salary $59,228

Diversity
1.1
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.67%

Asian 9.20%

Black or African American 6.48%

Hispanic or Latino 10.37%

Unknown 5.37%

White 67.92%

Gender

female 30.76%

male 69.24%

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

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River Guide career paths

Key steps to become a river guide

  1. Explore river guide education requirements

    Most common river guide degrees

    Bachelor's

    73.9 %

    Associate

    10.6 %

    High School Diploma

    6.1 %
  2. Start to develop specific river guide skills

    Skills
    ascdesc
    Percentages
    ascdesc
    Safety Procedures55.99%
    Summer Season12.05%
    Emergency Situations6.38%
    Kayaks3.81%
    I-III3.57%
  3. Complete relevant river guide training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New river 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 river guide based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real river guide resumes.
  4. Research river guide duties and responsibilities

    • Lead students and leaders backpacking into the wilderness while using the natural settings to teach technical teamwork and leadership skills.
    • Manage payroll - specifically manage overtime.
    • Focus on safety, service, and leadership.
    • Facilitate a therapeutic outdoor adventure experience for teenagers struggling with a variety of behavioral, mental health and substance abuse challenges.
  5. Prepare your river guide resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your river 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 river 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 River Guide Resume templates

    Build a professional River 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 River Guide resume.
    River Guide Resume
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    River Guide Resume
  6. Apply for river guide jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a river 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 River Guide Job

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Average river guide salary

The average River Guide salary in the United States is $39,322 per year or $19 per hour. River guide salaries range between $13,000 and $113,000 per year.

Average River Guide Salary
$39,322 Yearly
$18.90 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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