How to hire a Tour Guide

How to hire a tour guide, step by step

Here's a step-by-step tour guide hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a tour guide job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new tour guide
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a Tour Guide do?

Post A Tour Guide Job For Free, Promote It For A Fee

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your tour guide job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a tour guide for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine Employee vs Contractor Status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect tour guide also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list presents tour guide salaries for various positions.

   Type Of Tour Guide	Description	Hourly Rate
   Tour Guide		$8-26
   Escort	Escort is a service provided to accompany an individual, group of people, or vehicle to provide guidance and protection or mark of honor. Military Escort services accompany deceased military personnel to show respect-a healthcare escort sometimes accompanies patients to their destination for ongoing care safely... Show More	$10-17
   Guide	A guide is an expert on a location's history and gives guided tours to tourists at historic sites, nature and scenic attractions, and other travel destinations. Manuals are usually residents in the area hired by visitors' bureaus and travel companies... Show More	$8-32

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common Skills:

   • Local History
   • Customer Service
   • Safety Practices
   • Public Speaking
   • Front Desk
   • Facebook
   • Presentation
   • Gift Shop
   • CPR
   • Art Galleries
   • Tour Guests
   • Student Life
   • VIP
   • Group Tours

   Check All Skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage the canoe landing including guests, workers, and canoe traffic in a way that all run smoothly and safely.
   • Aid clients with matters regarding passports and visas.
   • Receive multiple positive reviews on the company Facebook page.
   • Complete extensive training as well as first aid, CPR and a certification.
   • Maintain alertness for any problem solve calls via radio and communication with management.
   • Spearhead all creative activity for online marketing (Facebook), and other social media sites5.

   More Tour Guide duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your tour guide job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A tour guide salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a tour guide in Louisiana may be lower than in Alaska, and an entry-level tour guide usually earns less than a senior-level tour guide. Additionally, a tour guide with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average tour guide salary

   $15.54hourly

   $32,323 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level tour guide salary

   $18,000 yearly salary

   Updated March 31, 2025

   Average tour guide salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. Salary	Hourly Rate
   1	California	$41,520	$20
   2	Alaska	$37,838	$18
   3	Virginia	$36,370	$17
   4	Massachusetts	$36,280	$17
   5	Indiana	$35,112	$17
   6	Oregon	$34,005	$16
   7	New York	$32,647	$16
   8	Hawaii	$31,987	$15
   9	North Carolina	$30,348	$15
   10	Kentucky	$30,281	$15
   11	Maryland	$29,818	$14
   12	Texas	$29,792	$14
   13	Missouri	$29,759	$14
   14	District of Columbia	$29,413	$14
   15	Georgia	$29,362	$14
   16	Nevada	$28,418	$14
   17	Pennsylvania	$27,784	$13
   18	Florida	$27,707	$13
   19	South Carolina	$27,705	$13
   20	Iowa	$27,609	$13

   Average tour guide salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average Salary	Hourly Rate	Job Openings
   1	Harley-Davidson	$75,774	$36.43
   2	Bridgewater State University	$51,961	$24.98
   3	Kohler Co.	$51,290	$24.66
   4	Central Lakes College	$48,435	$23.29
   5	Student Conservation Association	$47,676	$22.92
   6	Andersen	$46,506	$22.36
   7	National Radio Astronomy Observatory	$40,050	$19.25
   8	Legends Hospitality	$39,188	$18.84
   9	Ryman Hospitality Properties	$39,094	$18.80	3
   10	Bluewater Waterfront Grill	$37,577	$18.07
   11	Deschutes Brewery	$37,436	$18.00
   12	Iowa Department of Transportation	$36,391	$17.50
   13	Covenant College	$36,078	$17.35
   14	WarnerMedia	$35,528	$17.08
   15	Iowa State Association of Counties	$35,385	$17.01
   16	*n/a*	$35,196	$16.92
   17	Sun Country Airlines	$35,170	$16.91
   18	Unitek Learning	$35,170	$16.91
   19	Segway	$35,139	$16.89
   20	LAZ Parking	$35,011	$16.83

4. Writing a Tour Guide Job Description

   A tour guide job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a tour guide job description:

   Tour Guide job description example

   Join Our Team
   
   Due to COVID-19, we have implemented a virtual hiring process and continue to interview candidates by phone or video conferencing. We are onboarding new employees both onsite and remotely. We value the safety of every member of our community.
   
   About this Position
   
   The Tour Guide HWO (paid for the hours worked only) leads Primerica Field Representatives and other VIP's through a tour of Primerica's campus and occasional off-site meeting related tours.
   
   Responsibilities & Qualifications
   
   The Tour Guide presents information pertaining to specific work areas that support the Sales Representatives' business interests. The role assists customers in the retail atmosphere, troubleshoots and corrects technical problems with tour equipment, and helps maintain displays used for tours.
   
   Hourly rate: $15.00
   
   Hours:
   Availability to work 5 - 20 hours per week Shifts as early as 7:30am Mondays are required
   
   Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
   High School Diploma or GEDBi-lingual (English/Spanish) skills are a plus Flexible with excellent interpersonal skills Ability to communicate with all Field levels and quickly assess needs Some weekend and occasional weeknight work are required Excellent verbal communication skills Ability to speak to groups ranging from 25 - 200 people Basic PC skills Previous work experience in a retail atmosphere is a plus Ability to function well in a fast-paced, team-orientated environment Self-starter with the ability to handle high pressure situations Ability to stand and walk for long periods (stairs included) and lift items up to 50lbs
   
   This position is not benefits eligible.
   
   FLSA status:This position is exempt (not eligible for over time):
   No
   
   Our Benefits:
   Day one health, dental, and vision insurance 401(k) Plan with competitive employer match Vacation, sick, holiday and volunteer time off Life and disability insurance Flexible Savings Account & Health Savings AccountProfessional development Tuition reimbursement Company-sponsored social and philanthropy events
   
   It has been and will continue to be the policy of Primerica, Inc., and its subsidiaries to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We provide equal opportunity to all qualified individuals regardless of race, sex, color, religious creed, religion, national origin, citizenship status, age, disability, pregnancy, ancestry, military service or veteran status, genetic or carrier status, marital status, sexual orientation, or any classification protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.
   
   At Primerica, we believe that diversity and inclusion are critical to our future and our mission - creating a foundation for a creative workplace that leads to innovation, growth, and profitability. Through a variety of programs and initiatives, we invest in each employee, seeking to ensure that our people are not only respected as individuals, but also truly valued for their unique perspectives.

   Copy This Example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right tour guide for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with tour guides they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit tour guides who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your tour guide job on Zippia to find and recruit tour guide candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit tour guides, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new tour guide

   Once you have selected a candidate for the tour guide position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a tour guide?