What is a tour operator and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a tour operator. For example, did you know that they make an average of $22.74 an hour? That's $47,294 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 4% and produce 63,300 job opportunities across the U.S.
ScoreTour OperatorUS Average
Salary
3.7

Avg. Salary $47,294

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
6.3

Growth Rate 4%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
1.2
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.86%

Asian 9.87%

Black or African American 6.45%

Hispanic or Latino 10.32%

Unknown 5.61%

White 66.90%

Gender

female 54.96%

male 45.04%

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

Tour Operator career paths

Key steps to become a tour operator

  1. Explore tour operator education requirements

    Most common tour operator degrees

    Bachelor's

    63.2 %

    Associate

    13.5 %

    Master's

    8.1 %
  2. Start to develop specific tour operator skills

    Skills
    ascdesc
    Percentages
    ascdesc
    Reservations32.17%
    Customer Service22.19%
    Customer Feedback3.53%
    Travel Arrangements3.46%
    Tour Guides3.21%
  3. Complete relevant tour operator training and internships

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

    • Plan itineraries, make reservations, lead tours, obtain licenses for foreign pilots, manage a fleet of light aircraft.
    • Manage VIP guest calendar to ensure these guests are given quality service from staff.
    • Process and issue airlines, transfers, hotels, and city tours reservations for groups.
    • Train customers in operating Segway personal transport devices and hold entertaining tours.
  5. Prepare your tour operator resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your tour operator 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 tour operator resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Tour Operator Resume templates

    Build a professional Tour Operator 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 Tour Operator resume.
    Tour Operator Resume
    Tour Operator Resume
    Tour Operator Resume
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    Tour Operator Resume
    Tour Operator Resume
    Tour Operator Resume
  6. Apply for tour operator jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a tour operator 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 Tour Operator Job

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Average tour operator salary

The average Tour Operator salary in the United States is $47,294 per year or $23 per hour. Tour operator salaries range between $27,000 and $82,000 per year.

Average Tour Operator Salary
$47,294 Yearly
$22.74 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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