The average salary for a tour guide in California is around $46,000 per year.
Avg Salary
Tour guides earn an average yearly salary of $46,000.
Wages typically start from $36,500 and go up to $66,220.
39% below national average Updated in 2025
Tour guide earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level tour guide earnings begin at:
$31.84 per hour
$66,220 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level tour guide earnings begin at:
$27.65 per hour
$57,510 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level tour guide earnings begin at:
$22.11 per hour
$46,000 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level tour guide earnings begin at:
$18.64 per hour
$38,770 per year
10th percentile
Starting level tour guide earnings begin at:
$17.55 per hour
$36,500 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Tour guide salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $54,160 |
| District of Columbia | $49,210 |
| Wyoming | $47,020 |
| California | $46,000 |
| Hawaii | $45,940 |
| Vermont | $45,920 |
| Maine | $44,940 |
| New York | $44,450 |
| Alaska | $44,210 |
| Kansas | $43,700 |
| Colorado | $42,840 |
| Florida | $41,600 |
| New Hampshire | $41,600 |
| Maryland | $40,310 |
| Georgia | $40,190 |
| Montana | $40,100 |
| Minnesota | $39,650 |
| Nevada | $39,360 |
| Oregon | $39,260 |
| Utah | $38,540 |
| Rhode Island | $38,310 |
| Idaho | $37,960 |
| Massachusetts | $37,840 |
| Arizona | $37,560 |
| New Mexico | $37,080 |
| Illinois | $36,780 |
| New Jersey | $36,640 |
| Kentucky | $36,070 |
| North Dakota | $35,360 |
| South Carolina | $35,190 |
| South Dakota | $35,100 |
| Connecticut | $35,090 |
| Michigan | $35,090 |
| Arkansas | $34,290 |
| Tennessee | $33,760 |
| Delaware | $33,210 |
| Texas | $33,080 |
| Pennsylvania | $32,910 |
| Ohio | $32,800 |
| North Carolina | $32,570 |
| Oklahoma | $32,150 |
| Louisiana | $32,060 |
| Missouri | $31,980 |
| Alabama | $31,700 |
| Nebraska | $31,580 |
| Indiana | $31,030 |
| Wisconsin | $30,160 |
| West Virginia | $28,570 |
| Mississippi | $27,460 |
| Virginia | $23,660 |
| Virgin Islands, U.S. | $23,620 |
| Iowa | $22,490 |
| Guam | $19,190 |
| Puerto Rico | $18,490 |
How do tour guide salaries compare to similar careers?
Tour guides earn about the same as related careers in California. On average, they make less than exterminators but more than tellers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Exterminator salary | $47K |
| Upholsterer salary | $49K |
| Aesthetician salary | $39K |
| Shipping/Receiving clerk salary | $47K |
| Tailor salary | $44K |
| Tour guide salary | $46K |
| Florist salary | $47K |
| Printing worker salary | $46K |
| Hairdresser salary | $39K |
| Teller salary | $47K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)