Travel Sales Agent Training and Jobs
Schools and Degrees
A large number of community colleges and vocational schools offer travel agent programs. Courses are also offered in several public adult education programs and online courses. These programs deal with cruise lines and sales techniques, and also teach students on the procedures of using the reservation systems. Besides, some colleges also offer bachelor’s and master’s degrees in travel and tourism. One can also opt for the correspondence courses offered by The American Society of Travel Agents. Such courses provide students with a basic understanding of the travel industry.
Training and Education
Employees are generally expected to have a postsecondary vocational award. About 26% of travel sales agents hold a bachelor's degree or better. Currently 49% of workers have some college education, though not a degree. About 25% of employees were able to get their jobs with a high-school diploma.
Job Overview
Travel sales agents plan trips and make travel arrangements for their clients. They talk to the clients, find out about their travel plans and make the best possible travel arrangements for them. Travel sales agents plan out the entire itinerary for their customers by finding out where they want to visit, when they want to travel and what their budget is. Their work involves looking up flights, cruises, hotels and car rental information. They discuss the possible routes and accommodation facilities with the clients and make arrangements accordingly. Travel sales agents also provide information on certificates of vaccination, customs regulations, passports, visas, travel advisories and currency exchange rates for clients traveling internationally.
Job Requirements
Travel sales agents are required to have at least a high school diploma or equivalent. Many agencies prefer candidates with a college degree and business or travel experience. Some employers may also recruit candidates with background knowledge of geography, communication, foreign languages, computer science or world history. This kind of knowledge goes a long way in helping travel sales agents build a good rapport with clients.
To be a successful travel sales agent, one needs to be able to organize and plan his/her clients’ travel itineraries flawlessly and smoothly. For this, the agent must be well-organized and detail-oriented. Travel sales agents should also have good communication skills and sales abilities. They should be courteous and professional while dealing with clients and travel representatives. Business skills are very important, particularly for those wishing to start an operation of their own.
Nature of Work
Travel sales agents working for tour operators and travel arrangers basically develop, arrange and sell the company’s own package tours and travel services. They endorse these services through telemarketing, direct mail and the Internet. They also prepare presentations for social and special-interest groups, arrange advertising displays and propose company-sponsored trips to business managers. There is competition from travel and airline websites for low-cost fares, but travelers usually prefer travel sales agents who provide customized services and planning for complex itineraries to remote destinations.
Travel sales agents spend most of their work hours on the telephone or the computer, talking with clients, completing paperwork, making airlines and hotel reservations and promoting tours. Travel sales agents may have to work under a lot of pressure during travel emergencies. Peak vacation times and holiday travel periods are also very hectic.
Area Job Conditions
Travel sales agents are relatively common in Orlando (Florida), Miami (Florida), and Kingman (Arizona). They are rarer in Fayetteville (Arkansas), Corpus Christi (Texas), and McAllen (Texas).
Workers are paid highest in San Jose (California), Trenton (New Jersey), and Santa Barbara (California), and lowest in Bend (Oregon), Gainesville (Florida), and Sarasota (Florida).
Part-Time and Self Employment
About 20% of travel sales agents work less than full-time. In 13% of the cases, workers work for themselves.
Career Videos
Travel Sales Agents by Metropolitan Area (city and its surroundings)
In the table below, a Job Density near 0% means the area has an average number of people in this occupation, for its population. A higher or lower Job Density (e.g., +22% or -45%) tells you there are that many more or fewer workers of that type there than in the average US metro area. So, the higher the number, the more common the occupation.
Alabama
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | $52,000 | 90 | -67% |
| Huntsville | $38,000 | 60 | -47% |
Alaska
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage | $36,000 | 190 | +111% |
Arizona
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix | $28,000 | 1,860 | +87% |
| Tucson | $35,000 | 80 | -58% |
Arkansas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock | $35,000 | 60 | -69% |
California
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield | $31,000 | 50 | -65% |
| Fresno | $34,000 | 70 | -60% |
| Los Angeles | $33,000 | 3,800 | +66% |
| Oakland | $42,000 | 480 | -15% |
| Oxnard | $36,000 | 110 | -33% |
| Riverside | $32,000 | 220 | -68% |
| Sacramento | $36,000 | 240 | -51% |
| Salinas | $34,000 | 40 | -54% |
| San Diego | $42,000 | 590 | -20% |
| San Francisco | $42,000 | 1,020 | +82% |
| San Jose | $38,000 | 540 | +7% |
| San Luis Obispo | $36,000 | 70 | +45% |
| Santa Ana | $46,000 | 1,310 | +60% |
| Santa Barbara | $48,000 | 50 | -45% |
| Santa Cruz | $31,000 | 30 | -33% |
| Santa Rosa | $36,000 | 50 | -47% |
| Stockton | $28,000 | 50 | -56% |
Colorado
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder | $39,000 | 110 | +34% |
| Colorado Springs | $26,000 | 220 | +59% |
| Denver | $34,000 | 740 | +5% |
| Fort Collins | $29,000 | 70 | +5% |
Connecticut
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport | $32,000 | 470 | +98% |
| Hartford | $28,000 | 180 | -44% |
| New Haven | $27,000 | 160 | +7% |
| Norwich | $36,000 | 40 | -38% |
Delaware
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington | $33,000 | 120 | -33% |
District of Columbia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $42,000 | 1,500 | +9% |
Florida
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Coral | $33,000 | 130 | +24% |
| Deltona | $28,000 | 150 | +82% |
| Fort Lauderdale | $33,000 | 1,100 | +181% |
| Fort Walton Beach | $30,000 | 120 | +207% |
| Jacksonville | $33,000 | 220 | -35% |
| Lakeland | $31,000 | 70 | -32% |
| Miami | $30,000 | 1,740 | +215% |
| Naples | $38,000 | 90 | +53% |
| Orlando | $27,000 | 1,810 | +216% |
| Palm Bay | $30,000 | 120 | +12% |
| Palm Coast | $27,000 | 30 | +327% |
| Panama City | $29,000 | 90 | +158% |
| Pensacola | $25,000 | 100 | +25% |
| Port St Lucie | $28,000 | 70 | +11% |
| Sarasota | $29,000 | 250 | +85% |
| Tallahassee | $25,000 | 50 | -42% |
| Tampa | $27,000 | 490 | -24% |
| West Palm Beach | $30,000 | 560 | +93% |
Georgia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | $36,000 | 1,100 | -16% |
| Savannah | $34,000 | 40 | -50% |
Hawaii
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honolulu | $29,000 | 580 | +136% |
Idaho
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boise | $34,000 | 210 | +46% |
| Coeur Dalene | $24,000 | 30 | +20% |
Illinois
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $36,000 | 3,850 | +81% |
Indiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evansville | $36,000 | 50 | -46% |
| Fort Wayne | $31,000 | 70 | -37% |
| Gary | $21,000 | 50 | -66% |
| Indianapolis | $40,000 | 320 | -37% |
Iowa
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids | 60 | -19% | |
| Des Moines | $29,000 | 140 | -23% |
Kansas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wichita | $33,000 | 130 | -18% |
Kentucky
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington | $34,000 | 130 | -1% |
| Louisville | $25,000 | 190 | -44% |
Louisiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge | $29,000 | 100 | -52% |
| New Orleans | $24,000 | 110 | -63% |
| Shreveport | $20,000 | 30 | -69% |
Maine
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | $34,000 | 70 | -36% |
Maryland
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore | $36,000 | 470 | -36% |
| Bethesda | $39,000 | 350 | +8% |
Massachusetts
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barnstable Town | $43,000 | 30 | -42% |
| Boston | $35,000 | 1,900 | +93% |
| Framingham | $44,000 | 120 | +36% |
| Haverhill | $29,000 | 30 | -29% |
| Lawrence | $33,000 | 30 | +0% |
| Peabody | $52,000 | 60 | +13% |
| Springfield | $31,000 | 120 | -27% |
| Worcester | $34,000 | 100 | -28% |
Michigan
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor | $31,000 | 90 | 0% |
| Flint | $28,000 | 90 | +30% |
| Grand Rapids | $30,000 | 250 | +19% |
| Holland | $29,000 | 60 | +19% |
| Kalamazoo | $31,000 | 30 | -59% |
| Lansing | $34,000 | 80 | -26% |
| Warren | $33,000 | 490 | -19% |
Minnesota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis | $36,000 | 940 | -7% |
Missouri
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City | $34,000 | 400 | -30% |
| Springfield | $28,000 | 90 | -13% |
| St Louis | $32,000 | 1,360 | +80% |
Montana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billings | $31,000 | 60 | +38% |
Nebraska
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln | $33,000 | 80 | -7% |
| Omaha | $30,000 | 410 | +56% |
Nevada
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas | $33,000 | 1,000 | +109% |
| Reno | $35,000 | 40 | -61% |
New Hampshire
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester | $35,000 | 60 | +10% |
| Nashua | $41,000 | 80 | +9% |
| Portsmouth | $40,000 | 30 | +4% |
New Jersey
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic City | $35,000 | 60 | -23% |
| Camden | $31,000 | 250 | -15% |
| Edison | $40,000 | 650 | +12% |
| Newark | $35,000 | 550 | -2% |
| Ocean City | $46,000 | 40 | +102% |
| Trenton | $44,000 | 150 | +20% |
New Mexico
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque | $30,000 | 90 | -58% |
New York
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany | $29,000 | 150 | -40% |
| Buffalo | $32,000 | 270 | -13% |
| Nassau | $36,000 | 1,020 | +43% |
| New York | $37,000 | 5,170 | +76% |
| Rochester | $36,000 | 220 | -22% |
| Syracuse | $32,000 | 120 | -31% |
| Utica | $30,000 | 50 | -25% |
North Carolina
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asheville | $44,000 | 50 | -48% |
| Charlotte | $31,000 | 280 | -42% |
| Durham | $36,000 | 50 | -67% |
| Greensboro | $31,000 | 90 | -55% |
| Jacksonville | $25,000 | 50 | +142% |
| Raleigh | $38,000 | 180 | -38% |
| Winston Salem | $27,000 | 60 | -48% |
North Dakota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo | $32,000 | 80 | +24% |
Ohio
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akron | $32,000 | 80 | -55% |
| Canton | $26,000 | 30 | -67% |
| Cincinnati | $28,000 | 380 | -34% |
| Cleveland | $33,000 | 580 | +0% |
| Columbus | $28,000 | 500 | -4% |
| Dayton | $31,000 | 150 | -30% |
| Toledo | $24,000 | 90 | -45% |
| Youngstown | $26,000 | 50 | -60% |
Oklahoma
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City | $26,000 | 170 | -48% |
| Tulsa | $28,000 | 150 | -38% |
Oregon
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eugene | $29,000 | 60 | -20% |
| Portland | $31,000 | 630 | +9% |
Pennsylvania
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allentown | $35,000 | 340 | +77% |
| Erie | $28,000 | 30 | -56% |
| Harrisburg | $31,000 | 120 | -32% |
| Lancaster | $35,000 | 110 | -15% |
| Philadelphia | $39,000 | 1,320 | +22% |
| Pittsburgh | $35,000 | 490 | -24% |
| Reading | $37,000 | 150 | +66% |
| Scranton | $33,000 | 240 | +67% |
| York | $31,000 | 60 | -37% |
Rhode Island
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence | $33,000 | 260 | -17% |
South Carolina
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $37,000 | 120 | -25% |
| Columbia | $30,000 | 80 | -59% |
| Greenville | $29,000 | 60 | -64% |
| Myrtle Beach | $30,000 | 90 | +57% |
South Dakota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls | $32,000 | 50 | -33% |
Tennessee
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga | $35,000 | 50 | -60% |
| Knoxville | $30,000 | 70 | -62% |
| Memphis | $43,000 | 120 | -65% |
| Nashville | $35,000 | 430 | +3% |
Texas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin | $33,000 | 320 | -28% |
| Dallas | $36,000 | 1,660 | +40% |
| El Paso | $33,000 | 110 | -27% |
| Fort Worth | $34,000 | 280 | -43% |
| Houston | $33,000 | 1,990 | +34% |
| Lubbock | $30,000 | 30 | -55% |
| San Antonio | $32,000 | 480 | -2% |
Utah
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ogden | $23,000 | 70 | -36% |
| Salt Lake City | $40,000 | 250 | -27% |
Vermont
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington | $33,000 | 50 | -15% |
Virginia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond | $35,000 | 210 | -39% |
| Roanoke | 40 | -52% | |
| Virginia Beach | $34,000 | 440 | +3% |
Washington
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kennewick | $33,000 | 40 | -24% |
| Seattle | $42,000 | 960 | +21% |
| Spokane | $35,000 | 240 | +115% |
| Tacoma | $29,000 | 60 | -59% |
Wisconsin
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appleton | $30,000 | 100 | +65% |
| Green Bay | $36,000 | 40 | -56% |
| Madison | $29,000 | 110 | -41% |
| Milwaukee | $30,000 | 680 | +45% |