Tour and Travel Guides pay range in Washington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $32,160 a year or less, while the top 10% make $58,440 or more. The middle half of tour and travel guides in Washington earn between $36,940 and $49,340.
- $32K10th
- $37K25th
- $46KMedian
- $49K75th
- $58K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $45,490 | $3,791 | $21.87 |
| Median | $46,130 | $3,844 | $22.18 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $36,940 | $3,078 | $17.76 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $49,340 | $4,112 | $23.72 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Tour and Travel Guides pay in Washington vs. Washington, D.C. and the U.S.
Tour and travel guides in Washington earn 13% less than the Washington, D.C. average ($52,460) and 4% more than the U.S. average ($43,720). At the median the gap is +21% against the U.S. median of $38,120.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $45,490 | $46,130 | $32,160 | $58,440 | 1,280 |
| Washington, D.C. | $52,460 | $49,210 | $36,940 | $76,790 | 380 |
| United States | $43,720 | $38,120 | $28,520 | $60,930 | 53,500 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Tour and Travel Guides salary after taxes in Washington
On the average salary of $45,490, a single filer in Washington takes home about $37,168 a year, or $3,097 a month and $1,430 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WV | $37,477 | $3,123 |
| Working in DC | $37,168 | $3,097 |
| Working in VA | $36,930 | $3,077 |
| Working in MD | $36,782 | $3,065 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Washington a good place for tour and travel guides? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Washington area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.9), so the average $45,490 buys what about $41,778 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Washington ($71,060). A typical home costs $583,013, or 12.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Tour and Travel Guides salary in nearby metro areas
- Baltimore, MD$39,580
- Winchester, VA$40,500
- Gettysburg, PA$37,420
- Charlottesville, VA$38,030
- Richmond, VA$38,170
- Staunton, VA$33,300
Highest-paying cities for tour and travel guides
Flagstaff, AZ pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($70,280).
- Flagstaff, AZ$70,280
- Kiryas Joel, NY$68,140
- Seattle, WA$61,460
- San Jose, CA$60,710
- Bremerton, WA$56,200
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Tour and Travel Guides salary in Washington: questions
How much do tour and travel guides make an hour in Washington?
$21.87 an hour on average, and $22.18 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level tour and travel guides salary in Washington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $32,160 a year and the 25th percentile is $36,940, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the tour and travel guides take-home pay in Washington?
About $37,168 a year ($3,097 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $45,490.
Do tour and travel guides earn more in Washington than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% more than the U.S. average for this job ($43,720).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 39-7010; area Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (47900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.8%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.18, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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