As with many jobs, the range of salaries that a travel agent can earn varies greatly depending on working locations, booking specialties, and commission incentives. Unless you're hired on as a straight salaried employee, it's highly likely that a good portion of your income will depend on the commissions offered by the hotels, cruises, and airlines you work with. These incentives represent the relationship between the travel agent and the vendors – many are willing to offer financial benefits for agents that continually direct business their way.
What You'll Make as a Travel Agent
The downside to this financial structure is that the slowing economy and the availability of online deals and bookings are making it increasingly difficult for many travel agents to earn a salary that represents their full potential. Travel agents who specialize in either some form of exotic travel or in preparing customized trips tend to have slightly more secure earnings, since there will always be a class of wealthy travelers who seek out these services.
Travel agents can earn high commissions as part of their salary.
But it's safe to say that the internet has definitely cut into a large portion of traditional travel agents' earnings.
For example, in 2006 a survey found that the average travel agent earned just under $30,000/year. The top 10% of agents in the field made more than $46,000/year, while the bottom 10% reported earnings of less than $18,000/year.
That, combined with a growth outlook of just 1% over the next ten years, indicates that working as a travel agent is a stable job, but one that isn't likely to make you fabulously wealthy.
However, one of the reasons that so many people enjoy working as travel agents is that they often get reduced fare trips on cruises or vacation packages that their vendor partners are currently offering so that they can become more familiar with the trips and better able to recommend them to their clients. These lower-priced trips often draw in people who might not otherwise be interested in such a career path. In some instances, there are even agencies who offer yearly trips to travel destinations at no cost to the travel agent so that they can become more familiar with the location.
If you consider yourself to be a highly efficient and well organized person who likes to travel and plan vacations, being a travel agent may be the perfect job for you. Since the average salary isn't likely to fluctuate much in the next few years, you can count on earnings of close to $30,000/year, with the potential to add more in commissions, depending on how good of a sales person you are and how much traffic your travel agency gets. In fact, you may be able to boost your commissions and salary with additional classes in sales and marketing for travel agents.
Finally, if you're someone who works just for the vacation time you get each year, what better job perk could there be than cheap vacations around the world? This bonus is definitely something to consider when you're weighing the pros and cons of the travel agent’s salary.
Strayer University offers two degree levels – a Bachelor’s in Business Administration and a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) – so there’s something for everyone, regardless of your current education level. Learn more about Strayer University | Request free info
If you’re considering a career in the hospitality and tourism management fields, Strayer University is a great place to start. The school offers two degree levels – a Bachelor’s in Business Administration and a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) – so there’s something for everyone, regardless of your current education level.
