Can you make good money as a travel agent?
How much money do travel agents make? This comes down to certain factors such as the type of clients, level of expertise and the ability to offer specialized services. According to Indeed, the average salary of a travel agent in the US is $49,608 but there are many making up to six-figure incomes.
Commissions
Travel agents commissions used to be the bulk of their income but that has shifted. Most travel agents who earn commission booking tickets on airlines earn 5% on domestic flights and 10-20% on international flights. The commission rates are similar for booking hotels.
Other agents sell travel to family and friends part time and also maintain a full time career in another industry. So, while the numbers seem depressed, be assured that there are a good number of home based travel agents making excellent incomes from their business.
The travel agent makes the booking and is credited with the booking via their accreditation number. The commission is paid to the travel agent. For most trips, the vendor pays a commission to the travel agent after the client has traveled.
So, travel advisors, this is a six-figure business if you are willing to work hard and invest the time into building your presence in the travel industry. Learn, brand yourself and network, and before you know it, you will be there.
Job Outlook
Employment of travel agents is projected to grow 20 percent from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations.
Formal Training Needed to Become a Travel Agent
Certificates of tourism can be very helpful, but so can previous training in marketing, hospitality, or even event planning. Ultimately, your knowledge of destinations, sales, itinerary planning, and booking software will be crucial for your career as a travel agent.
Is Being a Travel Agent Hard? There is a lot to learn at first, but once you go through the training process things become a lot easier over time. One of the greatest rewards is bringing joy to people by helping them create lifelong memories via travel. Plus, you have the flexibility to create your own schedule.
If you're traveling internationally — especially to a country you've never visited — a travel agent can be a useful resource in helping you plan your trip. They can manage all of your booking needs, which can be easier than juggling a long itinerary that includes flights, hotels and excursions on your own.
A travel agent's salary can range from around $24,000 to $60,000 a year. That's not including the bonuses and commissions that many agents earn. So in that, combined with the fact that you can work in the travel industry and from wherever you'd like, it can be quite worth it.
Can I be a travel agent as a side hustle?
If you have experience in the travel industry, or are prepared to do a little bit of training, then working from home as a travel agent could be your next side hustle idea!