That’s the one million dollar question, right?
Oh, relax, I’m not saying you’re going to make a million dollars per year as a travel agent. Now that would be nice, huh? Everyone who is trying to start a new career always looks at the ups and downs, and also at a very important subject: Am I able to earn enough to at least travel to a nice place once a year, help my family, and buy a PS5?
The answer is…
It depends. Boo! Yes, boring answer, I know. The thing is, it’s really hard to pinpoint exactly how much a travel agent makes per year. We’re going to give you some estimates and the average salary of a travel agent, but know that many variables come into play. Is this your first year? How is your client base? Do you work mainly with a single travel supplier or several of them? Are you a full-time travel agent or not? Phew, that’s a lot to take into account!
The average travel agent makes between $50,000 and $60,000 per year. That’s usually what a travel agent earns in their first or second year, when they often have a second job while building their client base. Full-time travel agents from their second year on average about $70,000 per year. Again, many variables come into play.
Some people are even travel agents just for fun. One example is someone who loves going to Disney World and decides to become a part-time travel agent to share Disney tips, help with bookings, and see the smile on a family’s face when they’re getting ready to meet Mickey Mouse. In this case, if you focus on a particular travel supplier and work part-time, it’s common to earn around $30,000 a year.
There are also travel agents who have been in the business for a long time, work full-time with various travel suppliers, or are just lucky. In these cases, a travel agent can make six figures. We’ve come across a handful of travel agents who make between $100,000 and $300,000 per year. Again, that’s not the norm - and that’s probably why I call these the “Lionel Messis” of the travel agency world.
You know what definitely helps you build a solid client base and gives you the tools to go after the best travel suppliers in the world? An awesome travel agency! And guess who’s an awesome travel agency? Yep, VacationLab. We have hundreds of free guides not only for travel agents, but also related to travel suppliers, from Royal Caribbean to Sandals Resorts and Disney World.
Showing expertise, staying curious, and having a good travel agency as your umbrella is a great step toward building your client base. And soon enough, you can become a Lionel Messi too.
Hi! My name is Luiz Alberto. I'm a huge fan of amusement parks, and I've been traveling to Orlando almost every year since 2001. EPCOT and Islands of Adventure are my favorite parks. And yes, the Tower of Terror is the best ride at Hollywood Studios and one of the best at Disney.
