SOC 39-7010 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Tour and Travel Guides — Kentucky
Kentucky · 3 metro areas compared
At $36,070, median pay for Tour and Travel Guides in Kentucky tracks the national median of $38,120 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $36,070, median pay for Tour and Travel Guides in Kentucky tracks the national median of $38,120 closely. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $32,910 and $41,600. The lowest tenth earn under $28,090, while the highest tenth earn more than $47,690.
Employment stands at 1,010, or 0.5 jobs per thousand held locally. Among the 50 states with published data for this occupation, Kentucky ranks 28th by median wage. Bowling Green leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $40,330. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 622nd of 699 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $28,090 | −26.3% |
| 25th | $32,910 | −13.7% |
| Median (50th) | $36,070 | −5.4% |
| 75th | $41,600 | +9.1% |
| 90th | $47,690 | +25.1% |
| Mean | $37,680 | −1.2% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Kentucky
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bowling Green | $40,330 | 100 | |
| 2 | Louisville/Jefferson County | $37,800 | 460 | |
| 3 | Lexington | $35,160 | 80 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Kentucky run 9.8% below the national average, so the median of $36,070 goes as far as $39,989 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 4.9% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$36,070as reported by BLSLocal price level
90.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$39,989US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $36,070 a year, 5.4% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $28,090 to $47,690 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,010 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 28th of 50 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Bowling Green, at $40,330.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Tour and Travel Guides in Kentucky?
The median annual wage is $36,070, or $17.34 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $38,120, so pay in Kentucky is 5.4% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Kentucky earns more than $47,690 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $28,090 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Bowling Green, at $40,330 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 1,010 jobs in this occupation in Kentucky. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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