SOC 39-7010 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Tour and Travel Guides — San Jose
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA · 10 metro areas compared
In San Jose, CA the median wage for Tour and Travel Guides reaches $59,330 a year.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In San Jose, CA the median wage for Tour and Travel Guides reaches $59,330 a year. That is 55.6% more than the national median of $38,120. Pay ranges from under $47,870 at the tenth percentile to more than $68,110 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $59,330 to $59,330.
Employment stands at 640, or 0.6 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, San Luis Obispo records the highest median at $54,550. Of the 574 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 414th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $47,870 | +25.6% |
| 25th | $59,330 | +55.6% |
| Median (50th) | $59,330 | +55.6% |
| 75th | $59,330 | +55.6% |
| 90th | $68,110 | +78.7% |
| Mean | $60,710 | +59.3% |
Other metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Luis Obispo | $54,550 | 120 | |
| 2 | San Francisco | $52,480 | 970 | |
| 3 | Sacramento | $47,740 | 280 | |
| 4 | Oxnard | $47,170 | 170 | |
| 5 | Salinas | $46,130 | 120 | |
| 6 | Santa Rosa | $45,620 | 110 | |
| 7 | Santa Cruz | $44,270 | 50 | |
| 8 | Santa Maria | $43,670 | 120 | |
| 9 | Napa | $43,280 | 140 | |
| 10 | Los Angeles | $42,870 | 2,360 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in San Jose run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $59,330 buys what $53,595 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 40.6% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$59,330as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$53,595US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $59,330 a year, 55.6% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $47,870 to $68,110 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 640 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is San Luis Obispo, at $54,550.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Tour and Travel Guides in San Jose, CA?
The median annual wage is $59,330, or $28.53 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 San Jose, CA is 55.6% higher. 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 San Jose, CA earns more than $68,110 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $47,870 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 San Luis Obispo, at $54,550 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 640 jobs in this occupation in San Jose, CA. 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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