Tour and Travel Guides Salary in Kentucky (2026)

Official state-level BLS pay data for Tour and Travel Guides in Kentucky, plus how it compares with the rest of the country.

Official BLS state wage data · Unknown vintage
Kentucky Median
$36,070
per year
Hourly Rate
$17.34
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-5% vs US median
US median $38,120
State Rank
#28 of 50
1,010 employed here

How much do Tour and Travel Guides make in Kentucky?

Tour and Travel Guides in Kentucky take home a median of $36,070 annually — roughly $17.34 an hour — which runs 5% below the national median of $38,120.

Within Kentucky, entry-level pay starts around $28,090 while the top 10% make $47,690 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $32,910 and $41,600 a year.

Tour and Travel Guides salary range in Kentucky

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$28,090$13.50
25th percentile (early career)$32,910$15.82
50th percentile (median)$36,070$17.34
75th percentile (experienced)$41,600$20.00
90th percentile (top earners)$47,690$22.93

How Kentucky compares

Kentucky ranks 28th out of 50 states and territories for Tour and Travel Guides pay. The top 5 best-paying states:

RankStateMedian salary
1Washington$54,160
2District of Columbia$49,210
3Wyoming$47,020
4California$46,000
5Hawaii$45,940

Working as Tour and Travel Guides in Kentucky

Nationally, about 54,000 people work as Tour and Travel Guides in the United States. A high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job.

Considering a move? Compare Kentucky pay ($36,070) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.

Frequently asked questions

How much do Tour and Travel Guides make in Kentucky?
The median Tour and Travel Guides salary in Kentucky is $36,070 per year, or about $17.34 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $28,090 at the entry level to $47,690 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Kentucky pay compare to the national average?
Kentucky pays Tour and Travel Guides about 5% less than the national median of $38,120. Kentucky ranks 28th out of 50 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Kentucky a good state for Tour and Travel Guides?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $36,070 a year. About 1,010 Tour and Travel Guides are employed in Kentucky. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Kentucky?
The highest-paying occupations in Kentucky include Cardiologist ($558,180), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($350,950), Anesthesiologist ($347,960), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.

← See the national Tour and Travel Guides salary report

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.