Plans and leads small-group expeditions to remote places such as Antarctica, the Arctic, and wilderness regions, managing logistics, safety, and guest experience. BLS does not publish separate figures for travel guides; it counts them within travel guide (SOC 39-7012), whose median pay is $38,120 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- SOC 39-7012
- Personal Care and Service
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Expedition Leader in four numbers
- Median pay
- $38,120a year, or $18.33/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $29KTop 10% $61K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +6.3%Faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+6.3%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +6.3% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 11,90062,200 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202562.2K
- Projected 203566.1K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 62.2K Projected 2035 66.1K - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Less than high school17.7%
- High school45.8%
- Certificate8.8%
- Some college21.3%
- Associate's0.8%
- Bachelor's5.7%
Highest education held by travel guides Segment Value Less than high school 17.7% High school 45.8% Certificate 8.8% Some college 21.3% Associate's 0.8% Bachelor's 5.7%
Also advertised as: Expedition Guide, Polar Expedition Leader, Expedition Staff, Adventure Travel Leader, Field Expedition Guide.
Pay
How much do Travel Guides make?
Every expedition leader in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$38,120
Middle half earn $32,910 to $47,700
- 10th
- $28,520
- 25th
- $32,910
- 75th
- $47,700
- 90th
- $60,930
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $28,520 |
| 25th | $32,910 |
| Median | $38,120 |
| 75th | $47,700 |
| 90th | $60,930 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $38,120
- Median hourly wage
- $18.33/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $43,720
- People employed
- 53,500
Versus all US occupations
At $38,120, Travel Guides earn 25% below the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $12,860 a year.
Versus personal care and service occupations
The median is typical for the Personal Care and Service group, where the middle occupation pays $38,120.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $60,930 or more while the bottom 10% earn $28,520, a gap of 2.1×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 5% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
U.S. Virgin Islands posts the highest raw median ($102,020), but once local prices are taken into account Wyoming leads at $50,728 in national-average dollars.
Pay by state
Which states pay Travel Guides the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1U.S. Virgin Islands | $102,020 | N/A | 50 |
| 2Washington | $54,160 | $50,611 | 1,420 |
| 3District of Columbia | $49,210 | $44,777 | 380 |
| 4Wyoming | $47,020 | $50,728 | 560 |
| 5California | $46,000 | $41,546 | 6,900 |
| 6Hawaii | $45,940 | $41,782 | 1,370 |
| 7Vermont | $45,920 | $46,877 | 140 |
| 8Maine | $44,940 | $46,306 | 270 |
| 9New York | $44,450 | $41,188 | 2,870 |
| 10Alaska | $44,210 | $43,191 | 1,660 |
Job outlook
Is Expedition Leader a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Faster than average. +6.3% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Travel Guides | +6.3% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Faster than average
BLS projects employment of Travel Guides to change 6.3% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 3,900 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 11,900 openings are projected each year, 19.1% of the 62,200 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become an Expedition Leader
There is no single degree path, but many expedition staff have backgrounds in biology, geology, history, or outdoor leadership, and some hold graduate degrees. Wilderness First Responder certification is common, and boat handling skills, including Zodiac driving, are valued for ship-based work.
People usually start as expedition guides or naturalists for adventure travel companies or expedition cruise lines, then move up to assistant and expedition leader roles. Polar staff complete the IAATO field staff assessment, and the Adventure Travel Trade Association offers professional development for guides and trip leaders.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
High school diploma or equivalent
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Little or no preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as travel guides.
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)45.8%
- Some College Courses21.3%
- Less than a High School Diploma17.7%
- Post-Secondary Certificate8.8%
- Bachelor's Degree5.7%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 45.8% |
| Some College Courses | 21.3% |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 17.7% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 8.8% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 5.7% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does an Expedition Leader do?
Expedition leaders run trips to places where ordinary travel does not go. On expedition cruise ships they lead the team of naturalists and guides, plan daily landings by Zodiac boat, watch weather and ice conditions, and make sure landings follow the rules of the regions they visit, such as the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) guidelines.
On land-based expeditions they plan routes, permits, food, and transport, hire local staff, and manage medical and evacuation plans. Throughout the trip they brief guests, handle problems, and teach about wildlife, history, and the environment.
Day-to-day tasks
- Plan daily landings, routes, and activities based on conditions
- Lead and supervise a team of guides and naturalists
- Monitor weather, sea, and ice conditions
- Enforce environmental and wildlife guidelines
- Brief guests on safety and the day's plan
- Manage emergencies and evacuation planning
- Give talks on wildlife, history, and the environment
Typical tasks, researched by NueCareer from the sources below.
Working conditions and hours
Expedition leaders work in remote and often harsh environments, including polar cold, high seas, and wilderness, for weeks at a time. Contracts usually run for a season with long stretches away from home. Days are long, and leaders are responsible for safety around the clock.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayDealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantDealing with customers or the public is very important.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Speaking4.0
- Active Listening3.9
- Reading Comprehension3.3
- Writing3.1
- Critical Thinking3.1
- Active Learning3.1
- Monitoring3.0
- Learning Strategies2.8
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Speaking | 4.0 |
| Active Listening | 3.9 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.3 |
| Writing | 3.1 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.1 |
| Active Learning | 3.1 |
| Monitoring | 3.0 |
| Learning Strategies | 2.8 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Service Orientation4.1
- Social Perceptiveness3.9
- Coordination3.8
- Persuasion3.8
- Time Management3.3
- Negotiation3.1
- Complex Problem Solving3.1
- Judgment and Decision Making3.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Service Orientation | 4.1 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.9 |
| Coordination | 3.8 |
| Persuasion | 3.8 |
| Time Management | 3.3 |
| Negotiation | 3.1 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.1 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Business intelligence and data analysis software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Web page creation and editing software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Accounting software
- Analytical or scientific software
- Customer relationship management CRM software
- Internet browser software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits an Expedition Leader?
NueCareer estimate (Holland code ESR) built on O*NET's Travel Guide profile, scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Expedition Leader |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 3 |
| Investigative | 2 |
| Artistic | 2 |
| Social | 5 |
| Enterprising | 5 |
| Conventional | 4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around leading, persuading, selling and making decisions, combined with teaching, helping and working directly with other people.
- Enterprising5.0
- Social5.0
- Conventional4.3
- Realistic3.2
- Artistic2.5
- Investigative2.3
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Expedition Leader
O*NET related occupations
- Personal Care and Service
- Personal Care and Service
- Sales and Related
- Office and Administrative Support
Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agent and Travel Clerk
$44,390median a year
Most earn $32K to $78K
+2.5%High school - Personal Care and Service
- Personal Care and Service
Usher, Lobby Attendant, and Ticket Taker
$32,910median a year
Most earn $24K to $42K
+0.9%No formal credential
More personal care and service careers
Median annual pay, with travel guides highlighted
- Exercise Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor$47,160
- Concierge$38,950
- Tour Guide and Escort$38,120
- Expedition Leader$38,120
- Hairstylist$35,790
- Manicurist and Pedicurist$35,760
- Nanny$34,980
- Childcare Worker$34,980
- Gambling Dealer$34,320
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Exercise Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor | $47,160 |
| Concierge | $38,950 |
| Tour Guide and Escort | $38,120 |
| Expedition Leader | $38,120 |
| Hairstylist | $35,790 |
| Manicurist and Pedicurist | $35,760 |
| Nanny | $34,980 |
| Childcare Worker | $34,980 |
| Gambling Dealer | $34,320 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Expedition Leader appears on
Questions
Expedition Leader: frequently asked questions
How much do Travel Guides make?
BLS does not publish a separate wage for travel guides. It counts them within travel guide, whose median pay is $38,120 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of that occupation earn between $32,910 and $47,700, and the top 10% earn $60,930 or more.
Do you need a degree to become an Expedition Leader?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Travel Guides. BLS also lists moderate-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 45.8% hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged).
Is Expedition Leader a growing career?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 6.3% over 2025–2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 11,900 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does an Expedition Leader do?
Expedition leaders run trips to places where ordinary travel does not go. A typical task: plan daily landings, routes, and activities based on conditions. Employers most often ask for Business intelligence and data analysis software, Data base user interface and query software, Electronic mail software.
Which states pay Travel Guides the most?
The highest state medians for Travel Guides are U.S. Virgin Islands ($102,020), Washington ($54,160), District of Columbia ($49,210) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, Wyoming moves to the top at $50,728.
What personality type suits an Expedition Leader?
O*NET scores Travel Guides highest on the Enterprising, Social and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes leading, persuading, selling and making decisions with teaching, helping and working directly with other people. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ESFJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.