Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks
SOC code 43-4181 · O*NET-SOC 43-4181.00 · Little to some preparation needed · Office and administration
Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$44,390
a year
Hourly
$21.34
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$49,630
$23.86 per hour
Middle 50%
$37,850 – $59,640
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$32,140 – $78,150
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
118,710
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $32,140
- $15.45/hr
- 25th percentile
- $37,850
- $18.20/hr
- Median percentile
- $44,390
- $21.34/hr
- 75th percentile
- $59,640
- $28.68/hr
- 90th percentile
- $78,150
- $37.57/hr
What do reservation and transportation ticket agents and travel clerks do?
Make and confirm reservations for transportation or lodging, or sell transportation tickets. May check baggage and direct passengers to designated concourse, pier, or track; deliver tickets and contact individuals and groups to inform them of package tours; or provide tourists with travel or transportation information.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- Make and confirm reservations for transportation and accommodations, using telephones, faxes, mail, and computers.
- Promote particular destinations, tour packages, and other travel services.
- Confer with customers to determine their service requirements and travel preferences.
- Prepare customer invoices and accept payment.
- Keep information facilities clean during operation.
- Open or close information facilities.
- Examine passenger documentation to determine destinations and to assign boarding passes.
- Answer inquiries regarding information, such as schedules, accommodations, procedures, or policies.
How to qualify for this work
Most people in this role hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged) — 75% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.
Preparation level: zone 2 — Little to some preparation needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
Education reported by people doing this job
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)75%
- Some College Courses12%
- Less than a High School Diploma9%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree2%
Common questions
How much does a reservation and transportation ticket agents and travel clerks earn?
The national median is $44,390 a year. The full range runs from $32,140 at the 10th percentile to $78,150 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a reservation and transportation ticket agents and travel clerks without a degree?
Yes — this occupation sits in preparation zone 2, meaning the typical entry route is usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not. A four-year degree is not the standard requirement, though licensing or certification may still apply.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Active Listening4.0/5
- Speaking4.0/5
- Reading Comprehension3.5/5
- Critical Thinking3.4/5
- Writing3.1/5
Knowledge areas
- Customer and Personal Service4.8/5
- English Language3.8/5
- Computers and Electronics3.8/5
- Public Safety and Security3.7/5
- Transportation3.5/5
- Geography3.4/5
- Psychology3.1/5
- Foreign Language2.9/5
Transferable strengths: Service Orientation, Social Perceptiveness, Persuasion, Coordination, Judgment and Decision Making.