Tour Guides and Escorts

What the job really is

Escort individuals or groups on sightseeing tours or through places of interest, such as industrial establishments, public buildings, and art galleries.

At a glance

• Sector: Personal Care & Service
• O*NET-SOC code: 39-7011
• O*NET job zone: 3 — medium preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• Describe tour points of interest to group members, and respond to questions.
• Escort individuals or groups on cruises, sightseeing tours, or through places of interest, such as industrial establishments, public buildings, or art galleries.
• Monitor visitors' activities to ensure compliance with establishment or tour regulations and safety practices.
• Conduct educational activities for school children.
• Research various topics, including site history, environmental conditions, and clients' skills and abilities to plan appropriate expeditions, instruction, and commentary.
• Provide directions and other pertinent information to visitors.
• Select travel routes and sites to be visited based on knowledge of specific areas.
• Provide for physical safety of groups, performing such activities as providing first aid or directing emergency evacuations.
• Assemble and check the required supplies and equipment prior to departure.
• Greet and register visitors, and issue any required identification badges or safety devices.
• Distribute brochures, show audiovisual presentations, and explain establishment processes and operations at tour sites.
• Drive motor vehicles to transport visitors to establishments and tour site locations.

Tools and technology

Adobe Photoshop, Apple Safari, Facebook, Microsoft Access, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Word, Zoom, ActiveMap Tour Guide software, Cell phones

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Travel Guides
• Park Naturalists
• Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers
• Travel Agents
• Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks
• Concierges
• Historians
• Curators

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 3 (medium preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

Browse the verified job sources directory, or explore more occupations.

Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Tour Guides and Escorts — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.