Money · 1 of 5
What guides make
Median
$38,120
First season
$28,520
Lead guide or owner
$60,930
The national median is $38,120 a year, and the bottom tenth start near $28,520. These figures come from the survey group called tour guides and escorts, which also counts museum docents and bus tour guides, so it is broader than adventure guiding. Most guiding is seasonal, so a full year of it is rare.