Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks: Job Description
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.
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What Do Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks Do?
The day-to-day responsibilities of reservation and transportation ticket agents and travel clerks include:
- Examine passenger documentation to determine destinations and to assign boarding passes.
- Trace lost, delayed, or misdirected baggage for customers.
- Check baggage and cargo and direct passengers to designated locations for loading.
- Provide boarding or disembarking assistance to passengers needing special assistance.
- Confer with customers to determine their service requirements and travel preferences.
- Announce arrival and departure information, using public address systems.
- Determine whether space is available on travel dates requested by customers, assigning requested spaces when available.
- Assemble and issue required documentation, such as tickets, travel insurance policies, or itineraries.
Skills and Knowledge
Successful reservation and transportation ticket agents and travel clerks draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
These are the skills most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Other Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks Job Titles
Common job titles for this role include:
- Aircraft Agent
- Aircraft Cabin Agent
- Airline Agent
- Airline Reservation Agent
- Airline Reservationist
- Airline Station Agent
- Airline Ticket Agent
- Airport Agent
Job Outlook
The U.S. employs around 1,336,756 reservation and transportation ticket agents and travel clerks working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +8.5% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $52,054 |
| Hourly median | $25.03 |
| 10th percentile | $35,774 |
| 25th percentile | $43,914 |
| 75th percentile | $60,194 |
| 90th percentile | $68,334 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| North Carolina | $52,740 |
| New Mexico | $50,590 |
| Washington | $47,110 |
| Texas | $46,550 |
| California | $46,540 |
| Virginia | $46,440 |
| Colorado | $46,420 |
| Idaho | $45,780 |
| Indiana | $45,580 |
| Illinois | $45,000 |
| Michigan | $44,570 |
| Oklahoma | $43,900 |
| New Hampshire | $43,720 |
| Hawaii | $42,430 |
| Massachusetts | $41,970 |
| Ohio | $41,940 |
| Rhode Island | $41,900 |
| Delaware | $41,770 |
| Alaska | $41,550 |
| New York | $41,460 |
| Georgia | $41,430 |
| Arizona | $41,320 |
| Minnesota | $40,850 |
| Connecticut | $40,540 |
| Vermont | $39,660 |
| Maine | $39,590 |
| Kentucky | $39,490 |
| Maryland | $39,420 |
| Puerto Rico | $39,310 |
| Nevada | $38,970 |
| Oregon | $38,420 |
| Missouri | $38,100 |
| Florida | $37,830 |
| South Carolina | $37,630 |
| Wisconsin | $37,610 |
| Montana | $37,610 |
| Utah | $37,540 |
| Tennessee | $37,380 |
| New Jersey | $37,360 |
| Pennsylvania | $37,190 |
| Alabama | $36,460 |
| Louisiana | $36,070 |
| South Dakota | $35,910 |
| Arkansas | $35,500 |
| Nebraska | $35,490 |
| Kansas | $35,470 |
| Iowa | $34,640 |
| West Virginia | $34,590 |
| North Dakota | $33,840 |
| Mississippi | $33,530 |
| Virgin Islands | $27,800 |
Where Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks Earn the Most
Pay for reservation and transportation ticket agents and travel clerks vary by region. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest | $45,865 | 19.9% | 1.65 |
| Far Western US | $44,810 | 18.8% | 1.37 |
| Great Lakes | $44,103 | 8.3% | 0.95 |
| Rocky Mountains | $41,621 | 5.9% | 1.85 |
| New England | $41,369 | 2.0% | 0.42 |
| Southeast | $40,742 | 29.5% | 1.70 |
| Middle Atlantic | $38,981 | 10.4% | 0.73 |
| Plains States | $38,314 | 4.8% | 0.87 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | NC | $54,760 | 2,110 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | NC | $52,740 | 950 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | TX | $51,320 | 1,800 |
| Boulder, CO | CO | $49,650 | 60 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $48,610 | 2,800 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | OH | $48,590 | |
| Columbia, SC | SC | $48,020 | 60 |
| Boise City, ID | ID | $48,000 | 180 |
Which Industries Hire Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks
Most reservation and transportation ticket agents and travel clerks are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Transportation and Warehousing | 97,650 | $42,500 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 19,600 | $40,100 |
| Accommodation and Food Services | 4,670 | $40,740 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 2,400 | $36,670 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 1,710 | $38,270 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 400 | $40,000 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 120 | $55,750 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 70 | $31,290 |
Below are examples of industries where reservation and transportation ticket agents and travel clerks work:
Tools and Technology
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
Work Environment
The work environment for reservation and transportation ticket agents and travel clerks is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Contact With Others
- Importance of Repeating Same Tasks
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Deal With External Customers or the Public in General
How to Become Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks
Typical reservation and transportation ticket agents and travel clerks positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Transportation Security Screeners (Supplemental)
- Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers (Supplemental)
- Baggage Porters and Bellhops (Primary-Short)
- Concierges (Supplemental)
- Travel Guides (Primary-Long)
- Counter and Rental Clerks (Primary-Short)
- Travel Agents (Primary-Short)
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel (Supplemental)
About the Data
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 43-4181.00 (Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks).
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