The average salary for a tour guide in Illinois is around $36,780 per year.
Avg Salary
Tour guides earn an average yearly salary of $36,780.
Wages typically start from $31,200 and go up to $45,930.
47% below national average Updated in 2025
Tour guide earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level tour guide earnings begin at:
$22.08 per hour
$45,930 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level tour guide earnings begin at:
$19.33 per hour
$40,210 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level tour guide earnings begin at:
$17.68 per hour
$36,780 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level tour guide earnings begin at:
$15.94 per hour
$33,160 per year
10th percentile
Starting level tour guide earnings begin at:
$15.00 per hour
$31,200 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Tour guide salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $54,160 |
| District of Columbia | $49,210 |
| Wyoming | $47,020 |
| California | $46,000 |
| Hawaii | $45,940 |
| Vermont | $45,920 |
| Maine | $44,940 |
| New York | $44,450 |
| Alaska | $44,210 |
| Kansas | $43,700 |
| Colorado | $42,840 |
| Florida | $41,600 |
| New Hampshire | $41,600 |
| Maryland | $40,310 |
| Georgia | $40,190 |
| Montana | $40,100 |
| Minnesota | $39,650 |
| Nevada | $39,360 |
| Oregon | $39,260 |
| Utah | $38,540 |
| Rhode Island | $38,310 |
| Idaho | $37,960 |
| Massachusetts | $37,840 |
| Arizona | $37,560 |
| New Mexico | $37,080 |
| Illinois | $36,780 |
| New Jersey | $36,640 |
| Kentucky | $36,070 |
| North Dakota | $35,360 |
| South Carolina | $35,190 |
| South Dakota | $35,100 |
| Connecticut | $35,090 |
| Michigan | $35,090 |
| Arkansas | $34,290 |
| Tennessee | $33,760 |
| Delaware | $33,210 |
| Texas | $33,080 |
| Pennsylvania | $32,910 |
| Ohio | $32,800 |
| North Carolina | $32,570 |
| Oklahoma | $32,150 |
| Louisiana | $32,060 |
| Missouri | $31,980 |
| Alabama | $31,700 |
| Nebraska | $31,580 |
| Indiana | $31,030 |
| Wisconsin | $30,160 |
| West Virginia | $28,570 |
| Mississippi | $27,460 |
| Virginia | $23,660 |
| Virgin Islands, U.S. | $23,620 |
| Iowa | $22,490 |
| Guam | $19,190 |
| Puerto Rico | $18,490 |
How do tour guide salaries compare to similar careers?
Tour guides earn about the same as related careers in Illinois. On average, they make less than nail technicians but more than lifeguards.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Nail technician salary | $37K |
| Vehicle cleaner salary | $36K |
| Hairdresser salary | $34K |
| Receptionist salary | $37K |
| Retail salesperson salary | $35K |
| Tour guide salary | $37K |
| Taxi driver salary | $37K |
| Recreation worker salary | $35K |
| Maitre d' salary | $31K |
| Lifeguard salary | $34K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)