We surveyed 3,669 tour guides to better understand the work environment and required skills of a typical tour guide. Here are the results.

How much intelligence is required as a tour guide?

Low

High

Working as a tour guide typically doesn’t require the use of high levels of intelligence in daily tasks.

Can I learn to become a tour guide?

Intrinsic Talent

Acquired Talent

A career as a tour guide typically depends predominantly on qualities you can gain through experience, with a small aspect of skills you are born with.

Is it easy to get a job as a tour guide?

Easy

Hard

It’s typically difficult to find a job as a tour guide. If you’re curious about the numbers, check out the job market for tour guides.

Info

Do tour guides work full-time or part-time?

29% of tour guides work in full-time roles while 71% work part-time.

Is being a tour guide stressful?

Low

High

Tour guides tend not to find their jobs stressful, which likely contributes positively to career satisfaction.

Is being organized important as a tour guide?

Low

High

Organization is not considered a particuarly important part of being a tour guide.

How competitive is the workplace for tour guides?

Low

High

Competition at work is not common for tour guides.

Does being a tour guide require frequent time pressure to complete tasks?

Low

High

Time pressure tends not to be a major contributor of stress for tour guides.

Are tour guides allowed to express themselves creatively?

Low

High

Creativity is intrinsic to being a tour guide, and a highly valuable part of the career.

Do tour guides have control over the direction of their work?

Low

High

Tour guides tend to have a set and inflexible work schedule that they are unable to deviate from too much.

Is being a tour guide physically demanding?

Low

High

Being a tour guide may occasionally require demanding physical activity, which may make it not a suitable career choice for everyone.

Are tour guides exposed to a wide variety of work?

Low

High

While sometimes repetitive, tour guides tend to have opportunities for variety in their work.

Does being a tour guide require attention to detail?

Low

High

Attention to detail isn't necessarily required to be successful as a tour guide.

Does being a good tour guide require compassion and empathy?

Low

High

Being compassionate and empathetic is considered helpful to those looking to pursue careers as tour guides.