We surveyed 4,037 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.
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 requires significant physical work, and is not a career for those unable to perform continuous and/or strenuous physical activity.
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.