Hiring Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks

What do reservation and transportation ticket agents and travel clerks do?

• 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.

Core tasks, O*NET OnLine, 43-4181.00.

What does it take to become one?

These occupations usually require a high school diploma.

Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.

Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

O*NET Job Zone 2, SVP (4.0 to < 6.0). O*NET OnLine.

Employers commonly list experience with Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Access, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Word for this role.

What do reservation and transportation ticket agents and travel clerks get paid?

BLS OEWS, May 2025 publishes a wage for reservation and transportation ticket agents and travel clerks in 69 of the metro areas we publish data for. The median ranges from $29,870 to $72,880 a year depending on the metro, with a midpoint of $42,750. This is what employers pay, place of work, not a single national figure and not what any one person takes home.

BLS OEWS, BLS OEWS, May 2025, SOC 43-4181.

What does hiring one cost?

The same as any role: tier, not location or salary, sets the fee. Across all six tiers the published range is $6,240 to $54,340 per search. For scale, the highest median any metro we publish data for pays reservation and transportation ticket agents and travel clerks is $72,880 a year, place of work (BLS OEWS, May 2025). A contingency firm hiring at that level would bill roughly $14,576 to $21,864 on the first year salary alone, 20 to 30%.

Frequently asked

How fast can a reservation and transportation ticket agent search fill?

Typically 23 to 35 days, and typically 2 to 3x faster than a contingency search, per our recruiting partner's published figures. Both are typical rather than guaranteed.

What if the hire does not work out?

A 45-day replacement guarantee, at 50% off a repeat search for the same role.