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Kayak Tour Guide Jobs (NOW HIRING)

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Kayak Tour Guide information

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$8

$18

$33

How much do kayak tour guide jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 4, 2026, the average hourly pay for kayak tour guide in the United States is $18.81, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $14.42 and $21.15 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Kayak Tour Guide position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Kayak Tour Guide, you need strong paddling skills, water safety knowledge, and a good understanding of local geography and wildlife, often supported by certifications such as CPR, First Aid, and relevant guiding accreditations. Familiarity with kayak equipment, navigation devices, and safety gear is essential for managing tours effectively. Exceptional communication, leadership, and customer service skills help create memorable experiences and ensure guest safety. These abilities are vital for managing group dynamics, adapting to changing conditions, and providing safe, enjoyable tours for all participants.

What is a Kayak Tour Guide job?

A Kayak Tour Guide leads groups on kayaking excursions, ensuring safety while providing information about the area’s wildlife, history, and natural features. They teach paddling techniques, assess weather and water conditions, and respond to emergencies if necessary. Guides must be knowledgeable, personable, and physically fit to navigate various water environments.

What does a typical day look like for a Kayak Tour Guide?

A typical day as a Kayak Tour Guide involves preparing equipment, greeting participants, providing safety briefings, and leading groups on guided excursions that showcase the area's natural beauty. You’ll be responsible for monitoring group safety, sharing insights about local wildlife and landmarks, and assisting guests with various skill levels. Collaboration with other guides and support staff is common to ensure smooth logistics and guest satisfaction. Days can vary depending on weather and group size, so flexibility and strong organizational skills are key to success in this role.

More about Kayak Tour Guide jobs
What cities are hiring for Kayak Tour Guide jobs? Cities with the most Kayak Tour Guide job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Kayak Tour Guide jobs? The most popular types of Kayak Tour Guide jobs are:
What states have the most Kayak Tour Guide jobs? States with the most job openings for Kayak Tour Guide jobs include:
Infographic showing various Kayak Tour Guide job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 21% Full Time, 72% Part Time, and 7% Temporary. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $39,124 per year, or $18.8 per hour.

$29.57/hr

Other

Posted 15 days ago


Job description

Interpretive Rangers develop and present educational programs including guided walks and presentations, and working with audiences in a variety of park settings.
Likely Entry On Duty: July 2026 - January 2027
Applications must be submitted by 11:59 (EST) on the 07/06/2026 to be considered.
For more park(s) information, select "Learn more about this agency" below:Qualifications:All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-07/06/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.
Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. To receive credit for experience, your 2 page resume MUST clearly indicate the nature of the duties and responsibilities for each position, starting and ending dates of employment (month/year), and the resume must reflect full and/or part-time or total number of hours worked (i.e., work 40+ hours a week, rather than indicating full-time). If part-time, the hours must be annotated to be able to pro-rate the amount of qualified specialized experience. Resumes must not exceed two single-sided pages and resumes longer than two pages will not be accepted. You may only submit one resume. Only the document submitted as the "Resume" under the Documents section will be used to determine your qualifications/eligibility and for rating purposes. In the event you submit more than one resume, only the latest submission will be reviewed.
SELECTIVE FACTOR: Incumbents in these positions must be able to swim and self-rescue (re-enter a swamped canoe or kayak without assistance from others or by landing at a dock or beach) while canoeing and kayaking. Candidates who do not meet, and document meeting this requirement in their application, by close of this announcement, will receive no further consideration for these positions.
-AND -
SELECTIVE FACTOR: Incumbents in these positions must be able to paddle canoes and/or kayaks up to and over 5 miles in a single trip and lead visitors on canoe and kayak trips. Candidates who do not meet, and document meeting this requirement in their application, by close of this announcement, will receive no further consideration for these positions.
-AND-
SELECTIVE FACTOR: Incumbents in these positions have a mandatory requirement that applicants must be able to ride a bike on offroad terrain and perform bike maintenance. Candidates who do not meet, and document meeting this requirement in their application, by close of this announcement, will receive no further consideration for these positions.
To qualify for this position at the GS-05 grade level, you must possess one of the following:
A. One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-04 level in the federal service. Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform the duties of this position. Experience may have been in technical, administrative, or scientific work, fish and wildlife management, recreation management, law enforcement, or other park related work. Examples of specialized experience include, but are not limited to: park guide or tour leader; environmental educator or teacher; law enforcement or investigative work; archaeological or historical preservation research work; forestry and/or fire management work in a park, recreation, or conservation area; management, assistant, or program specialist work involving the development and implementation of policy related to protection, conservation, or management of park areas or similar operations; or other similar work.
-OR-
B
. A 4 year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with 24 semester hours of related coursework (one year of full-time undergraduate study is defined as 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours).
-OR-
C
. Equivalent combination of experience and education that, together, equal 100% of the qualification standards listed above when combined.
To qualify for this position at the GS-07 grade level, you must possess one of the following:
A. One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is experience that equips the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform the duties of this position. Examples of specialized experience include, but are not limited to: park guide or tour leader, work in a park, recreation or conservation area, environmental education, history and/or cultural resources education, and natural sciences education. Work will include independent research and presentation.
-OR-
B.
You must possess one full academic year of graduate education related to the occupation (one year of full-time graduate education is defined as 18 semester hours).
-OR-
C.
Equivalent combination of experience and education that, together, equal 100% of the qualification standards listed above when combined.
Note: This position includes money handling preference for optional consideration. Money handling requires a higher background check.
Qualifying experience may be obtained in the private or public sectors. The OPM Qualification Standards Handbook is available for review at: OPM Qualification Standards.
Volunteer Experience: Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
ICTAP/CTAP Statement: Current surplus and current or former displaced Federal individuals who have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) must be well qualified for the position to receive consideration for special priority selection. Well qualified means that the applicant meets the following: OPM qualification standards for the position; all selective placement factors, where applicable; special qualifying conditions that OPM has approved for the position, where applicable; is physically qualified with reasonable accommodation, where appropriate to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry; and is rated by the organization at least at the well qualified level on all competencies.Education:To qualify based on education, you must submit a legible copy of transcripts from an accredited institution with your name, school name, credit hours, course level, major(s), and grade-point average or class ranking. Transcripts do not need to be official, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work.
If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet qualification requirements, you must show that your education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign education programs and that (1) deemed your education equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program, or (2) given full credit for courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.Employment Type: OTHER