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Professional Tour Guide Jobs in Vermont (NOW HIRING)

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Professional Tour Guide information

See Vermont salary details

$9

$19

$35

How much do professional tour guide jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 18, 2026, the average hourly pay for professional tour guide in Vermont is $19.50, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $14.47 and $23.65 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a professional tour guide?

Professional tour guides are individuals trained to lead groups or individuals on tours, providing educational and entertaining commentary about the places being visited. They possess in-depth knowledge of local history, culture, landmarks, and attractions, and tailor their presentations to the interests of their audience. Tour guides are skilled communicators, often fluent in multiple languages, and are responsible for ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience for all participants.

What does a professional tour guide do?

As a professional tour guide, you provide education, historical detail, and cultural insight to clients as you travel along a predetermined route. In this role, you may explain details about each site, answer questions, and help ensure the safety of all clients. Fulfilling the responsibilities and duties of a professional tour guide sometimes involves operating vehicles, which can include buses, planes, boats, trains, or any other form of group transportation. This job often requires speaking throughout the day and occasionally requires bilingualism. Most professional tour guides work with established tour companies or independent commercial entities like art galleries or museums. Regardless of the form each tour takes, all professional tour guide jobs require memorizing significant amounts of information about the history of the area and any salient point related to the area or subject the tour covers.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a professional tour guide, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Professional Tour Guide, you need in-depth local knowledge, strong storytelling abilities, and often a relevant certification or license, depending on the region. Familiarity with booking software, audio equipment, and foreign language proficiency are commonly required technical tools and assets. Exceptional interpersonal skills, adaptability, and the ability to engage diverse groups help guides stand out. These competencies ensure memorable, safe, and informative experiences for clients, leading to customer satisfaction and repeat business.

What are some common challenges faced by professional tour guides, and how can they be managed effectively?

Professional Tour Guides often encounter challenges such as managing diverse groups, handling unexpected changes in itineraries, and addressing varied guest expectations. To manage these effectively, guides should develop strong communication and problem-solving skills, remain adaptable, and stay well-informed about their tour locations. Additionally, building rapport with guests and anticipating logistical issues can help ensure tours run smoothly, leading to positive experiences for both guests and guides.

What is the difference between Professional Tour Guide vs Tour Escort?

AspectProfessional Tour GuideTour Escort
CredentialsMay require certification or licensing, especially for specialized toursTypically no formal certification required
Work EnvironmentLeading groups, providing historical or cultural information, often outdoors or in museumsAssisting with logistics, ensuring group safety, often in transportation or event settings
Employer & IndustryTour companies, travel agencies, museumsTravel agencies, transportation companies, event organizers

While both roles involve working with groups of travelers, a Professional Tour Guide primarily provides educational and interpretive services during tours, whereas a Tour Escort focuses on logistical support and group management. Understanding these differences helps travelers choose the right service for their needs.

Can you make a career out of being a professional tour guide?

A career as a professional tour guide is possible and often involves working for tour companies, museums, or independently. Success depends on strong communication skills, local knowledge, certifications, and the ability to adapt to different audiences; income can vary based on experience, location, and the type of tours offered.

How much money can you make as a professional tour guide?

Professional tour guides typically earn between $20,000 and $50,000 annually, with earnings varying based on experience, location, and the type of tours they lead. Many guides supplement income through tips and may work part-time or seasonally, especially in tourist-heavy areas.
More about Professional Tour Guide jobs

What are the most commonly searched types of Tour Guide jobs in Vermont?

The most popular types of Tour Guide jobs in Vermont are:

Professional Tour Guide jobs near you
Infographic showing various Professional Tour Guide job openings in Vermont as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 76% Full Time, 19% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 12% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $40,558 per year, or $19.5 per hour.

Seasonal Burton Guide Basecamp Team

Burton Snowboards

Burlington, VT • On-site

$20/hr

Temporary

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement

Re-posted 11 days ago

Job description

At Burton, we are a purpose-led brand rooted in snowboarding and the outdoors. We fight for the future of our people, planet, and sport. We aim to maximize our positive social impact and minimize our negative environmental impact while delivering high-quality performance products.
As a global leader in snowboarding, we're committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion for the long-term health of our company, sport, and community. Through these efforts, we aim to make snowboarding and the outdoors accessible to all.
The Breakdown:
Burton is looking for individuals who are champions of platinum customer experience to join the eCommerce Customer Service team as Burton Basecamp Guides (a.k.a. customer service representatives). The Burton Guides are a key component in supporting riders and outdoor enthusiasts of all ages, ability levels and backgrounds. Are you organized? Do you enjoy the challenge of a fast pace? Are you technically inclined with a knack for solving problems? Are you passionate about the outdoor community and the gear required to get out there? Then you'll feel right at home on our team of fun-seekers and shredders! This is a full-time, seasonal, hourly position. You'll be working with and developing alongside a tremendously driven group of people.
Burton's fun benefits include discounted season pass (your choice), paid company ride days, generous product discounts, free demo equipment, free lessons, special company events, generous pro deals throughout the outdoor sports industry (ride, ski, mountain bike, camp, hike and more). Your beanies, hats, and flannels are welcome (not required) in our casual office environment. We are a team that works hard together while having as much fun as possible.
Burton Basecamp Guide team members start at $20/hour.Burton's benefits package includes health insurance (medical, dental and vision), profit sharing, life insurance (company paid), flex spending, short- and long-term disability insurance (company paid), great parental benefits, 401k plan with company match, HSA with company contribution, fitness reimbursement and paid-time-off.
What You Get to Do:
  • BE the voice of Burton
  • Support customers by driving a platinum customer experience via phone, chat and email contacts about product, order, and warranty questions
  • Advocate for the customer experience by suggesting customer experience improvements
  • Establish professional one-on-one relationships with rad customers
  • Guide and educate customers about the Burton, Analog, and Anon product lines
  • Help customers identify the right gear to support their adventures
  • Stay educated and up to date on product changes and product launches
  • Meet productivity and quality levels in support of best-in-the-industry customer service experiences
  • Work alongside the Burton E-Commerce and Flagship Store teams to share knowledge, training, and customer feedback
  • Connect and collaborate with Internal Teams to share knowledge and customer feedback to enhance communication throughout the company
  • Develop yourself professionally through individualized coaching and development
  • Learn about the Burton business through a popular cross-departmental mentoring program

What You'll Bring to the Team:
  • Ability to work a flexible shift in a fast-paced environment with constantly changing demands (Note: evenings, holidays and weekends required November through March)
  • Ability to ask questions of and hear answers from customers and teammates alike
  • Ability to adapt quickly to product and procedure changes
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills
  • Curiosity and the ability to use the knowledge resources we supply
    • Fun Fact: It's ok not to know the answer, but super helpful to know how to find the accurate answers.
  • Snowboard industry experience (preferred); ski or snow sports industry experience (also beneficial)
  • Strong initiative and adaptability to be able to independently juggle many duties and screens at once, while never losing sight of the customer experience
  • Experience with Order Management programs, Customer Resource Management systems and cloud-based phone systems (Shopify, Navis, New Store, Inntopia, Five9, Avaya, etc.)

Preferred Candidate Will:
  • Have one season (minimum) of experience as a Burton Guide
  • Be able to work from our Burlington headquarters three or more days a week

We will supply all computer equipment necessary to be successful in this role. For work-from-home days, our software platforms require a reliable, high speed internet connection for full functionality. We would expect you to be available on EST working hours.
Though we wish we could reach out to all applicants personally, you will only be contacted directly should you be chosen to move forward in the process. Candidates not chosen for this particular opportunity are encouraged to check back often for other roles as they are posted. Keep trying!
Work Location Eligibility: Burton Snowboards is currently able to hire for this position in the following states: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Washington D.C., Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. Candidates MUST reside in one of these locations at the time of hire.

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