How to Become a Travel Agent in North Carolina (2026)

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

North Carolina employs about 1,250 travel agents earning a median $56,180 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as a Travel Agent here means completing seller-of-travel registration where the state has one, plus employer or host-agency training. Travel-insurance producer licenses are a different credential. Confirm credential rules with the program and employer.

Key Facts

  • Median wage (North Carolina): $56,180/yr (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
  • Employed in North Carolina: 1,250 workers (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
  • Location quotient: 0.71x U.S. average (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
  • Projected growth: 2.2% (2024-2034) (Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024)

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Compare Travel Agent Schools in North Carolina

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#SchoolBOC Score (0–100)TuitionMedian grad earnings (all majors)Graduation rateOnlineDistance
156.1Contact school for pricing$52,68128%Yes*358 mi
255.3Contact school for pricing$57,46430%Yes*227 mi
355.0Contact school for pricing$50,46929%Yes*266 mi
454.3Contact school for pricing$47,299Not reportedYes*227 mi
553.6Contact school for pricing$44,49038%Yes*319 mi
647.9Contact school for pricing$40,96446%Yes*291 mi
746.8Contact school for pricing$37,10438%Yes*371 mi
846.5Contact school for pricing$42,97944%Yes*301 mi
940.9Contact school for pricing$54,51924%Yes*346 mi

Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

North Carolina employs approximately 1,250 travel agents according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $56,180 1. Nationally, travel agent employment is projected to grow 2.2% from 2024 to 2034, with about 7,100 openings per year 2. This page covers how to become a Travel Agent in North Carolina, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

  • Training paths: host-agency or school training (find programs)
  • Typical timeline: seller-of-travel registration where the state has one, plus employer or host-agency training. Travel-insurance producer licenses are a different credential
  • Exam: seller-of-travel registration where required
  • Median wage (North Carolina): $56,180 per year 1

Quick Answers About How to Become a Travel Agent in North Carolina

How to become a Travel Agent in North Carolina? Complete seller-of-travel registration where the state has one, plus employer or host-agency training. Travel-insurance producer licenses are a different credential. Apply through the program and employer.

How long does it take? Most people finish seller-of-travel registration where the state has one, plus employer or host-agency training. Travel-insurance producer licenses are a different credential. Confirm current hour totals with the program and the program and employer.

Do I need a license in North Carolina? Yes. North Carolina typically registers this role through the program and employer. See the licensing section below.

What do travel agents earn in North Carolina? The median annual wage for travel agents in North Carolina is $56,180 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $35,170 and experienced professionals can earn $87,540 or more 1.

How to Become a Travel Agent in North Carolina

  1. Get product and GDS training. Most agents train through a host agency or a short program. This is not a registered apprenticeship.
  2. Register as a seller of travel only where the state requires it. Some states register sellers of travel. Do not treat a travel-insurance producer license as the travel-agent path.
  3. Optional industry credentials. The Travel Institute and similar credentials are optional.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

Travel Agent License Requirements in North Carolina

Travel agents may need seller-of-travel registration in some states. A Department of Insurance travel-insurance license is not a travel-agent credential.

Typical path

  1. Complete host-agency or school training.

  2. Register as a seller of travel if North Carolina requires it.

  3. Do not use a travel-insurance producer row as the primary license.

Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with the program and employer before you enroll.

Travel Agent Wages by Metro Area in North Carolina

Travel Agents Wages by Metro Area in North Carolina

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), travel agents wages in North Carolina vary by metro area.

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia330$56,510$59,120$34,250$81,370
Raleigh-Cary220$59,860$61,520$33,870$99,640
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk190$38,430$43,030$30,570$61,380
Greensboro-High Point150$48,010$54,320$48,010$79,390
Durham-Chapel Hill50$57,390$62,970$35,700$97,200
Winston-Salem30$60,110$56,630$39,540$72,060

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for travel agents in North Carolina? North Carolina currently employs approximately 1,250 travel agents 1. Nationally, travel agent employment is projected to grow 2.2% from 2024 to 2034 2.

Can I work as a travel agent in North Carolina with an out-of-state license? Contact the program and employer for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

What training programs are available in North Carolina? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in North Carolina.

How much do travel agents earn in North Carolina compared to the national average? The median annual wage for travel agents in North Carolina is $56,180, which is $7,730 above the national median of $48,450 according to BLS data 1.

In North Carolina

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Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

  1. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  2. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

DataProviderVintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsMay 2025
Employment ProjectionsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data SystemNational Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirementsCareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programsCareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)