"How long does it take to become a travel agent in Washington?"

"Most paths into the travel agent field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both."

"Do travel agents need a license in Washington?"

"Yes. Washington requires state-level licensing or registration for travel agents, administered by the Department of Licensing. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements."

"What apprenticeships are available for travel agents in Washington?"

"In Washington, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Washington State of Labor and Industry - Apprenticeship, which works with employers and trade union locals to register programs. See the apprenticeship section above for office contact details."

How to Become A Travel Agent in Washington

Q: "How much do travel agents earn in Washington?"

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), travel agents in Washington earned a median annual wage of approximately $55,260. Employment concentration in Washington is about 1.36 times the national average for this occupation."

Q: "What is the job outlook for travel agents in Washington?"

"Washington currently employs approximately 1,710 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 2.2% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034."

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Washington travel agents earn a median annual wage of $55,260 ($26.57/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 1,710 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 10.2% above the national median of $50,160 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $55,260 ($26.57/hr)
25th percentile: $48,010 per year
75th percentile: $61,750 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $92,390 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $45,190 per year
Workers employed in Washington: 1,710
Versus national median: 10.2% above the U.S. median of $50,160
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.36 - this occupation is more concentrated in Washington than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed June 8, 2026.

Washington employs approximately 1,710 travel agents according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $55,260 ¹. The state’s concentration of travel agent jobs is 1.36x the national average, indicating strong demand. 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 Washington, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Travel Agent in Washington

How do I become a travel agent in Washington? Washington requires credentials such as Travel Agent. The licensing authority is the Department of Licensing ³. You also need to complete an approved training program or apprenticeship.

How long does it take? Most paths take 1 to 5 years depending on whether you choose trade school, an apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

Do I need a license in Washington? Yes. Washington has licensing or registration requirements for travel agents. The Department of Licensing oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do travel agents earn in Washington? The median annual wage for travel agents in Washington is $55,260 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $45,190 and experienced professionals can earn $92,390 or more ¹.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
Licensing authority: Department of Licensing
Median wage (Washington): $55,260 per year ¹
Exam requirement: No exam required

Travel Agent License Requirements in Washington

The Department of Licensing oversees travel agent licensing in Washington ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
Travel Agent	Individuals must submit a completed business license application, a completed sellers of travel registration addendum and must pay the required $202 fee.

Additional Requirements

Background check: No criminal record prohibitions
Exam: No exam required
Experience: No experience required

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

Travel Agent Wages by Metro Area in Washington

Travel Agents Wages by Metro Area in Washington

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 OES data), travel agents wages in Washington vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue	1,320	$55,260	$62,210	$47,230	$96,470
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria	660	$50,650	$56,720	$35,440	$79,360
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro	370	$58,030	$58,100	$43,530	$73,700
Spokane-Spokane Valley	40	$47,260	$53,550	$37,930	$82,670

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 2025.

Top Metros for Travel agents in Washington

The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest travel agent employment within Washington according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue	1,320	$55,260
Spokane-Spokane Valley	40	$47,260

Explore More Trades in Washington

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for travel agents in Washington? Washington currently employs approximately 1,710 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 Washington with an out-of-state license? Contact the Department of Licensing for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

What training programs are available in Washington? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in Washington.

How much do travel agents earn in Washington compared to the national average? The median annual wage for travel agents in Washington is $55,260, which is $6,810 above the national median of $48,450 according to BLS data ¹.

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

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Department of Licensing - Licensing Information: https://dol.wa.gov/about/contact-us/business-and-professional-licensing-contact-information ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
CareerOneStop - Licensed Occupations: https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Training/find-licenses.aspx ↩︎

Data sources

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

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / 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)