Travel Agent Wage in a Post-Pandemic Industry

If you’re looking at travel agent wage right now, here’s the honest headline: UK base pay is usually in the mid-£20,000s to mid-£30,000s, and then commission and bonuses can push it higher — especially in corporate travel or specialist roles. For example, Indeed’s UK average for “travel agent” sits at about £24,420 (Nov 2025), while SalaryExpert’s model shows a higher average around £35,330 and a bigger jump for senior roles (bonuses extra).

And yes — the industry pay story has been shaped by COVID. After the crash, travel salaries climbed hard in the recovery years. C&M Travel Recruitment’s Travel Salary Index says average travel industry pay rose 8.43% in 2024 and is up 21% since 2022, even though hiring activity cooled and vacancies dropped.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through what travel agents earn today, what changed after the pandemic, and the real things that drive pay now (like commissions, fees, experience, and the kind of role you’re in).

Travel Agent Wage in a Post-Pandemic Industry

To understand wages now, it helps to remember just how brutal 2020 was for travel.

In the UK, passenger flights collapsed. A UK Parliament report says there were 5,800 passenger flights to and from the UK in April 2020, compared with 201,000 in April 2019 — a 97% reduction. When flights fall that far, bookings fall, and travel jobs get hit fast. Globally, it was huge too. The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) says almost 70 million people working in Travel & Tourism lost their jobs during the pandemic.

Then came the rebound. Travel didn’t just come back — it came back messy. Rules changed a lot. Trips got cancelled. People wanted protection. They wanted someone to call when things went wrong. That helped push demand back towards agents, especially for complex trips.

And that demand shows up in pay data. In the UK, C&M’s index shows salaries for new travel jobs rising strongly after the pandemic dip. In 2024, the average new travel job salary reached £37,036, and that figure is up 21% since 2022. But here’s the important bit: hiring didn’t keep rising at the same time. Travel Weekly reports that in 2024, vacancies fell 27% and placements fell 21%, even while wages rose. So pay improved, but the market also cooled. That’s the post-pandemic picture in one line: higher pay than the worst years, but not endless hiring — and the best earnings go to people who sell higher-value work and get paid for their skill.

How Much Do Travel Agents Earn Today?

Travel agent pay in the UK is not one neat number. It depends a lot on whether you’re doing retail/leisure, corporate travel, or specialist work.

Entry-level and retail travel agents (UK)

Many starter or high-street roles sit around the low to mid £20,000s as a base. Indeed’s national average is about £24,420 (Nov 2025). In real life, that often matches what people see in job ads: base pay that feels “retail-ish”, then extra money on top for sales. A simple way to think about it is:

1. Base pay helps you pay the bills.
2. Commission/bonus is what can make the job feel worth it.

Corporate travel agents

Corporate travel tends to pay a bit higher on the base, because the work is often fast-paced, rule-heavy, and deadline-heavy (and clients expect quick answers). Glassdoor lists an average for a corporate travel agent in the UK at £28,804 (Dec 2025), with a typical range that can stretch much higher for strong earners.

So, if you compare “typical” numbers:

1. retail/leisure average: ~£24.4k
2. corporate average: ~£28.8k

That difference isn’t magic. It’s usually because corporate work can be more specialised, and businesses pay for speed, accuracy, and problem-solving.

Experienced and senior travel agents

With experience, pay can move a lot. SalaryExpert’s UK model shows:

1. Entry (1–3 years): ~£25,396
2. Senior (8+ years): ~£44,029
3. Overall average: ~£35,330 (plus an average bonus figure)

Now, SalaryExpert is a salary model, not a “live job ads” number. So it can look higher than what you see in basic retail ads. But it’s useful because it shows the shape of the career: experience can take you from “starter pay” to “solid mid-income,” especially if you move into corporate, specialist, or higher-end leisure.

A quick note about “industry averages”

You’ll also see travel industry salary averages that are not just travel agents. For example, C&M’s index says the average travel industry salary for new jobs hit £37,036 in 2024. That includes lots of roles across the travel sector, not only front-line retail agents. So it’s a helpful trend, but it’s not a perfect “travel agent wage” number.

How Did the Pandemic Change Travel Agent Pay?

COVID changed travel agent pay in two big ways: it caused a crash, and it forced a rethink of how agents get paid.

1) The crash (2020)

In the UK, the flight data tells the story clearly: a 97% drop in passenger flights in April 2020 compared to April 2019. When travel stopped, agents lost the thing that drives income: bookings. That meant:

1. fewer hours,
2. furlough,
3. job losses,
4. and commission disappearing.

2) The rethink (fees and value)

During the pandemic and the messy recovery, agents did a lot of work that didn’t pay well under the old model. Think of all the time spent changing flights, chasing suppliers, reading new rules, and calming stressed clients. That pushed more agencies to say: “We can’t keep doing expert work for free.”

So service fees became more common. And in the UK, service fees are allowed — but they must be made clear before the customer books. ABTA explains it simply: yes, travel companies can charge a service fee as long as they tell you before you book.

3) The recovery (2022 to now)

Once travel demand really returned, pay started rising again. C&M’s Travel Salary Index says average travel salaries are up 21% since 2022, and rose 8.43% in 2024. Travel Weekly also points out that recruitment activity dipped even while wages rose — so it wasn’t a smooth “everything got better” story.

The big takeaway is this: the pandemic hurt pay first — but it also pushed travel agents towards a more “professional service” model, where fees and specialist advice can be paid properly.

Do Travel Agents Earn More Now Than Before?

For most people, the answer is yes, on average, especially compared to the lowest point of 2020–21. C&M’s numbers say typical travel salaries are up 21% since 2022 and the 2024 average for new travel jobs reached £37,036. That’s a big shift in a short time. But there’s an important detail: that’s an industry trend, and it doesn’t mean every travel agent is suddenly on £37k+.

What it does mean is:

1. salaries in travel moved up strongly in the recovery years,
2. and more roles are now being advertised above the old “low £20k” level,
3. but the strongest pay still goes to people in the right roles (corporate, specialist, strong sellers, fee-chargers).

So yes, many people are doing better than before — but the best gains usually come from moving up the ladder, not staying in the same entry role.

What Affects a Travel Agent’s Wage?

This is where the “why do some agents earn a lot more?” question gets answered. A few key things make the biggest difference.

Role type (retail/leisure vs corporate)

1. Corporate roles often pay higher on the base (Glassdoor’s UK corporate average is £28,804).

Experience

1. SalaryExpert’s model shows a big jump from early career to senior: ~£25,396 to ~£44,029.

What you sell (your niche)

1. If you sell higher-value trips (luxury, cruises, complex tours, business travel), there’s more room for commission and fees to add up.

Where you work

1. Big cities and big employers can pay more. SalaryExpert’s London-area figure is higher than the UK average.

Your pay structure

1. A salary-only job can feel steady but capped.
2. A salary + commission job can pay well if targets are fair.
3. A fees + commission model can be a game changer if you have clients who value your time.

That’s why two people can both be “travel agents” and have totally different yearly incomes.

Do Online and In-Store Agents Earn Different Wages?

Often, yes.

A lot of high-street travel agent jobs are built like sales/retail jobs: a base salary, then some commission on top. That can be a great starting point, but the base can be modest.

Corporate travel roles — which are often done through online systems, TMCs (travel management companies), or hybrid setups — tend to post higher base pay. You can see that when you compare the averages:

1. UK travel agent average on Indeed: ~£24,420
2. UK corporate travel agent average on Glassdoor: ~£28,804

Home-based or online independent advisors can sometimes earn more than both — but only if they build a client base and set up their business well. The upside can be strong, but the risk is real too. No steady salary means quiet months can hurt.

So the simple truth is: moving from shop-front to online/independent can raise the ceiling, but it also removes the safety net.

How Do Commission and Bonuses Affect Pay?

This is the part many people don’t realise at first: your base salary is only part of your pay story.

Commission (the basic idea)

Commission is money paid when bookings happen. The rate depends on what’s being booked and who the supplier is. Some travel businesses share typical ranges publicly. For example, InteleTravel says supplier commissions often sit in the 10–15% range (with a wider range possible). Fora Travel also explains hotel commissions often land around 5–10% (though it varies). Your actual cut depends on the agency setup:

1. an employed agent may get a small slice as bonus/commission,
2. an independent agent may keep a larger share,
3. a hosted agent may split commission with the host.

Bonuses (targets and performance)

Bonuses usually come from things like:

1. hitting sales targets,
2. selling add-ons (insurance, upgrades, seats),
3. customer ratings,
4. repeat business.

This is why two agents on the same base salary can end the year with very different total pay.

Fees (the big post-pandemic shift)

Fees can change the game because they pay you for your time, not just for a booking.

In the UK, ABTA makes it clear that service fees are allowed if they’re made clear before booking. That supports the move many agencies made after COVID: charging for planning, ticketing, changes, and complex work. If you charge fees fairly and explain them well, you’re not “adding random costs.” You’re saying: “This is skilled work and it takes time.”

Are Experienced Travel Agents Paid More?

Yes. And in travel, the gap can be big. SalaryExpert’s UK model is a simple way to see it:

1. entry-level (1–3 years): ~£25,396
2. senior level (8+ years): ~£44,029

Why does experience pay more? Because experienced agents usually:

1. have repeat clients,
2. sell higher-value trips,
3. solve problems faster,
4. know the systems and suppliers better,
5. and feel confident charging fees for complex planning.

So travel might not pay brilliantly at the start, but it can become a solid earner once you’ve built skill and trust.

Is Travel Agent Pay Still Competitive as a Career?

It can be — but it depends on the path you take. A useful benchmark is the UK median full-time pay. Reuters reported the UK median full-time annual salary was £37,430 in 2024 (ONS data).

If you compare that to travel:

1. early-career retail agents often start below the UK median,
2. corporate roles can get closer,
3. experienced/senior roles can match or beat it (especially with bonuses and fees).

So the career can be competitive, but it’s usually not a “big money from day one” job. The people who do best long-term tend to:

1. move into corporate or specialist roles,
2. build a loyal client list,
3. and use a pay model that includes commission and/or fees.

Final Thoughts on Travel Agent Wages After the Pandemic

COVID was a shock to travel. In the UK, flights dropped 97% in April 2020 compared to the year before. Globally, WTTC says almost 70 million Travel & Tourism jobs were lost during the pandemic. But the recovery changed the pay story too. UK travel industry salaries rose sharply after COVID, with C&M reporting 8.43% growth in 2024 and up 21% since 2022 (even while vacancies and hiring slowed).

For travel agents themselves, the “floor” (base pay) is firmer than it was in the worst years. But the “ceiling” depends on you: your niche, your clients, your role type, and whether you’re earning only a salary or also earning commission and fees.

If you want the best chance at higher pay, the pattern is pretty clear: Specialise, build repeat business, and aim for corporate travel or high-value leisure where your skill has real value.

FAQs

How much money does a travel agent earn?

1. In the UK, travel agent wages typically range from £24,000 to £35,000 base pay, with commission and bonuses pushing earnings higher, especially in corporate or specialist travel roles.

How much do TUI travel agents get paid?

1. TUI travel agents in the UK usually earn low-to-mid £20,000s as base pay, with commission and incentives adding extra depending on sales performance and role level.

Can you make 7 figures as a travel agent?

1. Seven-figure income is extremely rare. It’s only possible for business owners or top luxury advisors with large client bases, high-value bookings, and strong commission and fee structures.

What jobs pay $4,000 a month in the UK?

1. Jobs paying about $4,000 (£3,100) monthly include experienced corporate travel agents, project managers, software developers, accountants, and skilled sales professionals.

What jobs earn £40 an hour?

1. Roles earning around £40 an hour include consultants, contractors, IT specialists, lawyers, senior designers, and some highly experienced self-employed travel advisors charging planning fees.

What jobs earn £10k a month in the UK?

1. Jobs earning £10,000 a month include senior executives, surgeons, investment bankers, successful business owners, and top-performing consultants or sales professionals.

What jobs get paid £50k a month?

1. £50,000 per month is rare and usually limited to company founders, CEOs, elite traders, or individuals with significant business equity or profit-based income.

Is it better to earn 50k or 55k?

1. £55k is better financially, but higher pay can push you into higher tax bands. The real difference depends on take-home pay, benefits, and work-life balance.

What is the easiest job to make £100k a year?

1. There’s no easy job at £100k. Common paths include sales, tech, contracting, finance, or running a business, all requiring skill, experience, or risk.

What salary is top 1% in the UK?

1. A salary of roughly £180,000+ per year puts you in the top 1% of UK earners, according to income distribution data.