Information and Record Clerks

How to become a Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agent or Travel Clerk

Official title: Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks

Also called: Airline Ticket Agent, Airport Sales Agent, Baggage Service Agent, Corporate Travel Agent, Reservation Agent, Reservationist, Reservations Agent, Station Agent, Ticket Agent, Tour Sales Representative

Make and confirm reservations for transportation or lodging, or sell transportation tickets. May check baggage and direct passengers to designated concourse, pier, or track; deliver tickets and contact individuals and groups to inform them of package tours; or provide tourists with travel or transportation information.

Main tasks

Make and confirm reservations for transportation and accommodations, using telephones, faxes, mail, and computers.
Confer with customers to determine their service requirements and travel preferences.
Prepare customer invoices and accept payment.
Answer inquiries regarding information, such as schedules, accommodations, procedures, or policies.
Determine whether space is available on travel dates requested by customers, assigning requested spaces when available.
Contact customers or travel agents to advise them of travel conveyance changes or to confirm reservations.

How to become one

Information clerks typically need a high school diploma and learn their skills on the job. Some employers may prefer to hire candidates with some college education or an associate's degree, depending on the occupation.

Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $44,390 a year The middle half earn $37,850 to $59,640.
About 120,100 people work in this job now, and about 123,100 are projected by 2035. (+2.5%)
People already use generative AI for a good share of this work, which usually changes the job more than it replaces it. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as high.

Questions people ask

How do I become a Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agent or Travel Clerk?

How much does a Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agent or Travel Clerk earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $44,390 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $37,850 to $59,640.

Is a Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agent or Travel Clerk a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 3% by 2035, from about 120,100 to about 123,100 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agent or Travel Clerk?

Not always. 30% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agent or Travel Clerk?

People already use generative AI for a good share of this work, which usually changes the job more than it replaces it. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as high.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.