This year's money question is why average salaries have decreased by more than $5000 from last year's figures. It may be due to an increasing reliance on half salary/half commission structures. Agent's income does not increase with age and peak earning potential is reached by their 30's. This statistic contradicts the typical pattern of pay increases commensurate with developing age and experience.
Not so if you're a travel agent – whether in your 20's or your 50's you command the same salary of $40,000 a year. "A lot of companies have swapped to commission structures so if you are pulling in the sales you will pull in the same salary, regardless of age," Adriana D'Angelis of AA Recruitment said. So how much experience is needed to command the highest salary as an agent? "Anyone with five or more year's experience," D'Angelis said.
