Also called: Capitol Visitor Center Guide, State Capitol Tour Guide
Leads tours of the U.S. Capitol or a state capitol, explaining how laws are made and the history behind every statue and painting.
Guides walk groups of school kids, veterans, and tourists from around the world through the Rotunda and old chambers, telling stories about the building and how Congress works. They answer the same questions with fresh energy, manage crowds through security, and sometimes give tours in other languages. State capitols hire guides too, often part-time.
Federal pay at the U.S. Capitol; state capitol guides are often part-time hourly. Estimate.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
High school diploma, about 0 years after high school. High school diploma; many have some college in history or political science. Paid training covers the content.
Ways in: On-the-job training. Training cost: Under $15k.
Majors to look at: History, Political Science, Public History.
Growing about average. Steady tourism demand (approx.).
Low risk for 10 years. Apps and audio guides exist, but people still want a live guide and real answers.
Age 18+. One way to start: Apply to the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center or your state capitol for tour guide openings First: Government hiring with a background check plus a few weeks of tour training
Classes: U.S. History, Government, Speech.
Official data: O*NET occupation 39-7011.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.