How much does a Local guide make

  1. Salary statistics
  2. Local guide
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Local guide

30 200 kr

Guides and tour leaders

27 700 - 33 600 kr / month

Women earn 97% of what men do.

Försäljning & inköp

What will be the salary after tax?

Salary progression Local guide

Average salary 30 200 kr
Males 30 800 kr
Females 29 900 kr
1 Likes 0 Comments 15 Vacant jobs ->

What does a local guide do? – Tasks and work environment

Local guides work to lead and inform groups or individual visitors about sites of historical, cultural, or natural interest. Tasks vary depending on the workplace but often include planning and conducting guided tours, managing practical arrangements, and answering questions from participants. The work can be performed outdoors and indoors and sometimes involves working evenings and weekends. A local guide needs to be flexible and able to adapt presentations for different audiences, which requires both communication skills and good local knowledge.

Salary development over time

The salary of a local guide has shown steady growth over the past three years. In 2022, the average salary was 28,200 SEK per month, which increased slightly to 28 500 SEK in 2023. During 2024, the salary has risen further to 30 200 SEK, representing a total increase of approximately 7% during the period. This development reflects an increased demand for qualified guides, especially during peak tourist seasons and with a greater focus on experience-based services. Education level and specialization may also have contributed to the upward movement of average salaries, as employers increasingly seek guides with documented skills and language abilities.

Local guide salary – full overview

  • Average salary: 30 200 SEK/month
  • Lowest salary: 27,700 SEK/month (women), 30,600 SEK/month (men)
  • Highest salary: 33,600 SEK/month (women, public sector), 31,500 SEK/month (men)
  • Hourly wage: 181 SEK/hour
  • Gender differences: Women earn 29 900 SEK/month (97% of men's 30 800 SEK/month)
  • Regional differences: Salaries can vary depending on region and demand, especially in tourist-heavy areas.

Education and qualifications

To work as a local guide, usually no formal university education is required, but employers often seek education in tourism, culture, or languages. Practical experience and local knowledge are highly valued, and many choose to supplement with short courses or certifications. To increase employment opportunities, combining education with internships or volunteer work is common.

  • High school education: Tourism program, 3 years
  • Short courses: Guiding techniques, local history, languages
  • Internships: Common within educational programs or via museums/tourist offices
  • Certifications: For example, authorized guide
  • Prerequisites: Good local knowledge and communication skills

Working as a local guide often means being the first point of contact a visitor has with a place. An engaged guide can influence how an entire city or attraction is experienced and remembered, making the profession both responsible and meaningful.

– statsskuld.se

Common benefits and compensations

Local guides are often offered benefits such as overtime pay for work evenings and weekends, and sometimes travel allowances or free entry to events and attractions. Some employers offer further training and internal courses, which can strengthen both the professional role and job security.

Competition and challenges

The competition for jobs as a local guide varies depending on season and region, with increased demand during peak seasons in tourist-heavy areas. High standards are set for service, flexibility, and broad knowledge of local history and culture. The industry is quickly affected by changes in travel patterns and economic fluctuations, which can lead to uncertainty regarding employment types and working hours. Being able to speak multiple languages and being comfortable with digital tools is often an advantage in today’s job market.

Tips for those wanting to become a local guide

To succeed as a local guide, it’s good to be outgoing and able to generate engagement among different groups. A strong sense of service makes it easier to interact with visitors professionally, while curiosity and a willingness to continually learn help keep presentations current and interesting. Developing communication skills, both in Swedish and other languages, opens more opportunities and enhances the guide’s credibility. Flexibility is important, as working hours and workplaces can vary greatly. Enjoying being in the spotlight and handling unexpected situations are also valuable qualities that make the profession both fun and challenging.

Key facts about Local Guide

  • Education level: High school education often sufficient, supplemented with courses
  • Work environment: Varied, both indoors and outdoors
  • Common employment type: Seasonal or hourly employment
  • Demand: 550 job openings in the profession currently
  • Special skills: Local knowledge and language skills highly valued

Career paths and future prospects

After a few years of experience, a local guide can develop into managing larger groups, training new guides, or specializing in areas such as nature guiding or cultural history. There are also opportunities to work with program development, marketing, or as a project manager within the tourism sector. According to the Swedish Public Employment Service, no specific forecast exists for the local guide profession due to limited data, but currently there are 550 job openings in the guiding and tour leader sector. Future prospects depend on tourism trends and demand for experience-based services, and individuals with broad skills and language abilities have good chances to establish themselves and advance in the industry.

Frequently asked questions about Local Guide

  • What does a Local Guide earn?
    - The average salary for a local guide is 30 200 SEK per month.
  • What are the gender differences in local guide salaries?
    - Women earn an average of 29 900 SEK, which is 97% of men's salary of 30 800 SEK.
  • What education is required to become a local guide?
    - Usually, a high school education is sufficient, preferably supplemented with courses in tourism, languages, or guiding techniques.
  • Are there regional differences in salaries?
    - Yes, salaries can vary between regions and are often higher in tourist-heavy areas.
  • What is the highest and lowest salary for a local guide?
    - The highest salary for a woman is 33,600 SEK and for a man 31,500 SEK. The lowest salary for a woman is 27,700 SEK and for a man 30,600 SEK.
  • What are the future prospects for local guides?
    - No specific forecast exists, but currently there are 550 job openings in the profession.
  • What personal qualities are important for a local guide?
    - Outgoing, service-oriented, flexible, and a good communicator.

Richard Andersson

Richard Andersson - 2025-07-14 05:50:34

Occupation
Who has the highest salary?
The highest salary for a Local guide is 33600 kr. This salary belongs to a woman working in the Public sector with a upper secondary education, maximum 2 years. The highest salary for a man in this profession is 31500 kr.
Who has the lowest salary?
The lowest salary for a Local guide is 27700 kr. This salary belongs to a woman also working in the Multiple sectors. The lowest salary for a man in this profession is 30600 kr.
Salary distributed by age and sector
Age Women's salary as a percentage of men's Base salary Monthly salary
18-24 24300 kr 28200 kr
25-34 27700 kr 30600 kr
35-44 29600 kr 31700 kr
Snitt 97% 27200 kr 30200 kr
* Empty columns indicate that the statistical data was insufficient to allow for a statistically significant conclusion.
Salary per sector
Salary based on education
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About the data

All information displayed on this page is based on data from the Swedish Central Bureau of Statistics (SCB), the Swedish Tax Agency and the Swedish employment agency. Learn more about our data and data sources here.

All figures are gross salaries, meaning salaries before tax. The average salary, or mean salary, is calculated by adding up the total salary for all individuals within the profession and dividing it by the number of individuals. For specific job categories, we have also considered various criteria such as experience and education.

Profession Local guide has the SSYK code 5113, which we use to match against the SCB database to obtain the latest salary statistics.

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