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Travel agents have the world at their fingertips.
They plan unique and custom-tailored getaways.
Being a travel agent in Nebraska is a unique job, as there are less than 300 statewide.
Nebraska travel agents can get started at the ground level with a world of earning power ahead of them.
All that is needed is a high school diploma.
Nebraska also offers a lower than average cost of living, making this an affordable career right from the start.
Article Table of Contents
Travel Agent Duties in Nebraska
Travel agents in Nebraska take away the worries of getting away.
Planning a trip can be stressful, and the travel agents handle all that hard work.
They arrange business and pleasure trips, handling all the travel from flight to the rental car to hotels to tours and excursions.
Their insider knowledge and personal contacts help get you places you might not find on your own.
They are the one person who is more interested in making your vacation turnkey than you.
If things go haywire, the travel agent handles the headache.
Licensing Requirements to Become a Travel Agent in Nebraska
There is no formal license process in Nebraska for travel agents.
You can get a job as a travel agent right out of high school.
The travel agencies do have regulations set by the Nebraska legislature to be licensed yearly.
They must be approved as an Authorized Travel Retailer through the Secretary of State’s office.
A keen travel agent just needs to confirm their employer is licensed before starting the job.
Paul Glenn, CEO of Executive Travel in Lincoln, Nebraska offers this advice, “There is no formal training or licensing that is necessary. Most people getting into the industry fresh are going to have a passion for travel and some travel experience, which would be why it is of interest to them.”
Travel Agent Programs
While there is no education requirement outside of a high school diploma or GED in Nebraska, packing some training into your career carry-on is only going to help find better, higher-paying jobs.
- University of Nebraska – Lincoln: Offers a Bachelor of Arts in Tourism.
- University of Nebraska – Omaha: Offers 6 months long Travel Agent Training
- Central Community College – Grand Island: Offers a certificate in Tourism and Event Planning
- Wayne State College: Offers a minor in Travel and Tourism minor.
There is also a plethora of online colleges that have certificates, associate’s, and bachelor’s degrees in fields that will help a future travel agent in Nebraska.
Look for an institution that is part of the Midwest Higher Education Compact.
This allows out-of-state learning at a discounted cost.
The travel agent industry has elite organizations that govern and provide ongoing education and certification for the craft.
- American Society of Travel Agents: ASTA Verified Travel Advisor certification program.
- Cruise Lines International Association: Four levels of training – Certified, Accredited, Master, and Elite.
- The Travel Institute: Various levels of certification for travel agents
Some of this certification requires a certain number of years on the job.
What is the Salary of a Travel Agent in Nebraska?
Nationwide, the salary range for a travel agent is $35,000 – $45,000.
In Nebraska, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows the annual mean wage is $47,750 with the highest earners bringing in more than $70,000 as of May 2020.
In the Lincoln area, 40 travel agents make an average of $41,450, while the Omaha area has 230 agents making an average of $46,240.
The central and western parts of Nebraska have no BLS data available.
This job is highly dependent on commission, so you need to have sales acumen and easily work with all kinds of people.
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Omaha | $36,572 |
| Lincoln | $36,396 |
| Bellevue | $36,572 |
| Grand Island | $35,893 |
| Kearney | $35,893 |
| Fremont | $36,027 |
| Hastings | $35,893 |
| North Platte | $34,801 |
| Norfolk | $32,575 |
| Columbus | $35,893 |
Regional Salary in Nebraska
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln, NE | 30 | $48,810 | $23.46 | $62,200 | $31,090 |
| Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA | 190 | $42,080 | $20.23 | $57,090 | $27,730 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Sources
Number of travel agents in Nebraska: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_ne.htm
Frequently Asked Questions
What defines a “Travel Agency” in Nebraska?
The Nebraska legislature enacted the Travel Agency Registration Act in 2017.
The definition is as follows, “Travel agency means a person who derives more than fifty percent of such person’s income by representing, directly or indirectly, that the person is offering or undertaking, by any means or method, to provide travel services for a fee, commission, or other valuable consideration.”
I’m a new travel agent in Nebraska. What responsibilities do I have when it comes to agency registration?
Just because you do not own the agency does not mean you are off the legal hook.
In the Travel Agency Registration Act, the line is clearly drawn, “Beginning July 1, 2017, a travel agent shall not knowingly do business in this state until the travel agency employing the travel agent is registered with the Secretary of State as a travel agency if the travel agency or any of the agency’s travel agents conduct the solicitation of a Nebraska resident.”
How can I best succeed as a travel agent in Nebraska?
We go back to CEO Paul Glenn of Executive Travel in Lincoln, Nebraska for this one.
The primary keys to success, from my view, are understanding what true customer service entails and having empathy as a natural personality trait. We are dealing with people all around the world with all kinds of challenges, which means we have to have service options available at all times. There are times when there are no options to fix challenges that clients are facing, so being naturally empathetic lets them know that they truly care even when there are no options to help them.”
– Paul Glenn, CEO Executive Travel
You can easily get a job as a travel agent in Nebraska.
The sky is the limit for where you can do in the niche, cruise, international, and corporate worlds of travel.
Ongoing training and certificate options mean you will never get stagnant and always be on the cutting edge of travel trends.
Read the full guide: How to Become a Travel Agent
Travel Agent License by State