Skip to content
AffordMap
COL-adjusted ranking

Best Cities for Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerkss by Take-Home Pay

The cities that pay Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerkss the most on paper aren't usually the best deals once rent and prices are factored in. Detroit-Warren-Dearborn ranks first with a COL-adjusted equivalent of $72,662/year, better purchasing power than Detroit-Warren-Dearborn's higher nominal pay of $72,880. San Francisco and New York dominate the headline salary lists for most occupations, but they don't crack the COL-adjusted top 10 here. The table below uses BLS OEWS May 2025 salary data and BEA Regional Price Parities.

Highest nominal pay

#1 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn$72,880
#2 Albuquerque$57,390
#3 Tulsa$56,690

Best purchasing power

#1 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn$72,662
#2 Tulsa$63,547
#3 Albuquerque$60,063

Top 25 metros by purchasing power

Ranked by COL-adjusted salary. Metros with fewer than 100 employed reservation and transportation ticket agents and travel clerkss excluded.

Rank
Metro
Nominal
COL-adj.
#1
$72,880
$72,662
#2
Tulsa
26% rent burden
$56,690
$63,547
#3
Albuquerque
31% rent burden
$57,390
$60,063
#4
$56,610
$59,766
#5
New Orleans-Metairie
34% rent burden
$46,870
$50,616
#6
Raleigh-Cary
43% rent burden
$48,300
$49,205
#7
$51,190
$48,836
#8
Lexington-Fayette
34% rent burden
$45,260
$48,724
#9
$45,240
$48,609
#10
$47,520
$48,455
#11
$44,110
$48,287
#12
Cincinnati
35% rent burden
$45,950
$48,181
#13
$47,860
$47,831
#14
$47,850
$46,192
#15
Savannah
46% rent burden
$43,920
$46,130
#16
St. Louis
33% rent burden
$43,820
$46,083
#17
$41,050
$45,938
#18
Asheville
42% rent burden
$44,250
$45,850
#19
$44,630
$45,845
#20
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler
47% rent burden
$46,800
$45,296
#21
$49,990
$45,273
#22
$51,130
$45,021
#23
Kansas City
39% rent burden
$41,380
$44,716
#24
$45,020
$44,592
#25
Cape Coral-Fort Myers
52% rent burden
$45,610
$44,563

COL-adjusted = nominal salary divided by (BEA RPP divided by 100). Rent burden = annual 2BR FMR as % of nominal salary. Sources: BLS OEWS May 2025, BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents.

Common questions

What does "COL-adjusted pay" mean for Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerkss?

COL-adjusted pay divides the BLS median salary by the BEA Regional Price Parity index (100 = national average). A salary of $72,880 in a city with RPP 120 has the same purchasing power as $60,733 at national average prices.

Why doesn't New York or San Francisco top this list?

Both cities pay above-average salaries, but rent and everyday costs eat most of that premium. A reservation and transportation ticket agents and travel clerks in New York might earn 30% more but pay 60-80% more in rent. The net result is often less purchasing power than mid-cost metros.

How is purchasing power calculated?

Purchasing power equals nominal median salary divided by (BEA RPP divided by 100). BEA's Regional Price Parities measure relative price levels across metro areas, updated annually from the National Income and Product Accounts.

What's the most affordable metro for Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerkss?

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn has one of the lowest rent burdens for Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerkss in this dataset. HUD FMR for a 2-bedroom is $1,411/month, with a median salary of $72,880.

Where do Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerkss get paid the most in nominal terms?

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn pays the highest nominal median salary at $72,880/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. But check the COL-adjusted column before accepting any relocation offer.

National salary breakdown for Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel ClerkssView →How to become a reservation and transportation ticket agents and travel clerksGuide →Compare two cities side by sideCompare →