Agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $48,010 | $23.08 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $82,890 | $39.85 |
| Mean (average) | $141,580 | $68.07 |
| 90th percentile | $284,570 | $136.81 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 27 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | $60,340 | $40,140 | $94,900 | 160 | 0.62 |
| Arkansas | $78,560 | $55,040 | $157,140 | 30 | 0.31 |
| California | $98,110 | $73,530 | $298,390 | 4,860 | 3.28 |
| Colorado | $95,530 | $45,790 | $196,730 | 80 | 0.36 |
| Connecticut | $81,470 | $52,000 | $221,610 | 170 | 1.27 |
| Florida | $98,200 | $31,660 | $512,110 | 870 | 1.09 |
| Georgia | Data unavailable | 230 | 0.57 | ||
| Illinois | $56,560 | $31,200 | $124,720 | ||
| Kentucky | Data unavailable | 40 | 0.24 | ||
| Louisiana | Data unavailable | 30 | 0.21 | ||
| Massachusetts | Data unavailable | 80 | 0.26 | ||
| Michigan | $82,440 | $31,240 | $147,180 | ||
| Minnesota | Data unavailable | 40 | 0.18 | ||
| New Hampshire | $81,690 | $42,790 | $164,020 | 40 | 0.72 |
| New Jersey | $81,190 | $33,160 | $166,370 | 170 | 0.5 |
| New York | $79,620 | $52,370 | $219,690 | 2,660 | 3.38 |
| North Carolina | Data unavailable | 240 | 0.59 | ||
| Ohio | $76,790 | $51,820 | $190,540 | 100 | 0.23 |
| Oklahoma | Data unavailable | 40 | 0.31 | ||
| Oregon | Data unavailable | 90 | 0.58 | ||
| South Carolina | Data unavailable | 80 | 0.43 | ||
| Tennessee | $75,390 | $44,540 | $210,420 | 730 | 2.74 |
| Texas | $82,920 | $43,330 | $132,010 | 320 | 0.28 |
| Utah | Data unavailable | 150 | 1.05 | ||
| Virginia | $73,400 | $34,940 | $181,080 | 110 | 0.34 |
| Washington | $74,620 | $50,790 | $363,410 | 120 | 0.43 |
| Wisconsin | $74,990 | $44,520 | $136,190 | 40 | 0.16 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 2,400. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 45.4%.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- Related work experience
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- None
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Sports Communication CIP 09.0906
- Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management, General CIP 50.1001
- Fine and Studio Arts Management CIP 50.1002
- Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management, Other CIP 50.1099
- Purchasing, Procurement/Acquisitions and Contracts Management CIP 52.0202
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Collect fees, commissions, or other payments, according to contract terms.
- Send samples of clients' work and other promotional material to potential employers to obtain auditions, sponsorships, or endorsement deals.
- Keep informed of industry trends and deals.
- Conduct auditions or interviews to evaluate potential clients.
- Negotiate with managers, promoters, union officials, and other persons regarding clients' contractual rights and obligations.
- Confer with clients to develop strategies for their careers, and to explain actions taken on their behalf.
- Develop contacts with individuals and organizations, and apply effective strategies and techniques to ensure their clients' success.
- Schedule promotional or performance engagements for clients.
Technology skills
- Adobe Photoshop (hot technology)
- Apple macOS (hot technology)
- Facebook (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Salesforce software (hot technology)
- Zoom (hot technology)
- Avid Technology iNEWS
- Database software
- Email software
- Financial accounting software
- LexisNexis
Transferable skills for career changers: Persuasion, Negotiation, Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Time Management, Complex Problem Solving.
Common job titles: Agent, Athlete Marketing Agent, Booker, Booking Agent, Entertainment Specialist, Literary Agent, Print Agent, Talent Agent, Talent Representative, Theatrical Agent.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes make?
The national median annual wage for agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes was $82,890 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $48,010 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $284,570. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes need?
BLS lists bachelor's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with less than 5 years of related work experience and none on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes a growing career?
BLS projects employment of agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes to change +9.7% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 2,400 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Florida ($98,200), California ($98,110), Colorado ($95,530). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.