13 Series · SOC 13-1011
Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $82,890
- Median / year
- $284,570
- Top 10% earn
- +8.7%
- Growth '23–'33
- 12,620
- US workers
Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes earn a median of $82,890 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $82,890, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $48,010 (10th percentile) to $284,570 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 12,620 US workers. Florida pays the most ($98,200), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes earn a median of $82,890, putting them among the better-paid US occupations and higher than 76% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Business and Financial Operations, it ranks #12 of 32 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 8.7% by 2033.
- $82,890
- Median annual wage
- Top 24%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #12 of 32
- in Business and Financial Operations
- 5.9×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: Florida at $98,200. Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes (SOC 13-1011) pays a national median of $82,890 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $48,010 at the 10th percentile to $284,570 at the 90th, with a mean of $141,580 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 12,620 Americans work in this occupation across 17 reporting states and 13 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +8.7% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as much faster than average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 2,200 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is Bachelor's degree, with less than 5 years of prior experience generally required. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of A for this role, with a fatality rate of 0.3 per 100,000 and injury rate of 0.3 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Florida pays the highest state median at $98,200, which is +18% above the national figure. The top metro is Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO at $123,950 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
Median Salary
$82,890
per year
Median Hourly
$39.85/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$141,580
average
Employment
12,620
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$82,890 Top 24% higher than 76% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 13-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 25 13-series occupations with growth data, Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes sits on the faster-growing side at +8.7% growth and $82,890 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+8.7%
Much faster than average
Annual Openings
2,200
per year (projected)
Typical Education
Bachelor's degree
Work Experience
Less than 5 years
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Very Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
0.3/100K
Injury Rate
0.3/100
Danger Index
1.4/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key 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.
- ▸ Arrange meetings concerning issues involving their clients.
- ▸ Manage business and financial affairs for clients, such as arranging travel and lodging, selling tickets, and directing marketing and advertising activities.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$48,010
25th Percentile
$63,670
Median
$82,890
75th Percentile
$146,430
90th Percentile
$284,570
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 17 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florida | $98,200 | +18% above national |
| 2 | California | $98,110 | +18% above national |
| 3 | Colorado | $95,530 | +15% above national |
| 4 | Texas | $82,920 | same as national |
| 5 | Michigan | $82,440 | 1% below national |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $81,690 | 1% below national |
| 7 | Connecticut | $81,470 | 2% below national |
| 8 | New Jersey | $81,190 | 2% below national |
| 9 | New York | $79,620 | 4% below national |
| 10 | Arkansas | $78,560 | 5% below national |
| 11 | Ohio | $76,790 | 7% below national |
| 12 | Tennessee | $75,390 | 9% below national |
| 13 | Wisconsin | $74,990 | 10% below national |
| 14 | Washington | $74,620 | 10% below national |
| 15 | Virginia | $73,400 | 11% below national |
| 16 | Arizona | $60,340 | 27% below national |
| 17 | Illinois | $56,560 | 32% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 13 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $123,950 | +50% above national |
| 2 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $108,580 | +31% above national |
| 3 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $103,730 | +25% above national |
| 4 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $100,650 | +21% above national |
| 5 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $98,930 | +19% above national |
| 6 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $97,750 | +18% above national |
| 7 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $90,530 | +9% above national |
| 8 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $83,820 | +1% above national |
| 9 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $83,360 | +1% above national |
| 10 | Cleveland, OH | $76,790 | 7% below national |
| 11 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $75,390 | 9% below national |
| 12 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $74,620 | 10% below national |
| 13 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $57,410 | 31% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 13 (business and financial operations) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
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How dangerous is being a Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes? ▼
Is Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes a good career? ▼
How does Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes pay vary by state? ▼
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What to do with this data
How to use Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $146,430/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: Florida leads at $98,200/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.