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
- -13.9%
- 2024→2025
- $284,570
- Top 10% earn
- +8.7%
- Growth '24–'34
- 12,620
- Estimated US jobs
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 estimated jobs in covered establishments. The highest published state median in this ranking is Florida ($98,200).
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 2034.
- $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.
Observed pay change
What changed, BLS OEWS 2019–2025
- The published national median for Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes moved from $73,740 in May 2019 to $82,890 in May 2025 (+12.4%).
- Across the 749 occupations priced in both releases under SOC-2018, the median occupation changed +24.5%.
- Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes sits -12.0 pp behind that median, nominal dollars, no price deflator applied.
Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes (SOC 13-1011) has a national median of $82,890 per year in the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release. The published 10th-to-90th-percentile boundaries run from $48,010 to $284,570, and the published mean is $141,580. Those summary statistics describe the estimated distribution; their difference alone does not identify its cause. OEWS estimates 12,620 jobs in covered establishments nationally. WageDex has published rows for 17 state or territory areas and 13 metropolitan or nonmetropolitan wage areas. The published national median moved from $96,310 in the May 2024 OEWS release to $82,890 in May 2025, a fall of $13,420 (-13.9%). This is a change between two BLS survey estimates, not an inflation-adjusted same-worker pay raise.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +8.7% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which we classify as much faster than average relative to the all-occupations baseline of 3.1%. About 2,200 openings are projected per year from growth, occupational transfers, and labor-force exits. BLS assigns Bachelor's degree as typical education needed for entry and less than 5 years as the typical related-work-experience category. BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific fatality and injury rate for this role in the current release. The safety panel below shows its broad Business and Financial Operations Occupations SOC-group context and is not an occupation-level measurement or ranking.
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 highest published metropolitan-area median in this ranking is Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO at $123,950. The observed difference does not identify its cause. Pair the national median with the state and metropolitan-area rows below while keeping the geography and statistic consistent. OEWS includes tips, commissions, incentive pay, and production bonuses, but not employer benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, or nonproduction bonuses. See our methodology for the sourcing and calculation details.
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.
Read the chart as text · as of May 2025
| Band | Count | Share |
|---|---|---|
| $0–$20,000 | 0 US occupations | 0% |
| $20,000–$40,000 | 98 US occupations | 12% |
| $40,000–$60,000 | 298 US occupations | 36% |
| $60,000–$80,000 | 209 US occupations | 25% |
| $80,000–$100,000 (this entry) | 82 US occupations | 10% |
| $100,000–$120,000 | 58 US occupations | 7% |
| $120,000–$140,000 | 32 US occupations | 4% |
| $140,000–$160,000 | 14 US occupations | 2% |
| $160,000–$180,000 | 9 US occupations | 1% |
| $180,000 and above | 25 US occupations | 3% |
$82,890 · 76th percentile of 825 US occupations
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).
Read the chart as text
- Accountants and Audi…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.6%, Median annual wage $83680
- Business Operations …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3%, Median annual wage $83050
- Project Management S…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.6%, Median annual wage $102320
- Human Resources Spec…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 6.2%, Median annual wage $75940
- Market Research Anal…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 6.7%, Median annual wage $78760
- Management Analysts: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 8.8%, Median annual wage $101860
- Buyers and Purchasin…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.8%, Median annual wage $77710
- Training and Develop…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 10.8%, Median annual wage $69280
- Compliance Officers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3%, Median annual wage $80730
- Financial and Invest…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.7%, Median annual wage $102740
- Claims Adjusters, Ex…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -5.1%, Median annual wage $78000
- Loan Officers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1.7%, Median annual wage $76690
- Personal Financial A…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 9.6%, Median annual wage $105070
- Logisticians: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 16.7%, Median annual wage $82320
- Cost Estimators: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -4.2%, Median annual wage $78740
- Meeting, Convention,…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.8%, Median annual wage $61160
- Financial Specialist…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.1%, Median annual wage $81100
- Compensation, Benefi…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.3%, Median annual wage $78210
- Fundraisers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.3%, Median annual wage $72550
- Insurance Underwriters: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -2.6%, Median annual wage $81370
- Tax Preparers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.5%, Median annual wage $54920
- Financial Examiners: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 18.5%, Median annual wage $94160
- Labor Relations Spec…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -0.1%, Median annual wage $95420
- Credit Analysts: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -4.4%, Median annual wage $83510
- Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 8.7%, Median annual wage $82890
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)
Employment Change
+1,900
21,400 (2024) → 23,200 (2034)
Typical Education
Bachelor's degree
Work Experience
Less than 5 years
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Business and Financial Operations Occupations context
Broad SOC context, not an occupation grade
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
Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes pay history, 2015–2025
Published national median across 11 BLS OEWS releases. Nominal dollars, not inflation-adjusted.
Read the chart as text
| Period | National median |
|---|---|
| 2015 | $62,940 |
| 2016 | $62,080 |
| 2017 | $64,940 |
| 2018 | $66,040 |
| 2019 | $73,740 |
| 2020 | $75,420 |
| 2021 | $78,410 |
| 2022 | $82,530 |
| 2023 | $84,900 |
| 2024 | $96,310 |
| 2025 | $82,890 |
2015 median
$62,940
2025 median
$82,890
2019–2025 change (same SOC)
+$9,150 (+12.4%)
Avg/year (same SOC)
+2%
| Release | Median | Change | Estimated jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2015 | $62,940 | First banked release | 13,230 |
| May 2016 | $62,080 | -1.4% | 13,470 |
| May 2017 | $64,940 | +4.6% | 15,450 |
| May 2018 | $66,040 | +1.7% | 14,830 |
| May 2019 | $73,740 | Classification break | 17,060 |
| May 2020 | $75,420 | +2.3% | 16,240 |
| May 2021 | $78,410 | +4.0% | 12,480 |
| May 2022 | $82,530 | +5.3% | 13,130 |
| May 2023 | $84,900 | +2.9% | 12,870 |
| May 2024 | $96,310 | +13.4% | 14,220 |
| May 2025 | $82,890 | -13.9% | 12,620 |
Across the 11 releases WageDex holds for this occupation, the published national median went from $62,940 in May 2015 to $82,890 in May 2025. Within the SOC-2018 classification (2019–2025), the like-for-like change averages +2% per year in nominal terms. Within the same SOC classification, estimated employment went from 17,060 in May 2019 to 12,620 in May 2025.
Each figure is a separate BLS survey estimate, so a change between releases reflects the estimated occupation-wide median in each year. It is not the raise any individual worker received, and it is not adjusted for inflation. Years where BLS did not publish an annual median for this occupation are omitted rather than filled in. This span also crosses a classification change: releases before May 2019 use the 2010 Standard Occupational Classification and later releases use the 2018 SOC, so figures either side of that boundary are not strictly like-for-like. Headline change rates on this page use only the same-classification subset.
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 |
Same SOC major group
Other detailed occupations in SOC major group 13 (Business and Financial Operations Occupations) - category peers, not a pay match.
Accountants and Auditors
SOC 13-2011
Budget Analysts
SOC 13-2031
Business Operations Specialists, All Other
SOC 13-1199
Buyers and Purchasing Agents
SOC 13-1020
Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators
SOC 13-1031
Showing 5 of 31 detailed occupations BLS assigns to this SOC major group.
Nationwide occupations with similar pay or employment scale
Two OEWS peer sets outside this SOC major group (Business and Financial Operations Occupations). Same-category cards above stay inside the group; these neighborhoods are cross-group nearest neighbors on national median pay ($82,890 here) and reported employment (12,620 jobs here).
Similar median pay
Nearest other detailed occupations by BLS OEWS national median annual wage.
Similar employment scale
Nearest headcount peers (floor 1,000 national jobs), distinct from the pay column.
Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on BLS OEWS national median annual wage and reported employment. Employment peers exclude occupations already listed in the pay column so the two link sets stay distinct.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes make? ▼
Where does Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes pay rank nationally? ▼
What state pays Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes the most? ▼
What education do Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes need? ▼
Does BLS publish a safety rate for 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? ▼
Which metro areas pay the most for Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes? ▼
What to do with this data
How to use Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes pay figures in a real decision
- The 75th-percentile wage is about $146,430/year. Treat it as the upper-quartile market boundary, not an automatic target for experience alone; role scope, location, industry, credentials, performance, and employer context still need separate evidence. 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.
Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. Occupation wages use BLS OEWS May 2025; outlook uses BLS Employment Projections for 2024–2034; safety, skills, knowledge, and task panels identify their BLS or O*NET sources in context. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.
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.