SalariesWhat the occupation covers
Represent and promote artists, performers, and athletes in dealings with current or prospective employers. May handle contract negotiation and other business matters for clients.
Official definition from the Standard Occupational Classification, code 13-1011.
The pay range
Pay differs a lot inside one occupation, with experience, employer and place. The table shows where the lines fall.
| Share of workers | A year | A month* | A week* | An hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% earn less than | $48,010 | $4,001 | $923 | $23.08 |
| Lowest 25% earn less than | $63,670 | $5,306 | $1,224 | $30.61 |
| Median (half earn less, half more) | $82,890 | $6,908 | $1,594 | $39.85 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $146,430 | $12,202 | $2,816 | $70.40 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $284,570 | $23,714 | $5,472 | $136.81 |
* Month and week are the yearly figure divided by 12 and by 52, worked out here for convenience. BLS publishes the yearly and hourly figures.
How it compares
The median for all occupations in the United States was $50,980 a year. The median for Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes is $82,890, which is 63% higher. Among the 32 occupations of the field Business and Financial Operations, it ranks number 12 by median pay. With 12,620 jobs, it makes up about 0.8 of every 10,000 jobs in the country. The average ($141,580) is well above the median, a sign that a smaller group of high earners pulls the average up.
Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes pay by state
The highest median pay was in Florida ($98,200), California ($98,110) and Colorado ($95,530). The lowest was in Illinois ($56,560), Arizona ($60,340) and Virginia ($73,400). The most jobs were in California (4,860), New York (2,660) and Florida (870). The occupation is most concentrated in New York, where its share of all jobs is 3.4 times the national share.
No state matches.
| State | Jobs | Median a year | Average a year | Median an hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 870 | $98,200 | $178,340 | $47.21 |
| California | 4,860 | $98,110 | $159,240 | $47.17 |
| Colorado | 80 | $95,530 | $115,420 | $45.93 |
| Texas | 320 | $82,920 | $85,360 | $39.86 |
| Michigan | not published | $82,440 | $92,030 | $39.64 |
| New Hampshire | 40 | $81,690 | $94,130 | $39.27 |
| Connecticut | 170 | $81,470 | $138,010 | $39.17 |
| New Jersey | 170 | $81,190 | $104,670 | $39.03 |
| New York | 2,660 | $79,620 | $134,200 | $38.28 |
| Arkansas | 30 | $78,560 | $107,330 | $37.77 |
| Ohio | 100 | $76,790 | $86,950 | $36.92 |
| Tennessee | 730 | $75,390 | $113,350 | $36.25 |
| Wisconsin | 40 | $74,990 | $87,640 | $36.05 |
| Washington | 120 | $74,620 | $114,000 | $35.88 |
| Virginia | 110 | $73,400 | $88,580 | $35.29 |
| Arizona | 160 | $60,340 | $66,940 | $29.01 |
| Illinois | not published | $56,560 | $67,170 | $27.19 |
| Georgia | 230 | not published | not published | not published |
| Kentucky | 40 | not published | not published | not published |
| Louisiana | 30 | not published | not published | not published |
| Massachusetts | 80 | not published | not published | not published |
| Minnesota | 40 | not published | not published | not published |
| North Carolina | 240 | not published | not published | not published |
| Oklahoma | 40 | not published | not published | not published |
| Oregon | 90 | not published | not published | not published |
| South Carolina | 80 | not published | not published | not published |
| Utah | 150 | not published | not published | not published |
Sorted by median pay, highest first. "Not published" means BLS did not release that figure for the state, usually because too few employers were surveyed. "$239,200 or more" is the highest value BLS reports in the state tables.
Similar occupations by pay
- Accountants and Auditors$83,680 a year
- Credit Analysts$83,510 a year
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other$83,050 a year
- Logisticians$82,320 a year
- Insurance Underwriters$81,370 a year
- Financial Specialists, All Other$81,100 a year
Common questions
How much do Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes earn in the United States?
The median pay was $82,890 a year in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $48,010 and the highest-paid 10% more than $284,570.
How many people work as Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes?
About 12,620 jobs in the United States in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Checked in November 2026. Figures are for employees, before tax, and leave out overtime pay and benefits. They are official statistics, not advice or a pay offer; see bls.gov/oes for the original tables.