Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes
Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes (SOC 13-1011) earn a median $82,890 a year ($39.85 an hour) in the United States, with 12,620 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Florida.
What agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes do
Agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes represent clients when they deal with employers who have hired them or might and handle many of their business affairs. Depending on the client, they may negotiate contracts, collect fees, commissions, and other payments in line with contract terms, and send samples of a client's work and promotional material to potential employers. They also follow industry trends and deals, and audition or interview prospective clients, and advise clients on career decisions. Titles include talent agent, artist manager, artist representative, and booking agent. The occupation is different from the performers and athletes themselves, from lawyers who draft contracts, and from sales agents who represent products. They also negotiate with managers, promoters, and union officials about clients' contractual rights and obligations, and they schedule promotional or performance engagements.
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report a bachelor's degree as the typical level of education for this occupation.
Also called: Advance Agent, Agent, Artist Manager, Artist Representative, Artist's Manager.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $23.08 | $30.61 | $39.85 | $70.40 | $136.81 | $68.07 | 12,620 |
| Annual | $48,010 | $63,670 | $82,890 | $146,430 | $284,570 | $141,580 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Florida | Hourly | $15.22 | $24.33 | $47.21 | $91.63 | $246.21 | $85.74 | 870 | 0.09 | 1.09 |
| Annual | $31,660 | $50,610 | $98,200 | $190,590 | $512,110 | $178,340 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $35.35 | $36.54 | $47.17 | $78.64 | $143.46 | $76.56 | 4,860 | 0.27 | 3.28 |
| Annual | $73,530 | $76,010 | $98,110 | $163,570 | $298,390 | $159,240 | ||||
| Colorado | Hourly | $22.02 | $26.97 | $45.93 | $74.50 | $94.58 | $55.49 | 80 | 0.03 | 0.36 |
| Annual | $45,790 | $56,100 | $95,530 | $154,960 | $196,730 | $115,420 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $20.83 | $32.79 | $39.86 | $49.23 | $63.47 | $41.04 | 320 | 0.02 | 0.28 |
| Annual | $43,330 | $68,210 | $82,920 | $102,390 | $132,010 | $85,360 | ||||
| Michigan | Hourly | $15.02 | $18.33 | $39.64 | $70.76 | $70.76 | $44.25 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $31,240 | $38,130 | $82,440 | $147,180 | $147,180 | $92,030 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $35.35 | $36.54 | $47.17 | $78.64 | $143.46 | $76.56 | 4,860 | 0.27 | 3.28 |
| Annual | $73,530 | $76,010 | $98,110 | $163,570 | $298,390 | $159,240 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $25.18 | $27.40 | $38.28 | $61.84 | $105.62 | $64.52 | 2,660 | 0.27 | 3.38 |
| Annual | $52,370 | $57,000 | $79,620 | $128,630 | $219,690 | $134,200 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $15.22 | $24.33 | $47.21 | $91.63 | $246.21 | $85.74 | 870 | 0.09 | 1.09 |
| Annual | $31,660 | $50,610 | $98,200 | $190,590 | $512,110 | $178,340 | ||||
| Tennessee | Hourly | $21.41 | $24.67 | $36.25 | $59.59 | $101.17 | $54.50 | 730 | 0.22 | 2.74 |
| Annual | $44,540 | $51,310 | $75,390 | $123,950 | $210,420 | $113,350 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $20.83 | $32.79 | $39.86 | $49.23 | $63.47 | $41.04 | 320 | 0.02 | 0.28 |
| Annual | $43,330 | $68,210 | $82,920 | $102,390 | $132,010 | $85,360 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | Hourly | $22.02 | $27.46 | $59.59 | $74.50 | $96.97 | $59.71 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $45,790 | $57,120 | $123,950 | $154,960 | $201,700 | $124,200 | ||||
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | Hourly | $25.37 | $31.27 | $52.20 | $125.00 | $125.06 | $70.97 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $52,770 | $65,030 | $108,580 | $260,000 | $260,120 | $147,630 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $37.80 | $39.14 | $49.87 | $85.37 | $159.72 | $75.21 | 180 | 0.08 | 0.94 |
| Annual | $78,620 | $81,420 | $103,730 | $177,560 | $332,220 | $156,430 | ||||
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | Hourly | $15.22 | $28.95 | $48.39 | $237.70 | $246.21 | $103.42 | 500 | 0.18 | 2.16 |
| Annual | $31,660 | $60,210 | $100,650 | $494,410 | $512,110 | $215,110 | ||||
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | Hourly | $27.19 | $36.47 | $47.56 | $106.10 | $147.44 | $71.29 | 160 | 0.10 | 1.28 |
| Annual | $56,550 | $75,860 | $98,930 | $220,680 | $306,680 | $148,270 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $35.40 | $36.54 | $47.00 | $78.57 | $139.60 | $76.50 | 4,120 | 0.66 | 8.09 |
| Annual | $73,630 | $76,010 | $97,750 | $163,420 | $290,360 | $159,110 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $25.18 | $28.18 | $40.30 | $63.54 | $105.99 | $66.97 | 2,490 | 0.26 | 3.23 |
| Annual | $52,370 | $58,610 | $83,820 | $132,150 | $220,470 | $139,300 | ||||
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | Hourly | $21.41 | $24.67 | $36.25 | $59.59 | $76.75 | $50.51 | 630 | 0.57 | 7.05 |
| Annual | $44,540 | $51,310 | $75,390 | $123,940 | $159,630 | $105,060 | ||||
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | Hourly | $15.22 | $28.95 | $48.39 | $237.70 | $246.21 | $103.42 | 500 | 0.18 | 2.16 |
| Annual | $31,660 | $60,210 | $100,650 | $494,410 | $512,110 | $215,110 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $15.00 | $21.88 | $27.60 | $36.31 | $66.18 | $35.89 | 320 | 0.07 | 0.88 |
| Annual | $31,200 | $45,510 | $57,410 | $75,520 | $137,660 | $74,660 | ||||
Top industries employing agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes
Agents and Managers for Artists, Athletes, Entertainers, and Other Public Figures employ 79.0% of agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes nationally (9,970 jobs) at a median $95,570 a year ($45.95 an hour), followed by Performing Arts Companies (3.5%) and Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events (3.5%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agents and Managers for Artists, Athletes, Entertainers, and Other Public Figures NAICS 711400 | 9,970 | 79.0% | $95,570 | $45.95 |
| Performing Arts Companies NAICS 711100 | 440 | 3.5% | $52,850 | $25.41 |
| Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events NAICS 711300 | 440 | 3.5% | $88,100 | $42.36 |
| Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers NAICS 711500 | 270 | 2.1% | $64,380 | $30.95 |
| Motion Picture and Video Industries NAICS 512100 | 240 | 1.9% | * | * |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (12,620). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $78,410 for agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes in May 2021 and $82,890 in May 2025, with employment of 12,480 and 12,620.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $78,410 | $37.70 | 12,480 |
| May 2022 | $82,530 | $39.68 | 13,130 |
| May 2023 | $84,900 | $40.82 | 12,870 |
| May 2024 | $96,310 | $46.30 | 14,220 |
| May 2025 | $82,890 | $39.85 | 12,620 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
27 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florida profile | $47.21 | $98,200 | $31,660 | $512,110 | 870 | 0.09 | 1.09 |
| 2 | California profile | $47.17 | $98,110 | $73,530 | $298,390 | 4,860 | 0.27 | 3.28 |
| 3 | Colorado profile | $45.93 | $95,530 | $45,790 | $196,730 | 80 | 0.03 | 0.36 |
| 4 | Texas profile | $39.86 | $82,920 | $43,330 | $132,010 | 320 | 0.02 | 0.28 |
| 5 | Michigan profile | $39.64 | $82,440 | $31,240 | $147,180 | ** | ** | ** |
| 6 | New Hampshire profile | $39.27 | $81,690 | $42,790 | $164,020 | 40 | 0.06 | 0.72 |
| 7 | Connecticut profile | $39.17 | $81,470 | $52,000 | $221,610 | 170 | 0.10 | 1.27 |
| 8 | New Jersey profile | $39.03 | $81,190 | $33,160 | $166,370 | 170 | 0.04 | 0.50 |
| 9 | New York profile | $38.28 | $79,620 | $52,370 | $219,690 | 2,660 | 0.27 | 3.38 |
| 10 | Arkansas profile | $37.77 | $78,560 | $55,040 | $157,140 | 30 | 0.03 | 0.31 |
| 11 | Ohio profile | $36.92 | $76,790 | $51,820 | $190,540 | 100 | 0.02 | 0.23 |
| 12 | Tennessee profile | $36.25 | $75,390 | $44,540 | $210,420 | 730 | 0.22 | 2.74 |
| 13 | Wisconsin profile | $36.05 | $74,990 | $44,520 | $136,190 | 40 | 0.01 | 0.16 |
| 14 | Washington profile | $35.88 | $74,620 | $50,790 | $363,410 | 120 | 0.04 | 0.43 |
| 15 | Virginia profile | $35.29 | $73,400 | $34,940 | $181,080 | 110 | 0.03 | 0.34 |
| 16 | Arizona profile | $29.01 | $60,340 | $40,140 | $94,900 | 160 | 0.05 | 0.62 |
| 17 | Illinois profile | $27.19 | $56,560 | $31,200 | $124,720 | ** | ** | ** |
| – | Georgia profile | * | * | * | * | 230 | 0.05 | 0.57 |
| – | Kentucky profile | * | * | * | * | 40 | 0.02 | 0.24 |
| – | Louisiana profile | * | * | * | * | 30 | 0.02 | 0.21 |
| – | Massachusetts profile | * | * | * | * | 80 | 0.02 | 0.26 |
| – | Minnesota profile | * | * | * | * | 40 | 0.01 | 0.18 |
| – | North Carolina profile | * | * | * | * | 240 | 0.05 | 0.59 |
| – | Oklahoma profile | * | * | * | * | 40 | 0.03 | 0.31 |
| – | Oregon profile | * | * | * | * | 90 | 0.05 | 0.58 |
| – | South Carolina profile | * | * | * | * | 80 | 0.04 | 0.43 |
| – | Utah profile | * | * | * | * | 150 | 0.09 | 1.05 |
Part of Business and Financial Operations Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 13-1011 Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes.
*- Wage estimate not available.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked. A withheld or top-coded median in that table shows the marker explained above.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 13-1011, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 13-1011.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.