SalaryMap USA

Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes Salary in the United States

The median annual wage for agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes in the U.S. is $82,890 ($39.85 per hour), according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.

Median annual wage
$82,890
Mean annual wage
$141,580
Median hourly wage
$39.85
Employment
12,620

12,620 employed

Wage percentiles

U.S. wage distribution for agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes (OEWS May 2025).
PercentileAnnual wageHourly wage
10th percentile$48,010$23.08
25th percentile$63,670$30.61
Median (50th)$82,890$39.85
75th percentile$146,430$70.40
90th percentile$284,570$136.81

Highest-paying states for agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes

StateMedian annual wageEmployment
Florida$98,200870
California$98,1104,860
Colorado$95,53080
Texas$82,920320
Michigan$82,440
New Hampshire$81,69040
Connecticut$81,470170
New Jersey$81,190170
New York$79,6202,660
Arkansas$78,56030

Lowest-paying states

  • Illinois: $56,560 median annual wage
  • Arizona: $60,340 median annual wage
  • Virginia: $73,400 median annual wage
  • Washington: $74,620 median annual wage
  • Wisconsin: $74,990 median annual wage

About this occupation

Represent and promote artists, performers, and athletes in dealings with current or prospective employers. May handle contract negotiation and other business matters for clients.

Typical tasks

  • Develop contacts with individuals and organizations, and apply effective strategies and techniques to ensure their clients' success.
  • Advise clients on financial and legal matters, such as investments and taxes.
  • Manage business and financial affairs for clients, such as arranging travel and lodging, selling tickets, and directing marketing and advertising activities.
  • Prepare periodic accounting statements for clients.
  • 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.

Education of the current workforce — typical entry: Bachelor's degree

Education levelShare of workers
Less than high school diploma1.0%
High school diploma or equivalent8.9%
Some college, no degree15.8%
Associate's degree6.9%
Bachelor's degree50.1%
Master's degree11.6%
Doctoral or professional degree5.7%

CareerOneStopOccupation profile data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.

Related occupations

About this data

  • Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
  • Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
  • CareerOneStop Occupation Profiles — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 14, 2026.

Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.