Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes: Career Profile
Represent and promote artists, performers, and athletes in dealings with current or prospective employers. May handle contract negotiation and other business matters for clients.
Featured schools near , edit
What Do Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes Perform?
The day-to-day responsibilities of agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes include:
- 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.
Skills and Knowledge
Top agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
These are the skills that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Other Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Acquisition Agent
- Advance Agent
- Agent
- Artist Manager
- Artist Representative
- Artist's Manager
- Artist's Representative
- Athlete Manager
Employment and Demand
The U.S. employs around 217,753 agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +10.8% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $96,762 |
| Hourly median | $46.52 |
| 10th percentile | $67,974 |
| 25th percentile | $82,368 |
| 75th percentile | $111,156 |
| 90th percentile | $125,550 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Wisconsin | $114,210 |
| Georgia | $100,880 |
| Connecticut | $94,830 |
| New Jersey | $83,410 |
| New York | $81,470 |
| Nevada | $78,370 |
| Tennessee | $77,490 |
| Minnesota | $75,080 |
| Illinois | $72,490 |
| Texas | $71,450 |
| Maryland | $71,340 |
| Arizona | $70,100 |
| Kentucky | $68,900 |
| Colorado | $65,180 |
| Indiana | $64,530 |
| Utah | $60,470 |
| Ohio | $54,960 |
| Oregon | $53,940 |
| Virginia | $47,950 |
| Michigan | $46,400 |
Where Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes Earn the Most
Compensation for agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes vary by region. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| New England | $94,830 | 0.7% | 0.63 |
| Middle Atlantic | $78,621 | 23.0% | 2.66 |
| Plains States | $75,080 | 0.5% | 0.27 |
| Southwest | $71,245 | 6.3% | 0.56 |
| Great Lakes | $68,075 | 4.0% | 0.35 |
| Rocky Mountains | $62,517 | 1.7% | 0.63 |
| Southeast | $37,603 | 17.7% | 1.12 |
| Far Western US | $1,290 | 46.1% | 3.43 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $126,560 | 30 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $107,370 | 290 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | GA | $102,530 | 220 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | CA | $99,970 | 160 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $93,400 | 2,520 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | MN | $84,150 | |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | LA | $82,160 | 50 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | DC | $81,190 | 130 |
Top Industries Employing Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes
The bulk of agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 12,790 | $99,140 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 800 | $65,000 |
| Information | 470 | n/a |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 90 | $63,410 |
| Accommodation and Food Services | 40 | $45,600 |
Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes work in the following industries:
Tech Stack
- Graphics or photo imaging software: Adobe Photoshop (hot technology)
- Operating system software: Apple macOS (hot technology)
- Web page creation and editing software: Facebook (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Customer relationship management CRM software: Salesforce software (hot technology)
- Video conferencing software: Zoom (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
The on-the-job environment of agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Telephone Conversations
- Contact With Others
- Time Pressure
- Spend Time Sitting
How to Become Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes
Entry-level agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes positions require a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Considerable Preparation Needed (Job Zone 4), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners (Primary-Long)
- Fundraisers (Supplemental)
- Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists (Primary-Long)
- Personal Financial Advisors (Supplemental)
- Art Directors (Supplemental)
- Producers and Directors (Supplemental)
- Talent Directors (Primary-Short)
- Public Relations Specialists (Primary-Short)
Degree Programs
Future agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes often complete programs in:
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
1 programs across 1 majors
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs
1 programs across 1 majors
About the Data
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 13-1011.00 (Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes).
BusinessDegreeCentral.com provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© BusinessDegreeCentral.com – All Rights Reserved.