Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes: Job Description
Represent and promote artists, performers, and athletes in dealings with current or prospective employers. May handle contract negotiation and other business matters for clients.
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The Daily Work of Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes Perform?
The core tasks performed by agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes cover:
- 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.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Effective agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
The competencies most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Related Job Titles
Common job titles for this role include:
- Acquisition Agent
- Advance Agent
- Agent
- Artist Manager
- Artist Representative
- Artist's Manager
- Artist's Representative
- Athlete Manager
Employment and Demand
There are roughly 217,753 agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes working in the United States today. Demand is forecast 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 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes Make in Different U.S. States?
| 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
Pay for agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes vary by region. Top regions by median wage:
| 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 |
Industry Breakdown
The largest employers 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 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Software Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes Use
- 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
Education and Training
Typical 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), reflecting 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)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Students preparing for agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes typically earn programs in:
Visual and Performing Arts
3 programs across 1 majors
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
Statistics shown above are sourced 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).
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