Hiring Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes
Employers across the 13 metro areas we have BLS OEWS wage data for pay agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes a median of $57,410 to $123,950 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). A search through recruitlocalpros runs Tier I to Tier VI, $6,240 to $54,340, set by seniority, never by location or salary. Our vetted recruiting partner handles sourcing, screening and placement end to end.
What do agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes do?
- 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.
Core tasks, O*NET OnLine, 13-1011.00.
What does it take to become one?
Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
O*NET Job Zone 4, SVP (7.0 to < 8.0). O*NET OnLine.
Employers commonly list experience with Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Adobe Photoshop, Apple macOS, Facebook, Microsoft Outlook for this role.
What do agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes get paid?
BLS OEWS, May 2025 publishes a wage for agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes in 13 of the metro areas in this build. The median ranges from $57,410 to $123,950 a year depending on the metro, with a midpoint of $90,530. This is what employers pay, place of work, not a single national figure and not what any one person takes home.
BLS OEWS, BLS OEWS, May 2025, SOC 13-1011.
What does hiring one cost?
The same as any role: tier, not location or salary, sets the fee. Across all six tiers the published range is $6,240 to $54,340 per search. For scale, the highest published median for agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes in this build is $123,950. A contingency firm hiring at that level would bill roughly $24,790 to $37,185 on the first year salary alone, 20 to 30%.
Frequently asked
- How fast can a agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes search fill?
- 23 to 35 days, 2 to 3x faster than a typical contingency search, per the recruiting provider's published figures.
- What if the hire does not work out?
- A 45-day replacement guarantee, at 50% off a repeat search for the same role.
Price a agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes search
Eight questions about the role. Your tier range appears on screen, with the contingency comparison if you are paying one now.