Construction Managers
Median wage · national
$114,990
Range: $89K – $152K
Employed
380K
Openings/yr
47K
Typically: bachelor's degree
HUMANITIES
Agents & Business Managers
Projected to grow +8.7% through 2034, Agents & Business Managers is expanding faster than most occupations. Median pay is $82,890, and early movers in a growing field often advance faster.
About Agents & Business Managers
Represent and promote artists, performers, and athletes in dealings with current or prospective employers. May handle contract negotiation and other business matters for clients.
- Median Wage
- $82,890
- Employed Nationally
- 13K
- Openings / Year
- 2,200
- Entry Education
- Bachelor's degree
- Job Zone
- Zone 4: Considerable Preparation
Also known as:
Advance Agent
Agent
Artist Manager
Artist Representative
Artist's Manager
How Much Do Agents & Business Managers Make?
Agents & Business Managers earn $82,890 nationally, above the national median for college graduates. The middle 50% of earners fall between $63,670 and $146,430. Actual pay varies by employer, specialization, and location.
$82,890
National Median (Annual)
Above the national median for college graduates.
$64K–$146K
Middle 50% Range
25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.
Earnings Range
$63,670
Entry-level
$82,890
Median
$146,430
Experienced
The mean wage for this occupation is $141,580, above the median. A concentration of very high earners pulls the average up. The median is the better gauge of typical pay.
What Do Agents & Business Managers Do?
O*NET data identifies 5 core activities and 5 measurable skills for Agents & Business Managers roles. Use this section to judge whether the day-to-day reality aligns with what you actually want to spend time doing.
What You'll 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.
Core Skills Employers Look For
Negotiation
Persuasion
Speaking
Active Listening
Reading Comprehension
Who Thrives Here
E
Enterprising
Leadership, influence, and business acumen are rewarded here, where managing teams, driving decisions, or persuading others shapes career outcomes.
S
Social
Working closely with people, teaching, advising, or helping others navigate challenges is a defining feature of this career's daily work.
C
Conventional
Success depends on precision and structured processes, where detail-oriented people who work consistently within established systems perform best.
Where Do Agents & Business Managers Work?
What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.
Work Setting
Mixed
Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.
Physical Demands
Light
Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.
Stress Level
Moderate
Moderate pressure. Regular deadlines exist but are generally manageable with experience.
What Is the Job Outlook for Agents & Business Managers?
The BLS projects +8.7% employment change for Agents & Business Managers through 2034, well above the national average of +5%. About 2,200 openings per year keep the field accessible to new entrants.
↗ +8.7%
10-Year Growth (2024–2034)
Faster than average.
2,200
Annual Openings
New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.
13K
Currently Employed
Total US employment as of BLS May 2024.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2024.
Where the Jobs Are
The five states below employ the most Agents & Business Managers professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $82,890 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.
| # | State | Jobs | Median Wage | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 5,960 | — | — |
| 2 | New York | 2,660 | $81,470 | -1.7% |
| 3 | Florida | 810 | — | — |
| 4 | Texas | 730 | $71,450 | -13.8% |
| 5 | Tennessee | 630 | $77,490 | -6.5% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →
How to Get Here
Most Agents & Business Managers positions require a bachelor's degree to qualify. The 3 programs below are the most common academic pathways into this field, ranked by how many graduates they produce each year.
Typical Entry Education
Bachelor's degree
Job Zone
Zone 4: Considerable Preparation
These positions typically require a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience before advancing into senior roles.
Degree Programs That Lead Here
| # | Program | Graduates/yr | 4yr Median | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Business Administration | 395,227 | $68,257 | 2,611 |
| 2 | Public Relations | 20,666 | $63,560 | 608 |
| 3 | Arts Therapy | 4,722 | $48,240 | 346 |
Top Colleges for Aspiring Agents & Business Managers
Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.
| # | College | UCD Score | Net Price | Salary 10yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States Coast Guard Academy New London, CT | 96 | — | — |
| 2 | United States Air Force Academy USAF Academy, CO | 96 | — | — |
| 3 | United States Military Academy West Point, NY | 96 | — | — |
| 4 | CUNY Bernard M Baruch College New York, NY | 93 | $3,033 | $75,971 |
| 5 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | 93 | $12,548 | $82,511 |
| 6 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA | 93 | $13,481 | $92,446 |
Plan Your Path
Once you've sized up Agents & Business Managers, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.
College ROI Calculator
See if the degree that leads to Agents & Business Managers pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.
College Cost Calculator
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Compare Colleges
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
College Match Quiz
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
Agents & Business Managers Pros & Cons
Strong earnings and growing demand make Agents & Business Managers a compelling path. The 3 strengths and 2 trade-offs below are drawn from BLS wage data and employment projections.
PROS
- Above-average pay At $82,890 median annually, this career pays meaningfully more than most college-graduate roles. Financial return on education is typically strong.
- Fast-growing field At +8.7% projected growth through 2034, this career grows faster than the national average of about +5%. A strong signal for long-term demand.
- High earning ceiling Top earners (75th percentile) reach $146,430 annually. Strong performers, specialists, and those in high-cost markets have significant upside beyond the median.
CONS
- Multi-year ramp before career-level pay This is a Job Zone 4 occupation, these positions typically require a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience before advancing into senior roles. Most workers in this field spend their first several years at entry-level pay well below the $82,890 median while building the experience employers require.
- Entry-level pay well below the national median The 25th percentile wage of $63,670 is considerably below the $82,890 median. Early-career workers typically spend 5 or more years building toward typical pay. Factor this into any program ROI calculation.
Agents & Business Managers Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Agents & Business Managers professionals earn?
The national median annual wage for Agents & Business Managers is $82,890, above the national median for full-time workers. The middle 50% of earners fall between $63,670 and $146,430. Pay varies by employer size, industry sector, specialization, and geography. National figures are a starting point, not a guarantee.
Is Agents & Business Managers a good career?
Yes, the data is strong. A $82,890 median with +8.7% projected growth through 2034 is a combination most career fields can't match. The real variable is early career: workers around the 25th percentile earn $63,670, so your first employer and location will shape your trajectory more than the national number suggests.
How long does it take to become a Agents & Business Managers?
Expect 4 years of undergraduate education followed by 2 or more years of field experience before most employers consider you qualified for career-level positions. A bachelor's degree is the typical minimum credential. Degree programs like Business Administration are typical entry paths. Early-career pay during this ramp-up period will be meaningfully below the $82,890 national median. Factor that gap into any program ROI calculation.
What is the job outlook for Agents & Business Managers?
The BLS projects +8.7% employment change for Agents & Business Managers through 2034, faster than average compared to all occupations. About 2,200 job openings per year are projected, including new positions and replacements for workers who retire or change careers. 13K people currently work in this occupation nationwide (BLS May 2024).
Why do Agents & Business Managers salaries vary so widely?
The $82,760 gap between the 25th ($63,670) and 75th ($146,430) percentile reflects how much employer type, industry, specialization, and geography affect pay. Entry-level roles and lower-demand markets cluster near the bottom; senior, specialized, or high-cost-metro positions push the top. In fields with this much spread, where you work and what you specialize in often matters more than years of experience.
What skills do Agents & Business Managers professionals need?
O*NET data identifies the core skills employers consistently prioritize for Agents & Business Managers roles: Negotiation, Persuasion, Speaking, Active Listening, and Reading Comprehension. These develop through formal education and hands-on work. Programs with internship or co-op requirements give you a meaningful head start on the ones that take time to build.
Related Findings
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Air traffic controllers earn more than the typical bachelor's-degree career, with an associate degree. The occupations that pay six figures without four years of college.
- No bachelor degree
- High paying careers
- Associate degree
- Trades
- Median wage
-
Does a Master's Degree Pay Off? Barely, on Average
Group every career by the degree it requires and master's-level jobs pay a median of about $91,000, statistically tied with bachelor's-level work. The premium hides in a few fields.
- Master's degree
- Bachelor's degree
- Median wage
- Graduate school
- Career outcomes
-
Growing and Paying $80K Plus: The Careers That Do Both
Only 95 of 385 federal careers both pay a median above $80,000 and grow faster than the typical job. Here is the rare set that clears both bars.
- Career growth
- Median wage
- High-paying careers
- Job outlook
- Career change
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