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Salary comparison

Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes vs. Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers: Who Earns More?

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers out-earn Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes by $149K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes land at $82,890 and Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers at $232,140. The education gap is real: agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athlete programs typically require bachelor's degree, while airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineer programs require no formal educational credential. Top-paying state for Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes is Florida ($98,200); for Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers it's Georgia ($618,090).

Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers
Median salary
$82,890
$232,140
Hourly rate
$39.85/hr
$null/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$48,010
$106,710
Senior level (90th %)
$284,570
$463,830
Education required
Bachelor's degree
No formal educational credential
U.S. employment
12,620
103,560
Job growth (10-year)
8.7%
3.9%
Category
Business & Finance
Transportation
Top-paying state
Florida
Georgia

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes median pay.

State
Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers
Florida
$98,200
$225,020
California
$98,110
$353,900
Colorado
$95,530
$307,490
Texas
$82,920
$215,150
Michigan
$82,440
$428,570
New Hampshire
$81,690
$99,280
Connecticut
$81,470
$199,870
New York
$79,620
$255,240
Arkansas
$78,560
$168,970
Ohio
$76,790
$204,170
Tennessee
$75,390
$143,580
Washington
$74,620
$229,900
Arizona
$60,340
$227,870
Illinois
$56,560
$293,490

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes or Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers?

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers earn more nationally. The median is $82,890 for Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes versus $232,140 for Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers, a difference of $149K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes or Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers?

Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes has the better 10-year outlook at 8.7% projected growth, compared to 3.9% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes or Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers?

Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes typically requires bachelor's degree. Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers requires no formal educational credential. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes get paid the most?

Florida is the top-paying state for Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes at $98,200/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes vs. Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Florida, Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes earn $98,200 vs. $225,020 for Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes salary breakdownView →Full Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers salary breakdownView →Best cities for Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers by take-home payExplore →How to become a agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletesGuide →How to become a airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineersGuide →