Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes Salary
The median pay for a agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes in California is $98,110/year ($47.17/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $74K at the entry level to $298K for experienced workers. Note: the mean (average) wage is $159K, significantly higher than the median. This typically reflects a mix of employment settings including academic and private practice positions. Prices run high here (RPP 106.14), so that salary is closer to $92,435 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,471/month, about 40.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across California. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $98K get you in California?
About agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes
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What this looks like in California
California sits well above the national pay line for agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes, local pay runs about 18% higher than the U.S. median of $83K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,471/month, which is 41.1% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 6% above the national average (BEA RPP 106.14), so groceries and services cost more too. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, California
Entry-level agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes (10th percentile) start around $74K. Mid-career wages sit at $98K. Top earners bring in $298K or more, a $225K spread from bottom to top.
Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes salary by metro in California
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $104K | +6% | 180 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $99K | +1% | 160 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $98K | -0% | 4,120 |
Compare to other states
Track agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when California numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athlete afford a 2BR apartment alone in California?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $98K, rent takes 41.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,471/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,800/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes in California?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes typically earn — is $74K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,412/month. At HUD’s $2,471/month FMR, rent would take 56% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athlete a high-paying job in California?
Local pay is 18% above the national median — $98K here vs. $83K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 6% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does California compare to the national average for agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes?
California pays $98K median vs. the U.S. average of $83K — that’s +18%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 106.14), the purchasing-power equivalent is $92K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes make in California?
The median is $98,110 a year, that works out to about $47 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $73,530, and experienced agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes can clear $298,390. The mean (average) is $159,240, reflecting that some workers earn substantially more. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $98K enough to live in California?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,012/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,471/month, which eats 41.1% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes salary go in California?
California has a Regional Price Parity of 106.14 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes salary is worth about $92,435 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.