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 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA is $103,730/year ($49.87/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $79K at the entry level to $332K for experienced workers. Note: the mean (average) wage is $156K, significantly higher than the median. This typically reflects a mix of employment settings including academic and private practice positions. Prices run high here (RPP 115.61), so that salary is closer to $89,724 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $3,604/month, about 56.5% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $104K get you in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont’s Regional Price Parity (115.61). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont sits well above the national pay line for agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes, local pay runs about 25% 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 $3,604/month, which is 57.2% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 16% above the national average (BEA RPP 115.61), so groceries and services cost more too. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes in metros near San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $98K | $86K |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $99K | $88K |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas | $109K | $108K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
Entry-level agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes (10th percentile) start around $79K. Mid-career wages sit at $104K. Top earners bring in $332K or more, a $254K spread from bottom to top.
Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | $98K | +18% | 870 |
| California | $98K | +18% | 4,860 |
| Colorado | $96K | +15% | 80 |
| Texas | $83K | +0% | 320 |
| Michigan | $82K | -1% | N/A |
| New Hampshire | $82K | -1% | 40 |
| Connecticut | $81K | -2% | 170 |
| New Jersey | $81K | -2% | 170 |
| New York | $80K | -4% | 2,660 |
| Arkansas | $79K | -5% | 30 |
| Ohio | $77K | -7% | 100 |
| Tennessee | $75K | -9% | 730 |
| Wisconsin | $75K | -10% | 40 |
| Washington | $75K | -10% | 120 |
| Virginia | $73K | -11% | 110 |
| Arizona | $60K | -27% | 160 |
| Illinois | $57K | -32% | N/A |
Showing 1–10 of 17 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont numbers change.
Related careers in Business & Finance
Frequently asked questions
Can a agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athlete afford a 2BR apartment alone in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $104K, rent takes 57.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $3,604/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,900/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 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes typically earn — is $79K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,717/month. At HUD’s $3,604/month FMR, rent would take 76% 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 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont?
Local pay is 25% above the national median — $104K here vs. $83K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 16% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont compare to the national average for agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes?
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont pays $104K median vs. the U.S. average of $83K — that’s +25%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 115.61), the purchasing-power equivalent is $90K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes make in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?
The median is $103,730 a year, that works out to about $50 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $78,620, and experienced agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes can clear $332,220. The mean (average) is $156,430, reflecting that some workers earn substantially more. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $104K enough to live in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,298/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $3,604/month, which eats 57.2% 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 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont?
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont has a Regional Price Parity of 115.61 (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 $89,724 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.