Represents professional and college athletes in contract negotiations, endorsement deals, and career decisions, earning a commission on the deals they close. BLS does not publish separate figures for agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes; it counts them within agent and business manager of artists, performers, and athletes (SOC 13-1011), whose median pay is $82,890 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
- SOC 13-1011
- Business and Financial Operations
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Sports Agent in four numbers
- Median pay
- $82,890a year, or $39.85/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $48KTop 10% $285K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +9.7%Much faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+9.7%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +9.7% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 2,40026,900 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202526.9K
- Projected 203529.5K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 26.9K Projected 2035 29.5K - Typical education
- Bachelor'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Less than high school1.3%
- High school38%
- Some college2.6%
- Bachelor's41.3%
- Master's16.8%
Highest education held by agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes Segment Value Less than high school 1.3% High school 38% Some college 2.6% Bachelor's 41.3% Master's 16.8%
Also advertised as: Player Agent, NFLPA Contract Advisor, Athlete Representative, Certified Player Agent, Baseball Agent.
Pay
How much do Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes make?
Every sports agent in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$82,890
Middle half earn $63,670 to $146,430
- 10th
- $48,010
- 25th
- $63,670
- 75th
- $146,430
- 90th
- $284,570
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $48,010 |
| 25th | $63,670 |
| Median | $82,890 |
| 75th | $146,430 |
| 90th | $284,570 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $82,890
- Median hourly wage
- $39.85/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $141,580
- People employed
- 12,620
Versus all US occupations
At $82,890, Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes earn 63% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $31,910 a year.
Versus business and financial operations occupations
Inside the Business and Financial Operations group, where the middle occupation pays $80,730, this is 3% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $284,570 or more while the bottom 10% earn $48,010, a gap of 5.9×. That is an unusually wide spread, which usually tracks specialisation, employer type and years of experience.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 63% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Florida pays the most at $98,200, and still leads at $94,958 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Florida | $98,200 | $94,958 | 870 |
| 2California | $98,110 | $88,611 | 4,860 |
| 3Colorado | $95,530 | $92,701 | 80 |
| 4Texas | $82,920 | $85,434 | 320 |
| 5Michigan | $82,440 | $85,681 | N/A |
| 6New Hampshire | $81,690 | $78,424 | 40 |
| 7Connecticut | $81,470 | $78,631 | 170 |
| 8New Jersey | $81,190 | $74,620 | 170 |
| 9New York | $79,620 | $73,776 | 2,660 |
| 10Arkansas | $78,560 | $90,364 | 30 |
Job outlook
Is Sports Agent a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Much faster than average. +9.7% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes | +9.7% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Much faster than average
BLS projects employment of Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes to change 9.7% over 2025–2035, roughly 2.8× the 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 2,600 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 2,400 openings are projected each year, 8.9% of the 26,900 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Sports Agent
Most agents hold a bachelor's degree in sports management, business, or a related field, and many have a law degree or MBA. Each players association certifies agents for its own league. The NFL Players Association, for example, requires an undergraduate degree plus a postgraduate degree (or substantial negotiating experience), a background check, attendance at a seminar, and a passing score on a proctored written exam. The NBA, MLB, NHL, and MLS unions run their own certification programs. Most states have also adopted the Uniform Athlete Agents Act, which requires agents who recruit college athletes to register with the state.
People usually break in as interns or assistants at an established agency, doing scouting reports, contract research, and client support before recruiting clients of their own.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Bachelor's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
Less than 5 years
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Medium preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes.
- Bachelor's Degree41.3%
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)38%
- Master's Degree16.8%
- Some College Courses2.6%
- Less than a High School Diploma1.3%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree | 41.3% |
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 38% |
| Master's Degree | 16.8% |
| Some College Courses | 2.6% |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 1.3% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Sports Agent do?
Sports agents negotiate playing contracts with team front offices, working through the salary cap rules, collective bargaining agreements, and free agency calendars that govern each league. They also find and negotiate endorsement, appearance, and licensing deals, and increasingly handle name, image, and likeness (NIL) agreements for college athletes.
The job runs well beyond the contract. Agents recruit clients, often years before they turn pro, prepare them for the draft, coordinate with financial advisors, lawyers, and publicists, and manage problems as they come up, from injuries to trades to off-field trouble. Many work at agencies with divisions for marketing and client services, while others run small independent practices with a handful of athletes.
Day-to-day tasks
- Negotiate player contracts with team executives within league salary cap and collective bargaining rules
- Recruit prospective clients and pitch agency services to athletes and their families
- Secure and negotiate endorsement, appearance, and NIL agreements
- Prepare clients for the draft, combines, and pro days
- Coordinate financial planning, legal, and public relations support for clients
- Research comparable contracts and player performance data to build negotiating positions
- Maintain league and state agent certification and registration
- Advise clients on trades, free agency, and career transitions
Typical tasks, researched by NueCareer from the sources below.
Working conditions and hours
Agents work from agency offices but spend much of their time on the road: at games, combines, pro days, training facilities, and client homes. Hours follow the sports calendar, with heavy stretches around the draft, free agency, and trade deadlines, and phones stay on at night and on weekends. Income is often commission based, and building a client list can take years.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayAlmost never works outdoors.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeSeated for more than half the working day.
Standing
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Active Listening4.0
- Speaking4.0
- Critical Thinking3.8
- Writing3.6
- Active Learning3.5
- Monitoring2.9
- Learning Strategies2.6
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 |
| Active Listening | 4.0 |
| Speaking | 4.0 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.8 |
| Writing | 3.6 |
| Active Learning | 3.5 |
| Monitoring | 2.9 |
| Learning Strategies | 2.6 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Persuasion4.0
- Negotiation4.0
- Social Perceptiveness3.9
- Coordination3.8
- Time Management3.8
- Complex Problem Solving3.4
- Judgment and Decision Making3.1
- Service Orientation3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Persuasion | 4.0 |
| Negotiation | 4.0 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.9 |
| Coordination | 3.8 |
| Time Management | 3.8 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.4 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.1 |
| Service Orientation | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Customer relationship management CRM software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Graphics or photo imaging software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Video conferencing software · in demand
- Web page creation and editing software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Accounting software
- Analytical or scientific software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Sports Agent?
NueCareer estimate (Holland code ESC) built on O*NET's Agent and Business Manager of Artists, Performers, and Athletes profile, scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Sports Agent |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 1 |
| Investigative | 2 |
| Artistic | 4 |
| Social | 5 |
| Enterprising | 6 |
| Conventional | 4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around leading, persuading, selling and making decisions, combined with teaching, helping and working directly with other people.
- Enterprising6.5
- Social4.7
- Conventional4.2
- Artistic3.5
- Investigative1.8
- Realistic1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Sports Agent
O*NET related occupations
- Business and Financial Operations
Agent and Business Manager of Artists, Performers, and Athletes
$82,890median a year
Most earn $48K to $285K
+9.7%Bachelor's - Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Sales and Related
- Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Management
- Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
More business and financial operations careers
Median annual pay, with agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes highlighted
- Financial Advisor$105,070
- Accountant$83,680
- Sports Agent$82,890
- Insurance Underwriter$81,370
- Coroner$80,730
- Claims Adjuster, Examiner, and Investigator$78,000
- Loan Officer$76,690
- Human Resources Specialist$75,940
- Appraiser and Assessor of Real Estate$67,960
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Financial Advisor | $105,070 |
| Accountant | $83,680 |
| Sports Agent | $82,890 |
| Insurance Underwriter | $81,370 |
| Coroner | $80,730 |
| Claims Adjuster, Examiner, and Investigator | $78,000 |
| Loan Officer | $76,690 |
| Human Resources Specialist | $75,940 |
| Appraiser and Assessor of Real Estate | $67,960 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Sports Agent appears on
Questions
Sports Agent: frequently asked questions
How much do Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes make?
BLS does not publish a separate wage for agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes. It counts them within agent and business manager of artists, performers, and athletes, whose median pay is $82,890 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of that occupation earn between $63,670 and $146,430, and the top 10% earn $284,570 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Sports Agent?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as medium preparation. Employers typically expect less than 5 years of related work experience first. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 41.3% hold bachelor's degree.
Is Sports Agent a growing career?
Yes, strongly. Employment is projected to grow 9.7% over 2025–2035, more than double the 3.5% projected for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 2,400 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Sports Agent do?
Sports agents negotiate playing contracts with team front offices, working through the salary cap rules, collective bargaining agreements, and free agency calendars that govern each league. A typical task: negotiate player contracts with team executives within league salary cap and collective bargaining rules. Employers most often ask for Customer relationship management CRM software, Electronic mail software, Graphics or photo imaging software.
Which states pay Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes the most?
The highest state medians for Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes are Florida ($98,200), California ($98,110), Colorado ($95,530) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Sports Agent?
O*NET scores Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes highest on the Enterprising, Social and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes leading, persuading, selling and making decisions with teaching, helping and working directly with other people. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ENFJ, ESFJ. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.