National Salary Info » Entertainers and Performers, Sports and Related Workers

Highest Paying Industries for Entertainers and Performers, Sports and Related Workers

The top 100 highest paying industries for entertainers and performers, sports and related workers (ranked by average annual salary) are listed in Table 1. The entry level salary (as measured by the salary of the lowest 10% paid earners) and the number of employment in those industries are also shown. As shown in the table, with an average annual salary of $172,310, communications equipment manufacturing is the highest paying industry for entertainers and performers, sports and related workers. It is followed by computer and electronic product manufacturing industry (average annual salary $140,830). The salary and employment information is computed from data published by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in May 2015 [1]. For more information about salaries of entertainers and performers, sports and related workers in a specific industry, use the links in the table.

Table 1. 100 Highest Paying Industries for Entertainers and Performers, Sports and Related Workers

Rank	Industry	Average Salary i	Entry Level Salary i	# of Empl. i
1	Communications Equipment Manufacturing	$172,310	$67,120	60
2	Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing	$140,830	$43,430	70
3	Wholesale Electronic Markets and Agents and Brokers	$95,300	$35,980	100
4	Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services	$90,170	$42,540	7,170
5	Software Publishers	$82,630	$46,770	510
6	Wholesale Trade	$81,960	$33,210	140
7	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	$81,620	$23,440	16,300
8	Telecommunications	$81,550	$37,920	780
9	Wired Telecommunications Carriers	$81,280	$37,950	770
10	Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services	$81,240	$45,640	440
11	Computer Systems Design and Related Services	$78,690	$47,280	680
12	Manufacturing	$78,680	$33,800	170
13	Specialized Design Services	$78,490	$45,270	470
14	Other Information Services	$76,800	$31,810	1,940
15	Federal government, including USPS	$74,820	$52,720	1,400
16	Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation)	$74,680	$52,720	1,400
17	Publishing Industries (except Internet)	$71,630	$38,190	1,270
18	Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services	$71,290	$19,160	7,280
19	Scientific Research and Development Services	$70,290	$43,220	40
20	Cable and Other Subscription Programming	$66,820	$35,720	3,510
21	Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment Rental and Leasing	$65,580	$34,240	40
22	Electronic Shopping and Mail-Order Houses	$65,510	$33,080	380
23	Nonstore Retailers	$65,510	$33,080	380
24	Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers	$64,050	$34,400	760
25	Rental and Leasing Services	$63,150	$24,960	110
26	Lessors of Real Estate	$62,250	$28,650	n/a
27	Television Broadcasting	$60,580	$28,560	19,180
28	Management of Companies and Enterprises	$60,440	$34,120	850
29	Motion Picture and Video Industries	$60,260	$22,550	72,900
30	Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries	$60,080	$22,590	74,080
31	Information	$60,060	$24,550	106,840
32	Newspaper Publishers	$59,510	$32,670	310
33	Broadcasting (except Internet)	$58,240	$28,270	28,770
34	Agents and Managers for Artists, Athletes, Entertainers, and Other Public Figures	$58,090	$20,650	990
35	Social Advocacy Organizations	$57,770	$23,460	490
36	Casino Hotels	$57,110	$39,770	1,050
37	Radio and Television Broadcasting	$56,950	$27,580	25,260
38	State Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OES Designation)	$53,950	$21,020	630
39	Sound Recording Industries	$53,930	$25,650	1,180
40	Other Personal Services	$53,840	$26,340	130
41	Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers	$53,840	$19,430	9,730
42	Hospitals (including private, state, and local government hospitals)	$52,450	$31,320	170
43	Personal and Laundry Services	$51,450	$17,990	230
44	General Medical and Surgical Hospitals	$50,960	$31,660	150
45	Construction	$49,260	$25,610	60
46	Business Schools and Computer and Management Training	$48,860	$17,370	210
47	Real Estate and Rental and Leasing	$48,710	$20,960	250
48	Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations	$48,250	$18,130	1,720
49	Colleges, universities, and professional schools - State government owned	$48,020	$22,180	18,860
50	State government, including schools and hospitals	$47,920	$21,690	20,390
51	Educational Services - State government owned	$47,740	$21,730	19,760
52	Radio Broadcasting	$47,590	$25,120	6,070
53	Performing Arts Companies	$47,000	$18,900	44,740
54	Outpatient Care Centers	$46,900	$27,340	50
55	Travel Arrangement and Reservation Services	$46,170	$23,120	330
56	Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	$45,860	$24,650	200
57	Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries	$45,520	$18,870	79,290
58	Finance and Insurance	$44,910	$17,460	100
59	Business schools and computer and management training - Privately owned	$43,820	$16,850	150
60	Nursing and Residential Care Facilities	$43,370	$23,040	60
61	Other Support Services	$42,860	$20,640	210
62	Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters	$42,830	$18,800	17,120
63	Colleges, universities, and professional schools - Local government owned	$42,810	$22,670	100
64	Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools	$42,770	$18,920	44,450
65	Photographic Services	$42,060	$22,740	160
66	Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events	$42,040	$19,100	5,810
67	Retail Trade	$41,190	$18,310	860
68	Junior colleges - State government owned	$40,860	$18,530	740
69	Junior Colleges (including private, state, and local government schools)	$40,200	$18,040	4,310
70	Junior colleges - Local government owned	$40,150	$17,970	3,540
71	Religious Organizations	$39,770	$18,110	13,540
72	Traveler Accommodation	$39,480	$18,460	2,620
73	Transportation and Warehousing	$39,220	$20,220	160
74	Gambling Industries	$38,920	$18,060	210
75	Accommodation	$38,860	$18,440	2,740
76	Spectator Sports	$38,630	$18,460	18,010
77	Grantmaking and Giving Services	$38,600	$19,570	n/a
78	Colleges, universities, and professional schools - Privately owned	$38,400	$18,310	25,480
79	Ambulatory Health Care Services	$38,200	$21,680	370
80	Department Stores	$37,920	$22,080	60
81	General Merchandise Stores	$37,920	$22,080	60
82	Elementary and Secondary Schools - State government owned	$37,900	$18,990	90
83	Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation	$37,570	$18,330	137,090
84	Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities	$37,410	$28,170	90
85	Real Estate	$37,390	$20,470	140
86	Offices of Physicians	$37,330	$29,270	180
87	Health Care and Social Assistance	$37,220	$19,790	2,100
88	Individual and Family Services	$36,820	$19,470	1,220
89	Death Care Services	$35,540	$16,680	100
90	Social Assistance	$35,410	$19,370	1,500
91	Public sector -- Federal, state, and local government, including government owned schools and hospit	$35,390	$17,460	94,530
92	Technical and trade schools - Privately owned	$35,280	$22,160	40
93	Activities Related to Real Estate	$34,920	$20,860	70
94	Junior colleges - Privately owned	$34,570	$18,470	30
95	Technical and Trade Schools	$34,020	$21,530	50
96	Elementary and Secondary Schools - Privately owned	$33,870	$17,640	16,520
97	Other Services (except Federal, State, and Local Government)	$33,480	$17,710	25,500
98	Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation)	$33,450	$18,030	13,600
99	Federal, State, and Local Government	$33,450	$18,030	13,600
100	Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations	$33,390	$17,700	25,270