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Author's agent vs literary agent

The differences between author's agents and literary agents can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become an author's agent, becoming a literary agent takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a literary agent has an average salary of $37,482, which is higher than the $35,164 average annual salary of an author's agent.

The top three skills for an author's agent include inbound calls, and . The most important skills for a literary agent are fiction, non-fiction, and administrative tasks.

Author's agent vs literary agent overview

Author's AgentLiterary Agent
Yearly salary$35,164$37,482
Hourly rate$16.91$18.02
Growth rate6%10%
Number of jobs26,13328,819
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 57%Bachelor's Degree, 78%
Average age4443
Years of experience26

Author's agent vs literary agent salary

Author's agents and literary agents have different pay scales, as shown below.

Author's AgentLiterary Agent
Average salary$35,164$37,482
Salary rangeBetween $21,000 And $56,000Between $24,000 And $57,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between author's agent and literary agent education

There are a few differences between an author's agent and a literary agent in terms of educational background:

Author's AgentLiterary Agent
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 57%Bachelor's Degree, 78%
Most common majorElementary EducationEnglish
Most common collegeNorthwestern UniversityMassachusetts Institute of Technology

Author's agent vs literary agent demographics

Here are the differences between author's agents' and literary agents' demographics:

Author's AgentLiterary Agent
Average age4443
Gender ratioMale, 57.1% Female, 42.9%Male, 41.5% Female, 58.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 4.8% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.3% Asian, 7.4% White, 73.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%Black or African American, 5.9% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 12.4% Asian, 9.5% White, 67.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage20%6%

Differences between author's agent and literary agent duties and responsibilities

Author's agent example responsibilities.

  • Operate remote telecommunications using applications and secure computer communications to troubleshoot and resolve issues on customer Samsung devices.
  • Review life insurance, annuities, investment, and international banking documentation for operational and regulatory compliance.

Literary agent example responsibilities.

  • Schedule and meet individuals\groups for assign or self-generate leads, assist and enroll eligible individuals in suitable Medicare product.
  • Network at industry lunches and evening events on behalf of ICM.
  • Experience working with UK publishers, literary agents, and film and television production companies.
  • Perform editing services and act as agent for nonfiction business books and fiction work for other writers.
  • Acquire available life rights projects for all aspects of the company and pitch them for potential ICM represent projects.
  • Founder of a boutique literary agency specializing in literary fiction and narrative nonfiction.
  • Show more

Author's agent vs literary agent skills

Common author's agent skills
  • Inbound Calls, 100%
Common literary agent skills
  • Fiction, 92%
  • Non-Fiction, 4%
  • Administrative Tasks, 4%

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