Also called: Literary Executor, Author Estate Rights Manager
Protects and earns money from a famous writer's work after they die, approving new editions, translations, films and permission requests.
A film studio wants to adapt a classic novel, a school wants to print a poem in a textbook, and a fan site is selling unofficial T-shirts. You read the contracts, check what the author would have wanted, say yes to some and no to others, and keep the family informed. Some estates also hire you to sort the author's papers.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Bachelor's in English or business; many have law or publishing backgrounds.
Ways in: 4-year college, On-the-job training, Professional school. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: English, Business, Law, Publishing.
Growing about average. A tiny niche; famous estates employ small teams.
Medium risk for 10 years. AI tools can track contracts and spot unlicensed uses; judging what honors an author's legacy and negotiating deals stay human.
Classes: English literature, Business, AP Government.
Official data: O*NET occupation 13-1199.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.