HUMANITIES Zone 4: Considerable Preparation

Advertising and Promotions Managers

Advertising and Promotions Managers earn $133,660 nationally at the median. The middle 50% of workers fall between $91,370 and $201,050. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and experience.

About Advertising and Promotions Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate advertising policies and programs or produce collateral materials, such as posters, contests, coupons, or giveaways, to create extra interest in the purchase of a product or service for a department, an entire organization, or on an account basis.


Median Wage
$133,660
Employed Nationally
21K
Openings / Year
2,100
Entry Education
Bachelor's degree
Job Zone
Zone 4: Considerable Preparation

Also known as:

Account Director Account Executive Account Manager Account Specialist Advertising Account Executive (Ad Account Executive)

How Much Do Advertising and Promotions Managers Make?

Advertising and Promotions Managers earn $133,660 nationally, well above the national median for college graduates. The middle 50% of earners fall between $91,370 and $201,050. Actual pay varies by employer, specialization, and location.

$133,660
National Median (Annual)

Well above average for college graduates.

$91K–$201K
Middle 50% Range

25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.


Earnings Range

The mean wage for this occupation is $154,280, above the median. A concentration of very high earners pulls the average up. The median is the better gauge of typical pay.

What Do Advertising and Promotions Managers Do?

O*NET data identifies 5 core activities and 5 measurable skills for Advertising and Promotions Managers roles. Use this section to judge whether the day-to-day reality aligns with what you actually want to spend time doing.

What You'll Do

  • Plan and prepare advertising and promotional material to increase sales of products or services, working with customers, company officials, sales departments, and advertising agencies.
  • Inspect layouts and advertising copy, and edit scripts, audio, video, and other promotional material for adherence to specifications.
  • Confer with department heads or staff to discuss topics such as contracts, selection of advertising media, or product to be advertised.
  • Coordinate with the media to disseminate advertising.
  • Coordinate activities of departments, such as sales, graphic arts, media, finance, and research.

Core Skills Employers Look For

Active Listening Speaking Critical Thinking Social Perceptiveness Reading Comprehension

Who Thrives Here

E
Enterprising

Leadership, influence, and business acumen are rewarded here, where managing teams, driving decisions, or persuading others shapes career outcomes.

C
Conventional

Success depends on precision and structured processes, where detail-oriented people who work consistently within established systems perform best.

A
Artistic

Creative and original thinking matters in this field, where fresh approaches, design sensibility, or expressive work drives real outcomes.

Where Do Advertising and Promotions Managers Work?

What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.

Work Setting
Mixed

Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.

Physical Demands
Light

Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.

Stress Level
Moderate

Moderate pressure. Regular deadlines exist but are generally manageable with experience.

What Is the Job Outlook for Advertising and Promotions Managers?

The BLS projects -2.2% employment change for Advertising and Promotions Managers through 2034, a declining trend, below the national average of +5%. About 2,100 openings per year keep the field accessible to new entrants.

↘ -2.2%
10-Year Growth (2024–2034)

Declining employment projected.

2,100
Annual Openings

New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.

21K
Currently Employed

Total US employment as of BLS May 2024.

Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2024.

Where the Jobs Are

The five states below employ the most Advertising and Promotions Managers professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $133,660 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.

# State Jobs Median Wage vs. National
1 New York 3,570 $204,160 +52.7%
2 California 2,480 $147,430 +10.3%
3 Florida 1,290 $98,980 -25.9%
4 Pennsylvania 1,210 $103,900 -22.3%
5 Maryland 530 $127,540 -4.6%

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →

How to Get Here

Most Advertising and Promotions Managers positions require a bachelor's degree to qualify. The 2 programs below are the most common academic pathways into this field, ranked by how many graduates they produce each year.

Bachelor's degree
Zone 4: Considerable Preparation

These positions typically require a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience before advancing into senior roles.


Degree Programs That Lead Here

# Program Graduates/yr 4yr Median Colleges
1 Marketing 52,820 $69,303 1,164
2 Public Relations 20,666 $63,560 608

Top Colleges for Aspiring Advertising and Promotions Managers

Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.

# College UCD Score Net Price Salary 10yr
1 CUNY Bernard M Baruch College New York, NY 93 $3,033 $75,971
2 University of Florida Gainesville, FL 93 $6,541 $71,588
3 University of Chicago Chicago, IL 91 $14,860 $91,885
4 University of Florida-Online Gainesville, FL 90 $4,815 $71,588
5 Vanderbilt University Nashville, TN 90 $15,846 $91,565
6 California State University-Long Beach Long Beach, CA 90 $10,440 $64,403

Plan Your Path

Once you've sized up Advertising and Promotions Managers, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.

Advertising and Promotions Managers Pros & Cons

Advertising and Promotions Managers has real financial strengths, but declining employment projections deserve careful consideration. The 2 upsides and 2 concerns below are all data-sourced.

PROS
  • Very high median salary The national median of $133,660 places this career well above average for college graduates, with significant upside at the 75th percentile.
  • High earning ceiling Top earners (75th percentile) reach $201,050 annually. Strong performers, specialists, and those in high-cost markets have significant upside beyond the median.
CONS
  • Declining employment The BLS projects -2.2% employment change through 2034. This field is expected to shrink. Automation, offshoring, or structural industry change are likely factors.
  • Multi-year ramp before career-level pay This is a Job Zone 4 occupation, these positions typically require a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience before advancing into senior roles. Most workers in this field spend their first several years at entry-level pay well below the $133,660 median while building the experience employers require.

Advertising and Promotions Managers Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Advertising and Promotions Managers professionals earn?
The national median annual wage for Advertising and Promotions Managers is $133,660, well into the top quartile of US wages. The middle 50% of earners fall between $91,370 and $201,050. Pay varies by employer size, industry sector, specialization, and geography. National figures are a starting point, not a guarantee.
Is Advertising and Promotions Managers a good career?
With realistic expectations. The BLS projects -2.2% employment change through 2034. This field is shrinking, not expanding. The $133,660 median wage is competitive, but most openings come from retirements and exits rather than new positions. If you're drawn to this work, differentiate through a specialized niche or adjacent certification that keeps you relevant as the broader field contracts.
How long does it take to become a Advertising and Promotions Managers?
Expect 4 years of undergraduate education followed by 2 or more years of field experience before most employers consider you qualified for career-level positions. A bachelor's degree is the typical minimum credential. Degree programs like Marketing are typical entry paths. Early-career pay during this ramp-up period will be meaningfully below the $133,660 national median. Factor that gap into any program ROI calculation.
Why are Advertising and Promotions Managers jobs declining?
The BLS projects -2.2% employment change for Advertising and Promotions Managers through 2034. Declining occupations typically face some combination of automation, industry consolidation, offshoring, or reduced consumer demand, rarely a single cause. Despite the overall decline, about 2,100 openings per year are still projected, mostly replacements for workers who retire or leave, not new positions. 21K people currently work in this field, so while it's contracting, active hiring still occurs. Specialization in high-value segments of the role gives the strongest protection.
Why do Advertising and Promotions Managers salaries vary so widely?
The $109,680 gap between the 25th ($91,370) and 75th ($201,050) percentile reflects how much employer type, industry, specialization, and geography affect pay. Entry-level roles and lower-demand markets cluster near the bottom; senior, specialized, or high-cost-metro positions push the top. In fields with this much spread, where you work and what you specialize in often matters more than years of experience.
What skills do Advertising and Promotions Managers professionals need?
O*NET data identifies the core skills employers consistently prioritize for Advertising and Promotions Managers roles: Active Listening, Speaking, Critical Thinking, Social Perceptiveness, and Reading Comprehension. These develop through formal education and hands-on work. Programs with internship or co-op requirements give you a meaningful head start on the ones that take time to build.

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