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.
Also called: Account Executive, Account Manager, Ad Account Executive (Advertising Account Executive), Ad Account Manager (Advertising Account Manager), Ad Accounts Executive (Advertising Accounts Executive), Ad Agency Manager (Advertising Agency Manager)
Median pay
$133,660
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$63,300 – $286,240
People employed
21,470
Holland code
ECA
Enterprising · Conventional · Artistic
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Do you want to lead or coordinate other people’s work?
- 2.Do you want the same hours every week?
- 3.Are you OK working more than 40 hours a week?
- 4.Are you comfortable sitting at a desk most of the day?
- 5.Do you want a job with little physical risk?
- 6.Do you want a lot of freedom to make your own decisions?
- 7.Do you work well under tight deadlines?
The hard parts
- Tight deadlines are common
Advertising and Promotions Managers pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (36 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What advertising and promotions managers do
- 01Manage sales team, including setting goals, providing incentives, and evaluating employee performance.
- 02Plan and prepare advertising and promotional material to increase sales of products or services, working with customers, company officials, sales departments, and advertising agencies.
- 03Inspect layouts and advertising copy, and edit scripts, audio, video, and other promotional material for adherence to specifications.
- 04Formulate plans to extend business with established accounts and to transact business as agent for advertising accounts.
- 05Coordinate activities of departments, such as sales, graphic arts, media, finance, and research.
- 06Develop communications materials, advertisements, presentations, or public relations initiatives to promote awareness of products and services.
Skills that matter most
- Speaking
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Writing
- Reading Comprehension
- Monitoring
Knowledge
- Sales and Marketing
- English Language
- Communications and Media
- Administration and Management
- Customer and Personal Service
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Achievement Orientation
- Social Orientation
- Adaptability
- Innovation
Education and first steps
O*NET has no education survey data for this job.
How people get started
- Usually needs a bachelor's degree (O*NET Job Zone 4).
- Related work experience: over 2 years, up to and including 4 years.
- On-the-job training: over 3 months, up to and including 6 months.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from advertising and promotions managers
- Purchasing Managers82% · +11%
- Financial Managers79% · +25%
- Compensation and Benefits Managers79% · +12%
- Training and Development Managers78% · 0%
- Human Resources Managers77% · +12%
Change into advertising and promotions managers
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Public Relations Specialists93% · $74,750
- Fundraisers92% · $72,550
- Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes91% · $82,890
- Advertising Sales Agents87% · $64,820
- Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists87% · $78,760
Majors that lead here
- Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
- Public Relations/Image Management
- Advertising
- Marketing/Marketing Management, General
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.