Advertising Sales Agents
Sell or solicit advertising space, time, or media in publications, signage, TV, radio, or Internet establishments or public spaces.
Also called: Advertising Account Executive, Advertising Account Representative, Advertising Agent, Advertising Consultant, Advertising Representative, Advertising Sales Assistant
Median pay
$64,820
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$35,240 – $146,010
People employed
91,700
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 the same hours every week?
- 2.Do you work well under tight deadlines?
- 3.Do you enjoy serving customers or the public?
- 4.Do you want a job with little physical risk?
- 5.Are you happy talking and working with people most of the day?
The hard parts
- Tight deadlines are common
Advertising Sales Agents pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (47 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What advertising sales agents do
- 01Explain to customers how specific types of advertising will help promote their products or services in the most effective way possible.
- 02Prepare and deliver sales presentations to new and existing customers to sell new advertising programs and to protect and increase existing advertising.
- 03Obtain and study information about clients' products, needs, problems, advertising history, and business practices to offer effective sales presentations and appropriate product assistance.
- 04Provide clients with estimates of the costs of advertising products or services.
- 05Maintain assigned account bases while developing new accounts.
- 06Recommend appropriate sizes and formats for advertising, depending on medium used.
Skills that matter most
- Speaking
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
Knowledge
- Sales and Marketing
- English Language
- Customer and Personal Service
- Communications and Media
- Computers and Electronics
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Achievement Orientation
- Social Orientation
- Perseverance
- Optimism
Education and first steps
O*NET has no education survey data for this job.
How people get started
- Usually needs vocational training or an associate degree (O*NET Job Zone 3).
- Related work experience: over 1 year, up to and including 2 years.
- On-the-job training: over 1 month, up to and including 3 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 sales agents
- Advertising and Promotions Managers87% · +106%
- Marketing Managers86% · +157%
- Public Relations Specialists83% · +15%
- Search Marketing Strategists83% · group pay
- Sales Managers82% · +129%
Change into advertising sales agents
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Fundraisers85% · $72,550
- Online Merchants85% · $83,050
- Telemarketers84% · $35,450
- Public Relations Specialists83% · $74,750
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products83% · $72,080
Majors that lead here
- Selling Skills and Sales Operations
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.