Advertising, Promotions, and Marketing Managers

What They Do: Advertising, promotions, and marketing managers plan programs to generate interest in products or services.

Work Environment: Many of these workers are employed in advertising agencies or in corporate or regional managing offices.

How to Become One: A bachelor's degree is required for most advertising, promotions, and marketing management positions. These managers typically have work experience in advertising, marketing, promotions, or sales.

Salary: The median annual wage for advertising and promotions managers was $133,660 in May 2025. The median annual wage for marketing managers was $166,790 in May 2025.

Job Outlook: Overall employment of advertising, promotions, and marketing managers is projected to grow 6 percent from 2025 to 2035, faster than the average for all occupations.

Related Careers: Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of advertising, promotions, and marketing managers with similar occupations.

Following is everything you need to know about a career as an advertising, promotions, or marketing manager with lots of details. As a first step, take a look at some of the following jobs, which are real jobs with real employers. You will be able to see the very real job career requirements for employers who are actively hiring. The link will open in a new tab so that you can come back to this page to continue reading about the career:

Top 3 Advertising Manager Jobs

• Visual Merchandise Team Leader (Greater Columbus Area)- Market Bonus Incentive! - Market District - Columbus,OH

  Job Summary To recognize the importance of our leaders in this market, eligible team members in this role may qualify for additional bonus incentives. Speak with the Recruiter for payout details. As a Team Leader in Visual Merchandising, you'll be...

• Territory Manager – UniFirst First Aid Safety - UniFirst - Blacklick,OH

  Our Team is Kind of a Big Deal! UniFirst First Aid Safety is seeking a reliable and hardworking Territory Manager to join our family. As a Territory Manager, you will be responsible for servicing and managing relationships with customers. When...

• General Manager - diamonds direct - Columbus,OH

  At Diamonds Direct, we pride ourselves on finding talent with a certain set of characteristics, or what we call, RHINO s. These are individuals with an unmatched work ethic, and are determined to do whatever it takes plus some. They are passionate...

See all Advertising Manager jobs

Top 3 Marketing Manager Jobs

• Office Team Leader- Market Bonus Incentive! - Market District - Columbus,OH

  Job Summary To recognize the importance of our leaders in this market, eligible team members in this role may qualify for additional bonus incentives. Speak with the Recruiter for payout details. Our Cash Office Team Leader manages the Cash Office...

• Territory Manager – UniFirst First Aid Safety - UniFirst - Blacklick,OH

  Our Team is Kind of a Big Deal! UniFirst First Aid Safety is seeking a reliable and hardworking Territory Manager to join our family. As a Territory Manager, you will be responsible for servicing and managing relationships with customers. When...

• General Manager - diamonds direct - Columbus,OH

  At Diamonds Direct, we pride ourselves on finding talent with a certain set of characteristics, or what we call, RHINO s. These are individuals with an unmatched work ethic, and are determined to do whatever it takes plus some. They are passionate...

See all Marketing Manager jobs

What Advertising, Promotions, and Marketing Managers Do[About this section] [To Top]

Advertising, promotions, and marketing managers plan programs to generate interest in products or services. They work with art directors, advertising sales agents, and financial staff members.

Duties of Advertising, Promotions, and Marketing Managers

Advertising, promotions, and marketing managers typically do the following:

• Work with department heads or staff to discuss topics such as budgets and contracts, marketing plans, and the selection of advertising media
• Plan promotional campaigns such as contests, coupons, or giveaways
• Plan advertising campaigns, including which media to advertise in, such as radio, television, print, online media, and billboards
• Negotiate advertising contracts
• Evaluate the look and feel of websites used in campaigns or layouts, which are sketches or plans for an advertisement
• Initiate market research studies and analyze their findings to understand customer and market opportunities for businesses
• Develop pricing strategies for products or services marketed to the target customers
• Meet with clients to provide marketing or related advice
• Direct the hiring of advertising, promotions, and marketing staff and oversee their daily activities

Advertising managers create interest among potential buyers of a product or service. They do this for a department, for an entire organization, or on a project basis (referred to as an account). Advertising managers work in advertising agencies that put together advertising campaigns for clients, in media firms that sell advertising space or time, and in organizations that advertise heavily.

Advertising managers work with sales staff and others to generate ideas for an advertising campaign. They oversee the staff that develops the advertising. They work with the finance department to prepare a budget and cost estimates for the campaign.

Often, advertising managers serve as liaisons between the client and the advertising or promotion agency that develops and places the ads. In larger organizations with extensive advertising departments, different advertising managers may oversee in-house accounts and creative and media services departments.

In addition, some advertising managers specialize in a particular field or type of advertising. For example, media directors determine the way in which an advertising campaign reaches customers. They can use any or all of various media, including radio, television, newspapers, magazines, the Internet, and outdoor signs.

Advertising managers known as account executives manage clients' accounts, but they are not responsible for developing or supervising the creation or presentation of advertising. That task becomes the work of the creative services department.

Promotions managers direct programs that combine advertising with purchasing incentives to increase sales. Often, the programs use direct mail, inserts in newspapers, Internet advertisements, in-store displays, product endorsements, or special events to target customers. Purchasing incentives may include discounts, samples, gifts, rebates, coupons, sweepstakes, or contests.

Marketing managers estimate the demand for products and services that an organization and its competitors offer. They identify potential markets for the organization's products.

Marketing managers also develop pricing strategies to help organizations maximize their profits and market share while ensuring that the organizations' customers are satisfied. They work with sales, public relations, and product development staff.

For example, a marketing manager may monitor trends that indicate the need for a new product or service. Then he or she may assist in the development of that product or service and to create a marketing plan for it.

Work Environment for Advertising, Promotions, and Marketing Managers[About this section] [To Top]

Advertising and promotions managers hold about 28,000 jobs. The largest employers of advertising and promotions managers are as follows:

Advertising, public relations, and related services	38%
Self-employed workers	16%
Information	16%
Management of companies and enterprises	8%
Wholesale trade	2%

Marketing managers hold about 319,000 jobs. The largest employers of marketing managers are as follows:

Professional, scientific, and technical services	22%
Management of companies and enterprises	12%
Finance and insurance	11%
Manufacturing	7%
Wholesale trade	7%

Because the work of advertising, promotions, and marketing managers directly affects a firm's revenue, people in these occupations typically work closely with top executives.

The jobs of advertising, promotions, and marketing managers can often be stressful, particularly near deadlines. Additionally, they may travel to meet with clients or media representatives.

Advertising, Promotions, and Marketing Manager Work Schedules

Most advertising, promotions, and marketing managers work full time. Some advertising and promotions managers work more than 40 hours per week.

How to Become an Advertising, Promotions, or Marketing Manager[About this section] [To Top]

Get the education you need: Find schools for Advertising, Promotions, and Marketing Managers near you!

A bachelor's degree is required for most advertising, promotions, and marketing management positions. These managers typically have work experience in advertising, marketing, promotions, or sales.

Education for Advertising, Promotions, and Marketing Managers

A bachelor's degree is required for most advertising, promotions, and marketing management positions. For advertising management positions, some employers prefer a bachelor's degree in advertising or journalism. A relevant course of study might include classes in marketing, consumer behavior, market research, sales, communication methods and technology, visual arts, art history, and photography.

Most marketing managers need a bachelor's degree. Courses in business law, management, economics, finance, computer science, mathematics, and statistics are advantageous. For example, courses in computer science are helpful in developing an approach to maximize online traffic, by utilizing online search results, because maximizing such traffic is critical for the success of digital advertisements and promotions. In addition, completing an internship while in school can be useful.

Work Experience in a Related Occupation for Advertising, Promotions, and Marketing Managers

Advertising, promotions, and marketing managers typically have work experience in advertising, marketing, promotions, or sales. For example, many managers are former sales representatives; buyers or purchasing agents; or public relations specialists.

Important Qualities for Advertising, Promotions, and Marketing Managers

Analytical skills. Advertising, promotions, and marketing managers must be able to analyze industry trends to determine the most promising strategies for their organization.

Communication skills. Managers must be able to communicate effectively with a broad-based team made up of other managers or staff members during the advertising, promotions, and marketing process. They must also be able to communicate persuasively with the public.

Creativity. Advertising, promotions, and marketing managers must be able to generate new and imaginative ideas.

Decisionmaking skills. Managers often must choose between competing advertising and marketing strategies put forward by staff.

Interpersonal skills. Managers must deal with a range of people in different roles, both inside and outside the organization.

Organizational skills. Advertising, promotions, and marketing managers must manage their time and budget efficiently while directing and motivating staff members.

Advertising, Promotions, and Marketing Manager Salaries[About this section] [More salary/earnings info] [To Top]

Salary and job outlook data updated October 2026 from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook (May 2025 wages, 2025-35 employment projections).

The median annual wage for advertising and promotions managers was $133,660 in May 2025. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $63,300, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $286,240.

The median annual wage for marketing managers was $166,790 in May 2025. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $90,260, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $293,610.

In May 2025, the median annual wages for advertising and promotions managers in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:

Wholesale trade	$217,430
Management of companies and enterprises	$173,780
Information	$143,110
Advertising, public relations, and related services	$133,550

In May 2025, the median annual wages for marketing managers in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:

Information	$192,600
Management of companies and enterprises	$172,580
Finance and insurance	$172,350
Professional, scientific, and technical services	$170,050
Wholesale trade	$165,630

Most advertising, promotions, and marketing managers work full time. Some work more than 40 hours per week.

Job Outlook for Advertising, Promotions, and Marketing Managers[About this section] [To Top]

Overall employment of advertising, promotions, and marketing managers is projected to grow 6 percent from 2025 to 2035, faster than the average for all occupations.

About 36,300 openings for advertising, promotions, and marketing managers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Employment

Projected employment of advertising, promotions, and marketing managers varies by occupation (see table).

Marketing managers are expected to continue to be in demand as organizations use marketing campaigns to maintain and expand their market share. These managers will likely be sought after for their advice on crafting pricing strategies and finding new ways to reach customers.

Fewer advertising and promotions managers are projected to be needed to oversee advertising staff. Managers and their staff are both expected to use improving technology, including artificial intelligence (AI), to more quickly generate, test, and modify digital advertisements. Additionally, the use of ad blockers by digital users may further soften demand for these workers.

Careers Related to Advertising, Promotions, and Marketing Managers[About this section] [To Top]

Advertising Sales Agents

Advertising sales agents sell advertising space to businesses and individuals. They contact potential clients, make sales presentations, and maintain client accounts.

Art Directors

Art directors are responsible for the visual style and images in magazines, newspapers, product packaging, and movie and television productions. They create the overall design of a project and direct others who develop artwork and layouts.

Editors

Editors plan, review, and revise content for publication.

Financial Managers

Financial managers are responsible for the financial health of an organization. They produce financial reports, direct investment activities, and develop strategies and plans for the long-term financial goals of their organization.

Graphic Designers

Graphic designers create visual concepts, using computer software or by hand, to communicate ideas that inspire, inform, and captivate consumers. They develop the overall layout and production design for various applications such as advertisements, brochures, magazines, and corporate reports.

Market Research Analysts

Market research analysts study market conditions to examine potential sales of a product or service. They help companies understand what products people want, who will buy them, and at what price.

Public Relations and Fundraising Managers

Public relations managers plan and direct the creation of material that will maintain or enhance the public image of their employer or client. Fundraising managers coordinate campaigns that bring in donations for their organization.

Public Relations Specialists

Public relations specialists create and maintain a favorable public image for the organization they represent. They craft media releases and develop social media programs to shape public perception of their organization and to increase awareness of its work and goals.

Sales Managers

Sales managers direct organizations' sales teams. They set sales goals, analyze data, and develop training programs for organizations' sales representatives.

More Advertising, Promotions, and Marketing Manager Information[About this section] [To Top]

For more information about advertising managers, visit:

American Association of Advertising Agencies