How to become an Advertising and Promotions Manager

Official title: Advertising and Promotions Managers

Also called: Account Executive, Ad Accounts Executive (Advertising Accounts Executive), Ad Director (Advertising Director), Ad Manager (Advertising Manager), Ad Sales Director (Advertising Sales Director), Ad Sales Manager (Advertising Sales Manager), Classified Ad Manager (Classified Advertising Manager), Creative Services Director, Promotions Director, Promotions Manager

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.

Main tasks

• 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.
• Coordinate activities of departments, such as sales, graphic arts, media, finance, and research.
• Develop communications materials, advertisements, presentations, or public relations initiatives to promote awareness of products and services.
• Develop comprehensive marketing strategies, using knowledge of products and technologies, markets, and regulations.
• Direct, motivate, and monitor the mobilization of a campaign team to advance campaign goals.
• Prepare budgets and submit estimates for program costs as part of campaign plan development.
• Maintain portfolios of marketing campaigns, strategies, and other marketing products or ideas.

How to become one

Advertising, promotions, and marketing managers typically need a bachelor's degree. They also typically need work experience in a related occupation.

Typical education to start: Bachelor's degree

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

• College: Communications & Media degrees, Offered by 31 universities in the US

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Median pay: $133,660 a year The middle half earn $91,370 to $201,050.
• About 33,200 people work in this job now, and about 31,900 are projected by 2035. (-3.7%)
• People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

Related jobs

• Marketing Managers
• Sales Managers
• Public Relations Managers
• Fundraising Managers

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Questions people ask

How do I become an Advertising and Promotions Manager?

Advertising, promotions, and marketing managers typically need a bachelor's degree. They also typically need work experience in a related occupation.

How much does an Advertising and Promotions Manager earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $133,660 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $91,370 to $201,050.

Is an Advertising and Promotions Manager a growing career in the US?

Employment is projected to fall 4% by 2035, from about 33,200 to about 31,900 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become an Advertising and Promotions Manager?

Usually. 81% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of an Advertising and Promotions Manager?

People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

Sources

• Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.