Advertising Managers

Career Overview

Advertising managers oversee advertising and promotion staffs within a business. In a small firm, advertising managers are often liaisons with professional advertising firms that handle preparation of advertising materials on a contract basis.  The agency develops a concept and the art work for an ad or an ad campaign. In larger firms advertising managers oversee the creative process with in-house graphic artist, writers and possibly media departments.

Advertising managers today must be generally familiar with the advertising value of the internet; most firms with any sort of sales function today have an internet site. Cross promotions with broadcast or print advertising and the web are not uncommon.

Education

Most advertising managers hold a bachelors degree in advertising or journalism. Some advertising executives with a graphics background and experience grow into an advertising manager's role; however some background in market research is important.

Current Employment

According to the U.S. Department of Labor there were 47,000 advertising and promotions managers working in 2006, the last year for which they are providing data.

Job Outlook

These positions are expected to grow about as fast as the overall rate of projected growth for all job categories: about 10% over the decade from 2006-2016. These figures do not take into account the recent economic downturn that began in 2008.

Salary Range

Lowest 10%  $18.46  $38,400
Median Salary  $37.62  $78,250
Highest 25%  $55.73  $115,910

Source: U.S. Department of Labor