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Advertising and Promotions Managers

Typical education: Bachelor's degreeModerate pressure

What they do

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.

Kinds of work

  • Enterprising: Leading, persuading, selling and starting new projects or businesses.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.
  • Artistic: Creating, designing and expressing ideas through art, writing, music or performance.

Moderate pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $133,660 Median per year · $64.26/hr Most earn $63,300–$286,240

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Devise or evaluate methods and procedures for collecting data, such as surveys, opinion polls, and questionnaires.
  • Track program budgets, expenses, and campaign response rates to evaluate each campaign, based on program objectives and industry norms.
  • Devise or evaluate methods and procedures for collecting data, such as surveys, opinion polls, and questionnaires.
  • Manage sales team, including setting goals, providing incentives, and evaluating employee performance.
  • Plan and execute advertising policies and strategies for organizations.
  • Assemble and communicate with a strong, diverse coalition of organizations or public figures, securing their cooperation, support, and action, to further campaign goals.

Job outlook

United States
4% fewer jobs by 2035, declining · about 2,300 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Self-employed (their own business)35.1%
  • Advertising, public relations, and related services27.1%
  • Management of companies and enterprises6.2%
  • Management, scientific, and technical consulting services3.2%
  • Media streaming distribution services, social networks, and other media networks and content providers2.4%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 2 to 4 years

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Bachelor's degreeExperience before this job: 2 to 4 years

This isn't usually an entry-level job. Most people earn a bachelor's degree and then spend about 2 to 4 years in related marketing or advertising work before moving into this role.

  1. Bachelor's degree in advertising, marketing, or communications

    4 years

    You learn how markets, consumers, and ad campaigns work, and you build writing, design, and data skills that employers look for.

  2. Marketing Specialist

    2-4 years

    You help plan and run campaigns, track results, and manage promotions, which builds the hands-on experience needed to lead bigger projects.

  3. Advertising and Promotions Manager

    Target role

    You plan and direct advertising policies and programs, and you create promotional materials like posters, contests, and coupons to drive sales.

Where it can lead

  1. Marketing Manager

    2-4 years of experience first

    You shift from running campaigns in one area to setting the overall marketing plan and leading a team, which usually means showing strong results and managing budgets.

  2. Public Relations Manager

    4-6 years of experience first

    You lead the organization's public image and media relations, which moves you from managing promotions to guiding how the company is seen by the public.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take English, speech, and art or design classesStrong writing, public speaking, and visual skills are the core of creating ads and promotional materials.
  • Join the school newspaper, yearbook, or a debate or drama clubThese groups teach you to write for an audience, work on deadlines, and present ideas clearly.
  • Take a math or statistics classAdvertising managers look at budgets and results, so comfort with numbers will help you later.
  • Help with a school event or club fundraiserPlanning posters, giveaways, or ticket promotions gives you real experience with promotion.
  • Get a starter job, such as at a store or restaurantWorking with customers teaches you what makes people want to buy, and it looks good on future applications.

In college

  • Major in advertising, marketing, or communicationsThese majors give you the core knowledge of consumer behavior, campaign planning, and media that this career depends on.
  • Take courses in graphic design, writing, or data analysisAdding one of these skills makes you more useful on a team and helps you build a stronger portfolio.
  • Join an ad club, marketing club, or student agencyMany campuses have groups that run real campaigns for local clients, which gives you hands-on practice and networking.
  • Apply for a marketing or advertising internshipAn internship is one of the most common ways people get their first job in this field and shows employers you can do the work.
  • Work a campus job in admissions, the bookstore, or student activitiesThese jobs build skills in promoting events, communicating with groups, and working to goals.

Tips for getting started

  • Get an internship or part-time job at an ad agency, a retail store, or a local business. Real campaign experience is one of the strongest things you can show employers.
  • Start a portfolio of work you've done, such as posters, social media posts, short videos, or a mock campaign for a local business. Include a short note on what results you aimed for.
  • Learn basic tools that employers use, such as spreadsheets, a design program, and social media analytics. Many of these are free to practice with.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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