Advertising Manager job description: duties, skills and qualifications.

Core duties

16

O*NET task statements

O*NET occupation

Advertising and Promotions Managers

O*NET-SOC 11-2011.00

Preparation

Job Zone 4 of 5

considerable preparation

Typical entry education

Bachelor's degree

BLS 2025–35

Median pay

$133,660

BLS May 2025

Data Government data groups this job as Advertising and Promotions Managers (O*NET-SOC 11-2011.00). O*NET 31.0 gives “Advertising Manager” as the alternate name inside its title “Ad Manager (Advertising Manager)” for this occupation only (evidence: O*NET's Sample of Reported Titles (titles job holders report), O*NET job-incumbent data, the SOC Index and employer job postings). Figures on this page are for that occupation. TryHired has no separate career page for this title yet.

1. Plan and prepare advertising and promotional material to increase sales of products or services, working with customers, company officials, sales departments, and advertising agencies. importance 4.1 of 5
2. Inspect layouts and advertising copy, and edit scripts, audio, video, and other promotional material for adherence to specifications. importance 4.1 of 5
3. Coordinate activities of departments, such as sales, graphic arts, media, finance, and research. importance 4.1 of 5
4. Develop communications materials, advertisements, presentations, or public relations initiatives to promote awareness of products and services. importance 4.1 of 5
5. Develop comprehensive marketing strategies, using knowledge of products and technologies, markets, and regulations. importance 4.0 of 5
6. Direct, motivate, and monitor the mobilization of a campaign team to advance campaign goals. importance 4.0 of 5
7. Prepare budgets and submit estimates for program costs as part of campaign plan development. importance 4.0 of 5
8. Maintain portfolios of marketing campaigns, strategies, and other marketing products or ideas. importance 4.0 of 5
9. Analyze the effectiveness of marketing tactics or channels. importance 4.0 of 5
10. Coordinate with marketing team members, graphic artists, and other workers to develop and implement marketing programs. importance 3.9 of 5
11. Conduct research on consumer opinions and buying habits, and identify target audiences for products, services, or technologies. importance 3.7 of 5
12. Track program budgets, expenses, and campaign response rates to evaluate each campaign, based on program objectives and industry norms. importance 3.7 of 5
13. Coordinate with the media to disseminate advertising. importance 3.7 of 5
14. Confer with department heads or staff to discuss topics such as contracts, selection of advertising media, or product to be advertised. importance 3.6 of 5
15. Analyze marketing or sales trends to forecast future conditions. importance 3.6 of 5
16. Prepare and negotiate advertising and sales contracts. importance 3.6 of 5

Work activities O*NET rates most important here: Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates, Making Decisions and Solving Problems, Getting Information, Working with Computers and Thinking Creatively.

Also part of the job

Supplemental tasks O*NET lists for this occupation: less central than the core duties above, and not done in every job.

• Manage sales team, including setting goals, providing incentives, and evaluating employee performance.
• Formulate plans to extend business with established accounts and to transact business as agent for advertising accounts.
• Plan and execute advertising policies and strategies for organizations.
• Identify and develop contacts for promotional campaigns and industry programs that meet identified buyer targets, such as dealers, distributors, or consumers.
• Train and direct workers engaged in developing and producing advertisements.
• Provide presentation and product demonstration support during the introduction of new products and services to field staff and customers.

Knowledge areas: Sales and Marketing, English Language, Communications and Media, Administration and Management and Customer and Personal Service.

Software O*NET lists for this occupation: Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft PowerPoint, Adobe After Effects, Adobe Creative Cloud software, Adobe Illustrator. These are examples O*NET records for the job, not a list of tools every employer uses or a checklist of what you must know.

• Education: BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education.
• Experience: BLS lists less than 5 years of work experience in a related occupation as typical.
• Training on the job: BLS lists no typical on-the-job training once hired.
• Preparation: O*NET places the job in Job Zone 4 of 5 (considerable preparation). A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations.
• Licenses and certifications: not listed here. A license is a legal requirement set by a state; a certification is a credential from a private or professional body. Rules vary by state and employer, and a missing entry on this page does not mean none is required: check with your state's licensing board.

Most advertising managers surveyed by O*NET (73%) name a bachelor's degree as the education the job requires.

Job title: Advertising Manager
[Company] · [City, State] · [Full-time or part-time] · [Pay range, where your state requires one]

About the role
[Company] is hiring an Advertising Manager to 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.
[One sentence on your team and why this role matters.]

What you will do
- 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.

What we are looking for
- [Education: BLS lists a bachelor's degree as typical for this occupation; set the level this role truly needs]
- [Experience: BLS lists less than 5 years in a related occupation as typical; adjust to this role]
- Strength in active listening, speaking and social perceptiveness
- Working knowledge of Sales and Marketing and English Language
- [Software your team uses, e.g. Microsoft Excel or Microsoft Office software]
- [Any license or certification your state or company requires]

[Schedule, benefits and how to apply]

Illustrative: every name, employer, school, date and number in these samples is fictional or a bracketed placeholder. Replace each bracket with your own true details; never copy a result you did not achieve.

Not a real job posting. This template is TryHired's illustration built from government occupational data. It is not an opening at any employer, and no employer wrote it.

For Advertising and Promotions Managers, the median annual wage was $133,660 in May 2025. The median hourly wage was $64.26. BLS estimates about 21,470 jobs in this occupation in the U.S.

BLS projects employment of Advertising and Promotions Managers to decline 3.7% from 2025 to 2035, with about 2,300 openings a year over that period, including openings to replace workers who leave.

• Read a real advertising manager posting next to the core duties above. Duties it repeats, such as “Plan and prepare advertising and promotional material to increase…”, tell you what that employer weighs most; anything it adds is specific to that team.
• Tailor your resume to the posting, not to this page: describe only advertising manager work you have actually done, with your own results.
• Prepare a story for each of the top-rated skills (active listening and speaking): a real situation, what you did and what changed.