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Advertising and Promotions Managers
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.
Other titles employers use
Account Executive · Advertising Manager (Ad Manager) · Advertising Sales Manager (Ad Sales Manager) · Classified Advertising Manager (Classified Ad Manager) · Communications Director · Communications Manager · Creative Services Director · Marketing and Promotions Manager
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- 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.
- Confer with department heads or staff to discuss topics such as contracts, selection of advertising media, or product to be advertised.
- Coordinate with the media to disseminate advertising.
- Coordinate activities of departments, such as sales, graphic arts, media, finance, and research.
- Plan and execute advertising policies and strategies for organizations.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to persuading, organizing and creative work.
- Persuading
- Leading, selling, starting projects, or making a case
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
- Creative
- Making, designing, writing, or performing without one set answer
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Social Perceptiveness
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
Subjects to know
- Sales and Marketing
- English Language
- Communications and Media
- Customer and Personal Service
- Administration and Management
Useful strengths
- Oral Expression
- Oral Comprehension
- Written Comprehension
- Speech Clarity
- Written Expression
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 2.8 | Largely your own space |
| On your feet | 2.1 | Mostly seated |
| Talking face to face | 4.9 | Continuous — the job is conversations |
| Working with your hands | 2.1 | Little of the day |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a bachelor's degree. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- A four-year degree 60%
- High school or less 16%
- A master's degree 8%
- A two-year degree 8%
- A certificate or some college 8%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Graphics or photo imaging software
- Web page creation and editing software
- Document management software
- Sales and marketing software
- Web platform development software
- Video creation and editing software
- Analytical or scientific software
- Data base user interface and query software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 8,960
- Job openings each year
- 90
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 11.2%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 8,960 | 90 | 11.2% |
| Texas | 5,310 | 490 | 8.4% |
| California | 3,900 | 340 | −2.5% |
| Florida | 1,320 | 120 | 10.0% |
| Maryland | 1,050 | 90 | 4.0% |
| Illinois | 1,030 | 90 | 1.0% |
| Missouri | 870 | 80 | 2.4% |
| New Jersey | 830 | 70 | — |
| Washington | 780 | 80 | 13.0% |
| Georgia | 730 | 70 | 9.0% |
| Pennsylvania | 590 | 50 | 1.7% |
| Tennessee | 550 | 50 | 22.2% |
| Connecticut | 520 | 50 | 2.0% |
| Oregon | 500 | 50 | 6.4% |
| Kentucky | 470 | 40 | 2.2% |
| Maine | 400 | 30 | −7.0% |
| Colorado | 390 | 40 | 11.4% |
| Iowa | 380 | 40 | 11.8% |
| Nebraska | 360 | 30 | 5.9% |
| Utah | 350 | 30 | 12.9% |
| Puerto Rico | 340 | 30 | 13.3% |
| Virginia | 340 | 30 | 3.0% |
| Indiana | 320 | 30 | — |
| South Carolina | 320 | 30 | 10.3% |
| Michigan | 300 | 30 | — |
| Arkansas | 290 | 30 | 11.5% |
| Ohio | 290 | 20 | −3.3% |
| Rhode Island | 280 | 30 | 7.7% |
| Arizona | 270 | 20 | — |
| Massachusetts | 260 | 20 | 4.0% |
| Idaho | 230 | 20 | 9.5% |
| Oklahoma | 230 | 20 | 4.5% |
| North Carolina | 200 | 20 | 5.3% |
| Minnesota | 190 | 20 | — |
| Alabama | 160 | 10 | −5.9% |
| Nevada | 160 | 20 | 6.7% |
| New Mexico | 150 | 10 | 15.4% |
| New Hampshire | 140 | 10 | — |
| Alaska | 110 | 10 | — |
| Kansas | 110 | 10 | — |
| District of Columbia | 100 | 10 | — |
| Louisiana | 90 | 10 | −10.0% |
| Mississippi | 90 | 10 | — |
| Wisconsin | 70 | 10 | 16.7% |
| West Virginia | 50 | 0 | — |
| Vermont | 40 | 0 | — |
| North Dakota | 20 | 0 | — |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
Southern New Hampshire University
- Degrees each year
- 864
- Admit rate
- 96%
- Annual cost after aid
- $37,000
Program entryOpen major
Open college TXThe University of Texas at Austin
- Degrees each year
- 658
- Admit rate
- 29%
- Annual cost after aid
- $17,000
Program entryFirst-year program admission
Open college MIMichigan State University
- Degrees each year
- 699
- Admit rate
- 84%
- Annual cost after aid
- $17,000
Program entryOpen major
Open college ALThe University of Alabama
- Degrees each year
- 884
- Admit rate
- 76%
- Annual cost after aid
- $22,000
Program entryOpen major
Open college PAPennsylvania State University-Main Campus
- Degrees each year
- 710
- Admit rate
- 54%
- Annual cost after aid
- $26,000
Program entryApply after enrollment
Open college FLUniversity of Florida
- Degrees each year
- 590
- Admit rate
- 24%
- Annual cost after aid
- $7,000
Program entryOpen major
Open college GAUniversity of Georgia
- Degrees each year
- 696
- Admit rate
- 37%
- Annual cost after aid
- $13,000
Program entryApply after enrollment
Open college ORUniversity of Oregon
- Degrees each year
- 430
- Admit rate
- 85%
- Annual cost after aid
- $18,000
Program entryOpen major
Open collegeCompare every college offering public relations, advertising, and applied communication