Top Skills for This Career
BLS identifies these as the three highest-rated skills for this detailed occupation. TrustInEd adds the plain-language explanations so visitors understand what each skill means.
Adjusting effectively when priorities, conditions, tools, or expectations change.
Communicating clearly through speech while listening carefully to understand others.
Identifying problems, considering possible solutions, and choosing appropriate actions.
How Do You Prepare for This Career?
BLS describes the typical preparation for this occupation. Requirements can vary by employer, state, licensing rules and individual circumstances.
How to Become One
How to Become an Advertising, Promotions, or Marketing Manager These managers typically have previous work experience in advertising, marketing, promotions, or sales. Advertising, promotions, and marketing managers typically need a bachelor’s degree. They also typically need work experience in a related occupation.
Education
Advertising, promotions, and marketing managers typically need a bachelor’s degree in a business field, such as marketing, or in a related field, such as communications. Relevant courses might include consumer behavior, market research, and art history. Some employers prefer to hire candidates who have a master’s degree. Advertising and marketing managers may begin as trainees or participate in mentoring or shadowing opportunities. In addition, completing an internship while in school may make candidates more attractive to prospective employers. Work Experience in a Related Occupation These managers typically need work experience in a related advertising, marketing, promotions, or sales occupation. For example, they may have worked as sales representatives, market research analysts, or public relations specialists.
Your Next Step
Compare colleges and education options that can support the typical entry-level education for this career.
Pay
the median annual wage for all workers was $50,980.
Job Outlook
Job Outlook Overall employment of advertising, promotions, and marketing managers is projected to grow 6 percent from 2025 to 2035, faster than the average for all occupations. About 36,300 openings for advertising, promotions, and marketing managers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire. Employment Projected employment of advertising, promotions, and marketing managers varies by occupation (see table). Marketing managers are expected to continue to be in demand as organizations use marketing campaigns to maintain and expand their market share. These managers will likely be sought after for their advice on crafting pricing strategies and finding new ways to reach customers. Fewer advertising and promotions managers are projected to be needed to oversee advertising staff. Managers and their staff are both expected to use improving technology, including artificial intelligence (AI), to more quickly generate, test, and modify digital advertisements. Additionally, the use of ad blockers by digital users may further soften demand for these workers. Advertising, Promotions, and Marketing Managers Percent change in employment, projected 2025–35 Marketing managers 7% Advertising, promotions, and marketing managers 6% Advertising, marketing, promotions, public relations, and sales managers 5% Total, all occupations 3% Advertising and promotions managers -4% Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.
What They Do
What Advertising, Promotions, and Marketing Managers Do
Advertising, promotions, and marketing managers plan programs to generate interest in products or services. They work with art directors, advertising sales agents, financial staff, and others to develop strategies and materials.
Duties
Advertising, promotions, and marketing managers typically do the following:
- Work with department heads or staff to discuss topics such as budgets and contracts, creative vision, marketing plans, and media buying
- Plan promotional campaigns, such as contests or giveaways, to boost brand loyalty and reach new customers
- Plan advertising campaigns, including in which media—such as radio, television, or email—to advertise
- Negotiate advertising contracts with clients and partners
- Evaluate the look and feel of displays or websites in advertising or marketing campaigns
- Initiate market research studies and analyze their findings to understand customer and market opportunities for businesses
- Develop pricing and other strategies, such as how to acquire and retain customers and manage their data, for marketing products or services
- Meet and strategize with clients to provide marketing or related advice
- Direct the hiring and daily activities of advertising, promotions, and marketing staff
Advertising managers create interest among potential buyers of a product or service. They do this for a department, an entire organization, or individual projects (referred to as an account).
Advertising managers work with sales staff and others to generate ideas for an advertising campaign. They oversee the staff that develops the advertising. They work with the finance department to prepare a budget and cost estimates for the campaign. Often, advertising managers serve as liaisons between the client and the advertising or promotion agency that develops and places the ads.
Some advertising managers specialize in a particular field or type of advertising. For example, media directors determine the way in which an advertising campaign reaches customers, whether through radio, television, or various other media. Account executives have a different focus: they oversee client accounts but do not develop or supervise advertising projects themselves.
Promotions managers direct programs that combine advertising with purchasing incentives and target them to customers in media, in displays, or at events to increase sales. Purchasing incentives may include discounts, rebates, contests, and other programs to strengthen brand loyalty. Promotions managers also contribute to developing brand loyalty programs.
Marketing managers estimate demand and identify potential markets for products and services that an organization and its competitors offer. They may develop pricing and other strategies, such as ways to acquire and retain customers. They work with product development, public relations, and sales staff to help organizations maximize their profits and market share while ensuring customer satisfaction.
Work Environment
Work Environment
Advertising and promotions managers held about 33,200 jobs in 2025. The largest employers of advertising and promotions managers were as follows:
| Self-employed workers | 35% |
| Advertising, public relations, and related services | 27 |
| Information | 9 |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 6 |
| Wholesale trade | 4 |
Marketing managers held about 421,600 jobs in 2025. The largest employers of marketing managers were as follows:
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 23% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 12 |
| Finance and insurance | 10 |
| Information | 10 |
| Wholesale trade | 10 |
Advertising, promotions, and marketing managers work with art directors, advertising sales agents, financial staff, and others to develop strategies and materials. Because their work affects a firm’s revenue, these managers also collaborate with top executives.
Advertising, promotions, and marketing managers typically work in an office setting. They may travel to meet with clients or media representatives. Their work may be stressful, particularly near deadlines.
Work Schedules
Most advertising, promotions, and marketing managers work full time. Some work more than 40 hours per week.
Important Qualities
The following are examples of qualities that are important for these workers to perform their duties. For more information, visit the Employment Projections (EP) skills data page. Analytical skills. Advertising, promotions, and marketing managers must be able to evaluate industry trends and determine the best strategies for their clients. Communication skills. These workers must be able to collaborate with other managers and staff. They also must be persuasive in communicating with the public. Creativity. Advertising, promotions, and marketing managers must be able to generate new and imaginative ideas. Decision-making skills. These workers often must choose between competing advertising and marketing strategies put forward by staff. Interpersonal skills. Managers must deal with a range of people and personalities in different roles, both inside and outside their organization. Organizational skills. Advertising, promotions, and marketing managers must manage their time and budget efficiently while directing and motivating staff.
More Information
More Information, Including Links to O*NET
Learn more about advertising, promotions, and marketing managers by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
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Start with ED →Career data and occupational profile text are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook and Employment Projections program. Education requirements are typical entry-level requirements and may vary by employer, state, occupation or individual circumstance. View the official BLS profile.