Where Do Advertising Managers Work?

Advertising managers work in a wide variety of locations. Some advertising managers are contracted through third-party agencies to help smaller clients or companies launch ads. Other advertising managers work internally for private businesses, performing many of the same responsibilities. Advertising managers can work for advertising firms, digital marketing firms, media and design firms, private businesses, and online or e-commerce businesses.

How to Become an Advertising Manager

Q: What Is an Advertising Manager?

One of several careers available to individuals with undergraduate marketing degrees, the role of advertising manager requires both creativity and problem-solving skills. You will help companies design advertisements that appropriately market their products and services, while staying true to their vision for the future. After customers have begun to interact with your ads, you will tailor design, delivery, and content to further improve results. If ads resonate particularly well with a specific demographic, at a specific price point, or during a specific time of day, you will make optimizations to help achieve further success. The role of an advertising manager is often confused with a marketing manager, who is responsible for coordinating all of a companyā€™s marketing efforts. By contrast, an advertising manager strictly oversees advertisement creation, deployment, and optimization. Most advertising managers require undergraduate degrees. In addition, you might need at least a few years of experience in a marketing or an advertising environment, preferably where you held a leadership position.

Q: What Does an Advertising Manager Do?

Advertising managers perform a variety of tasks. On some days, you might spend time communicating with clients to determine their preferred direction for a specific advertisement. On other days, youā€™ll need to coordinate advertisement creation with other members of your creative team. Advertising managers are often responsible for performing the following duties: Communicating with clients to determine their preferred direction or focus for an advertisement. Brainstorming advertisement scope and content, often alongside other advertisement team members. Creating advertisements that resonate with particular audiences and generate interest in a companyā€™s products or services. Optimizing advertisements according to feedback and customer engagement patterns. Collaborating with other advertising or marketing department members to create advertisements that work well in tandem with a clientā€™s other marketing channels. Troubleshooting any issues with an adā€™s visibility, particularly across digital channels. Researching any updates, new best practices, or guidelines in modern advertising fields. These and other responsibilities keep advertising managers busy as they help companies take control of their customer outreach efforts.

Q: What Education Does an Advertising Manager Need?

Before you can begin a career as an advertising manager, youā€™ll need to clear a few academic hurdles. First, youā€™ll need a bachelorā€™s degree in marketing, or a closely related field. Your undergraduate marketing degree will help to prepare you for the world of advertising. While working to obtain this degree, youā€™ll develop skills in digital marketing, print media, and strategic thinking. Youā€™ll learn how to analyze analytics to improve ad performance, and how to serve advertisements that resonate with customers on a global scale.

Q: What Skills Does an Advertising Manager Need?

Advertising managers depend on a variety of skills each day. Whether youā€™re creating new ads or revising existing content to better resonate with customers, your skillset will be important for daily success. The skills an advertising manager needs can include: Marketing: The ability to target and reach customers across a variety of digital and print mediums. Creativity: The ability to apply imagination and original thought in ways that help customer advertisements stand out among their competitors. Interpersonal communication: The ability to correspond effectively with clients, companies, and other members of your advertising or marketing department. Data analysis/reporting: The ability to gather, segment, analyze, and report on data in ways that help you learn from advertising performance metrics. Problem-solving: The ability to identify and overcome any issues that advertisements or clients might face. Writing: The ability to creatively design advertisements that resonate with particular customer segments. Optimization: The ability to revise advertisements in ways that help content resonate even better with particular customer segments. Brand storytelling: The ability to tell a brandā€™s unique story by creating advertisements that remain true to their corporate vision. Time management: The ability to prioritize tasks in a way that allows sufficient time for each daily responsibility. These and other skills help advertising managers succeed each day as they help companies connect with target consumers.

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OVERVIEW

What is an Advertising Manager?

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Advertising managers shape how audiences see and experience a brand. They combine creativity, advertising strategy, and problem-solving skills to help companies tell their stories, create brand awareness, connect with the right audiences, and inspire action.Ģż

In this role, the overall goal is to create advertisements that promote products and services while adhering to a brandā€™s long-term vision. After an ad launches, advertising managers analyze performance, refine the design and messaging, and optimize the delivery and target audience to strengthen performance.Ģż

Similar job titles include promotions managers andĢżmarketing managers, but the roles cover different scopes. Marketing managers oversee an organizationā€™s overall marketing strategy. Promotions managers plan, coordinate, and manage campaigns. Advertising managers, on the other hand, focus specifically on an adā€™s creation, deployment, and optimization.Ģż

Most advertising managers earn an undergraduate degree in marketing, communications, or a related field, and gain experience in creating and managing campaign execution. With the right education and practical expertise, this career field offers a dynamic path for professionals who want to blend creativity and strategy to shape how brands connect with the world.Ģż

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RESPONSIBILITIES

What Does an Advertising Manager Do?

Advertising managers guide every stage of an ad campaign, from the first idea to post-launch optimization. Their work blends client communication, creative collaboration, strategic planning, and analysis of how audiences respond once a campaign goes live.Ģż

Common advertising manager responsibilities include:

Meeting with clients to understand the direction, goals, and messaging they want their ads to convey.
Brainstorming concepts and campaign ideas with creative team members.
Developing advertisements that resonate with specific audiences and spark interest in a companyā€™s products or services.
Optimizing ads according to feedback, customer engagement, and performance data.
Collaborating with marketing teams to ensure advertising aligns with broader marketing strategies.
Troubleshooting issues with ad visibility, particularly across digital channels.
Researching trends and best practices to stay current with evolving ad tools and guidelines.Ģż

Together, these responsibilities help advertising managers shape campaigns that reach the right people, deliver strong results, and support a brandā€™s overall marketing goals.Ģż

EDUCATION & BEST DEGREES

What Education Does an Advertising Manager Need?

Before you can apply for advertising manager jobs, youā€™ll need to clear a few academic hurdles. First, youā€™ll need a bachelorā€™s degree in marketing or a master's degree in marketing.ĢżĢż

ĆŪĢŅTV's marketing degrees will help prepare you to work in advertising. While earning these degrees, youā€™ll develop skills in digital marketing, print media, and strategic thinking. Youā€™ll learn how to use analytics to improve ad performance, and how to serve advertisements that resonate with customers on a global scale.Ģż

Best Degree for Advertising Managers

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Marketing ā€“ B.S.

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For those who want to lead brands and steer consumer markets:...

For those who want to lead brands and steer consumer markets:

Time: 60%Ģżof graduates finish within 19 months.
Tuition:Ģż$3,830 per 6-month term.
Courses: 37 total courses in this program.

Skills for your rĆ©sumĆ© you will learn in this program include:Ģż

Communication
Marketing
Sales
Management
Project Management
Product Management

Marketing is a creative and exciting fieldā€”and one where an undergraduate degree will open better opportunities.

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Marketing ā€“ M.S.

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Two online marketing master's degree options with a focus on either...

Two online marketing master's degree options with a focus on either digital marketing or marketing analytics.

Time:Ģż61%Ģżof graduates finish ĆŪĢŅTV master's programs in 18 months
Tuition:Ģż$4,805 per 6-month term
Courses:Ģż10 total courses in this program
Specialization:ĢżStudents choose from two specializations to focus their marketing studies on digital marketing or marketing analytics

Skills for your rĆ©sumĆ© that you will learn in this program:

Management
Strategic Planning
Digital Marketing Analytics
Presentations
Market Research
Communications

A marketing master's degree will help you prepare for a wide range of exciting marketing careers.

Business

COMPARE

Communications ā€“ B.S.

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An online communications program designed for students who want real-world...

An online communications program designed for students who want real-world skills for a variety of industries.

Time:Ģż60% of students finish similar programs in 19 months.
Tuition:Ģż$3,830 per 6-month term
Courses:Ģż38 total courses in this program

Strategic Communications
Crisis Communication
Content Creation
Value-Based Leadership
Project Management

This degree prepares you with relevant industry skills and experience that will help you move forward in your career.

How Much Does an Advertising Manager Make?

$72,802

According to PayScale, the average annual is $72,802 with a range of around $48,000 to $115,000 in 2025. The exact income of an advertising manager can depend on many different factors, including your employer, employerā€™s location, years of experience, and education. If you work for a digital marketing agency that partners with clients, your income might also be subsidized by specific bonuses or performance-based incentives.Ģż

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What Is the Projected Job Growth?

The demand for advertisement and marketing services should remain strong over the next decade, making the job outlook for advertising managers a favorable one. Overall from 2024 to 2034, which is faster than average for all occupations.Ģż

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SKILLS

What Skills Does an Advertising Manager Need?

Advertising managers rely on a wide range of skills to plan, create, and refine effective campaigns. Whether theyā€™re creating new ads or optimizing existing content to better resonate with customers, these skills are important for daily success.Ģż

The skills an advertising manager needs include:Ģż

Marketing. The ability to target, and reach customers across a variety of digital and print mediums.
Creativity. The talent to apply imagination and original ideas in ways that help ads stand out from competitors.Ģż
Interpersonal communication. The ability to correspond effectively with clients, creative teams, and other advertising and marketing colleagues.Ģż
Data analysis/reporting. The ability to collect, segment, analyze, interpret, and report on data in ways that help you learn from advertising performance metrics.Ģż
Problem-solving. The ability to identify issues and develop solutions that meet client goals and keep campaigns on track.Ģż
Writing. The ability to craft messaging and ad content that resonates with specific audiences.
Optimization. The insight to revise and adjust ads based on engagement and customer feedback.
Brand storytelling. The skill to communicate a brandā€™s unique identity through clear, compelling advertising.
Time management. The ability to prioritize tasks and balance multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.

These skills help advertising managers create campaigns that connect with customers and support a companyā€™s broader advertising sales and marketing goals.Ģż

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