Advertising

Job Summary:
Advertising managers plan and direct ads for businesses. Some firms have their own advertising departments. Other firms hire advertising agencies. Advertising managers direct and supervise the advertising staff. In firms that hire out their advertising, advertising managers make decisions about advertising. However, they then contract with an ad agency to create and prepare the firm's ads. In larger firms, advertising managers plan and carry out the firm's advertising campaigns. To do this, they oversee in-house ad departments. These are likely to include account services, creative services, and media services.

Qualification:
Most advertising managers have a bachelor's degree in Marketing or Advertising. Your degree does not need to be in advertising or marketing for you to enter this occupation. Many advertising managers have a liberal arts background. For example, they might have majored in sociology, psychology, or literature.

Regardless of your major, you should take specific courses such as marketing, consumer behavior, and market research. Additional courses are sales and communication methods. You should also take visual arts courses, such as art history and photography.

Salary Range:
Nationally, half of all people employed in this group earn between $36,370 and $81,400 each year. The media hourly wage for this group is $29.93 and the annual median salary for Advertising managers is $62, 260.

Prospects:
Because of the high visibility of their jobs, advertising managers often are prime candidates for promotion. Those who are well trained, experienced, and successful are likely to be promoted. They may be promoted to higher positions in their own or other firms. Some become top executives. Those who have a lot of experience may open their own businesses.