How Much Does a Job in Advertising Pay?

Seaver College offers a unique advertising program in which students master a range of skills including writing creative copy, media buying and planning, and multimedia design. If you're creative and looking for a way to use your talents as part of a professional career, an undergraduate degree in advertising could be the perfect solution for you. Common advertising opportunities include:

• Digital content creation. Digital content includes social media, blog posts, website content, email campaigns, and online ads. It may also include the creation and production of podcasts and videos.
• Copywriting. Copywriting involves the creation of eye-catching text that engages a target audience. This could include both online offerings, such as email campaigns or downloadable guides, and offline campaigns, such as radio and television ads.
• Media relations. Media relations is a broad area encompassing the creation and distribution of press releases, providing interviews on behalf of the company or client, responding to media requests, and seeking out media opportunities.
• Fundraising efforts. Fundraising efforts are key to the creation and continued distribution of services offered by nonprofits. Working in this capacity, advertisers may create fundraising campaigns that include commercials, galas, and opportunities for media, and assist with grant proposals.
• Visual media. Advertisers may also specialize in the creation of visual media. This could include commercials, videos, and graphics involved in online and offline advertising opportunities.

Median Annual Salary by Career

Individuals with an undergraduate degree in advertising have many exciting career opportunities to choose from, each with its own fulfilling traits as well as different salary levels. Highlighted below are 10 unique titles and the median salary for each:

1. Advertising copywriter. Advertising copywriters create various forms of sales copy for a company. An advertising copywriter may write dialogue for a commercial, create brochures or other advertising material, or create copy for the company's website. According to Payscale.com, the median salary for advertising copywriters is $50,887. There are in-house advertising copywriter positions as well as copywriting opportunities that allow you to work from home on a part-time or even full-time basis.
2. Brand or marketing consultant. Brand or marketing consultants are advertising experts who review a company's advertising efforts and provide the company with custom solutions on how it can make its advertising efforts be more effective. In short, they help a company improve on its branding strategy. According to Payscale.com, the median salary for a marketing consultant is $59,779. Brand consultants may work for an agency, a specific company, or they may start their own consulting firm.
3. Digital marketer. Digital marketers create marketing campaigns designed for use on the internet. Their work could include landing pages, website content, email campaigns, company blogs or newsletters, graphics, the colors used in various campaigns, PPC ads, and social media content. According to Payscale.com, the median salary of a digital marketer is $49,608. Digital marketing managers have a median salary of $65,632. Digital marketers may work for an agency, a company, or even start their own business.
4. Advertising account executive. Advertising account executives generally work for an advertising agency. Their role entails several functions, including contacting potential clients and taking care of current clients. They coordinate and develop advertising packages for their clients and manage the advertising budget set by each client. Clients often see advertising account executives as experts in advertising. According to Payscale.com, the median salary for an advertising account executive is $46,373.
5. Marketing research analyst. Marketing research analysts analyze information and trends related to various advertising campaigns and options. They create reports and make recommendations based on the information they receive. Their recommendations often form the base on which a company's overall advertising strategy is built. According to Payscale.com, the median salary for a marketing research analyst is $53,439. Marketing research analysts may work for an advertising agency, for a company, or they may also start their own business.
6. Media planner. Media planners are like brand consultants or brand strategists in that they work to create the right advertising campaign for their employer or clients. They explain the best options to reach certain segments of the market and help execute the overall marketing strategy. According to Payscale.com, the median salary for a media planner is $49,613. Media planners may work for an agency, for one company, or they may decide to start their own business.
7. Press officer. Press officers may also be known as media officers. They respond to journalist queries, create press releases, and look for opportunities in the media that can be used to benefit their employer or client. According to Payscale.com, the median salary for a press or media officer is $63,623.
8. Public relations officer. Public relations officers are sometimes known as a public relations specialists or chief communications officers. They are responsible for handling company communication matters on several levels. For example, they may serve as the company spokesperson for the media. They may also supervise social media managers, bloggers, and other creative staff members. Their main goal is to protect and improve the reputation of the company. According to Payscale.com, the median salary of a public relations officer is $57,903. The median salary for a chief communications officer is $125,110. Public relations officers may be self-employed, work for an agency, or work for a company.
9. Advertising art director. Advertising art directors are responsible for the visual aspects involved in an advertising campaign. They may work with or supervise other creatives to ensure a cohesive advertising message is delivered on behalf of the company or client. According to Payscale.com, the median salary of an advertising art director is $66,177. They may work for an advertising agency, for a business, or they may start their own consulting or advertising agency.
10. Social media manager. Social media managers are advertising professionals responsible for creating and implementing social media campaigns for businesses. This includes current popular social media platforms as well as those that may be created in the future. According to Payscale.com, the median salary of a social media manager is $50,134. Social media managers may work for an advertising agency, for a company, or they may start their own business.

Advertising Career Earning Potential

The earning potential for advertising careers depends on several factors. For example, an advertising career with a nonprofit entity may not pay as much as the same position offered by a for-profit company, but working for the nonprofit may be more gratifying for some individuals. As you gain experience as an advertising professional, you'll be able to command a higher salary. Some businesses may also offer bonuses to their advertising team for meeting or exceeding certain goals. If you decide to start your own advertising agency, you'll be in control of your own earning potential. As you gain experience and build an impressive portfolio, you'll be able to set higher rates for your services.

What Types of Companies Hire Advertisers?

Advertising professionals are needed for every industry. However, certain industries have regulations that must be followed regarding advertising. For example, the legal industry is highly regulated. Commercials, blog posts, website content, online and offline ads, and social media content may all need to conform to certain restrictions set forth by the state bar.

What Skills Can Help Me in an Advertising Career?

The skills that can help you in an advertising career depend largely on what you think you'd like to do as a professional advertiser. Of course, with more companies embracing digital marketing, all professionals who work in advertising should understand the basics of how to use popular software programs such as Adobe Creative Suite. It is also beneficial to understand how to use Google's keyword planner as well as how its pay per click system operates. Understanding consumer buying habits and consumer psychology, such as the use of certain colors in media campaigns and on websites, are also important to an advertising career. Public speaking and speech writing are two more skills that are beneficial for advertisers.

Get Your Advertising Degree at Seaver College

If you're considering an exciting profession in advertising, check out Seaver's advertising degree program. You'll learn about product advertising, best practices for nonprofit advertising, how to make the best possible marketing decisions even in high-risk circumstances, and more.