Advertising and promotions managers plan and execute marketing campaigns that build brand awareness and drive sales. You'll work across teams, think creatively, and use data to shape strategy. The role requires a bachelor's degree and strong communication skills.
Pathly builds you a free, personalized roadmap and helps your counselor champion you along the way.
Advertising and promotions managers develop marketing strategies and oversee campaigns that promote products, services, or brands. You spend significant time working with computers to analyze data and create promotional materials. You communicate regularly with people outside your organization, including clients and media partners, and coordinate with colleagues to plan and prioritize projects. You gather information about market trends and customer needs, then use creative thinking to develop compelling advertising approaches. Your work bridges strategy and execution, turning insights into campaigns that reach target audiences.
Core work activities
Career video courtesy of CareerOneStop.
Advertising and Promotions Managers earn a median of $133,660 a year, based on 2025 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and location.
The outlook is softer here. Employment is projected to fall 2 percent from 2024 to 2034, though there are still about 2,100 openings a year from turnover.
Top skills
Knowledge areas
This role typically requires a bachelor's degree and considerable preparation. You'll build expertise in sales and marketing, communications, and customer service principles. Strong writing and speaking skills are essential, along with active listening and critical thinking. Many people in this field develop their abilities through internships, entry-level marketing roles, or related positions that teach you how campaigns work. You'll also need to stay current with digital tools and media platforms as technology shapes how advertising reaches audiences.
Most paths into advertising management start with a bachelor's degree, but the timing and focus of your studies matter. If you're deciding between different educational routes or want to map out your next steps, Pathly can map the advertising and promotion manager path that fits you with your counselor to build a plan that fits your goals.
You do not need a license to work as an advertising and promotion manager, but professional certifications can strengthen your resume.
Common certifications
You're drawn to business challenges and enjoy persuading others. You like taking charge of projects, working with teams, and turning creative ideas into results that drive growth.
Reading about a career is the easy part. Turning it into a plan is where most students get stuck. Pathly takes you from curious to a clear next step, and gives your counselor the insight to champion you along the way.
Start with a quick quiz and assessments that surface your personality, your EQ, and what really motivates you, so your next steps are built around who you actually are.
Your free AI guide weighs this career against your strengths and goals, and surfaces the colleges, trades, and scholarships that match, so you know if it truly fits before you commit.
Get a personalized, step-by-step plan to reach this career, with the training, coursework, and credentials tracked in one place. Link your school or IEC and your counselor in the loop.
Last updated July 1, 2026.
Data sources. Career details from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under CC BY 4.0. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Salary and outlook figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025 wages; 2024–2034 projections), delivered via the CareerOneStop API. Certification, licensing, wage, and outlook data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by USDOL/ETA and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).