Finance & Management SOC 11-2011 Job Zone 3 · Medium Preparation ● 2026 BLS Empirical Benchmark

Advertising and Promotions Managers Salaries & Wage Percentiles

Data updated · Sources: BLS OEWS May 2025 · Methodology

Plan, direct, or coordinate advertising policies and programs or produce collateral materials, such as posters, contests, coupons, or giveaways, to create extra interest in the purchase of a product or service for a department, an entire organization, or on an account basis.

National Median Wage
$133,660 / yr
$64.26 / hour
National Employment 14,580 Reported BLS Workforce
Highest-Paying State Massachusetts $173,020 / yr Median
Top Metro Market San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $181,250 / yr Median

National Wage Percentile Spectrum

Empirical distribution from entry-level apprentice (10th percentile) to senior principal / master tier (90th percentile).

Spread Delta (P90 - P10) $222,940 / yr
10th (Entry) $63,300 $30.43/hr
25th (Junior) $91,370 $43.93/hr
50th (Median) $133,660 $64.26/hr
75th (Senior) $201,050 $96.66/hr
90th (Master) $286,240 $137.62/hr

Nationwide State Salary Rankings

State-by-state empirical labor compensation benchmarked against local cost of living and purchasing power.

Rank State Median Salary Hourly Rate CoL Adjusted Real Wage Total Employed Top Metro in State CoL Index
#1 Massachusetts MA $173,020 $83.19/hr $106,342 250 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 162.7
#2 Illinois IL $166,390 $80.00/hr $132,265 160 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 125.8
#3 Colorado CO $165,000 $79.33/hr $120,350 120 Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO 137.1
#4 Washington WA $163,380 $78.55/hr $102,884 Not published Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 158.8
#5 Virginia VA $161,040 $77.42/hr $122,650 50 Richmond, VA 131.3
#6 South Carolina SC $159,983 $76.91/hr $133,877 90 Charleston-North Charleston, SC 119.5
#7 Rhode Island RI $157,890 $75.91/hr $141,987 60 Providence-Warwick, RI-MA 111.2
#8 California CA $152,688 $73.41/hr $93,216 2,380 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA 163.8

Top Metropolitan Areas for Maximum Earnings

High-yield metros commanding premier compensation, rent affordability, and living wage coverage.

440 Jobs · HUD 1BR: $3,003/mo
$181,250 / yr median
$87.14 / hour
240 Jobs · HUD 1BR: $2,778/mo
$180,500 / yr median
$86.78 / hour
3,630 Jobs · HUD 1BR: $2,729/mo
$174,390 / yr median
$83.84 / hour
250 Jobs · HUD 1BR: $2,518/mo
$173,020 / yr median
$83.19 / hour
40 Jobs · HUD 1BR: $1,731/mo
$170,000 / yr median
$81.73 / hour
1,350 Jobs · HUD 1BR: $2,402/mo
$167,930 / yr median
$80.73 / hour

Career Ladder & Progression Stages

Typical milestones from entry level to senior roles.

Advertising Coordinator0-2 Years
$63,300

Bachelor's degree (most common O*NET requirement); entry into the field

Advertising Specialist2-5 Years
$91,400

Demonstrated results in role; works independently on core responsibilities

Advertising & Promotions Manager5-9 Years
$133,700

Full professional competence; leads projects or a small team

Senior Advertising Manager9-14 Years
$201,000

Owns budget, hiring and outcomes for a department or large program

Director of Advertising14+ Years
$286,200

Executive or principal scope; sets strategy across the organization or profession

Skill-Adjacent Career Opportunities

Direct lateral transitions capitalizing on shared occupational competencies and BLS wage differentials.

Marketing Managers$166,790
91% Skill Overlap+$33,130 delta
Advertising Sales Agents$64,820
90% Skill Overlap-$68,840 delta
Public Relations Specialists$74,750
90% Skill Overlap-$58,910 delta
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists$78,760
79% Skill Overlap-$54,900 delta

Occupational Labor Economics & Frequently Asked Questions

Advertising and Promotions Managers Salaries & Wage Percentiles Overview

Explore national wage percentiles (10th to 90th), top-paying metropolitan areas, and career ladder progression for Advertising and Promotions Managers. Official 2026 economic data for Advertising and Promotions Managers compiled from Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS surveys, HUD Fair Market Rents, and statutory tax codes.

Quick answers
What is the national median salary for Advertising and Promotions Managers in 2026?

National compensation benchmarks for Advertising and Promotions Managers range across the 10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentiles based on BLS OEWS labor market statistics.

Advertising and Promotions Managers: Where the Pay Is Highest

The national median for Advertising and Promotions Managers is $133,660 per year ($64.26/hour). BLS OEWS publishes this occupation in 67 metropolitan areas, where median pay ranges from $78,170 in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN to $181,250 in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA.

Top-paying metropolitan areas for Advertising and Promotions Managers

Metropolitan areaMedian annual wageVs national
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$181,250+35.6%
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$180,500+35.0%
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$174,390+30.5%
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$173,020+29.4%
Charleston-North Charleston, SC$170,000+27.2%
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$167,930+25.6%
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN$166,390+24.5%
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO$165,000+23.4%
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$163,380+22.2%
Richmond, VA$161,040+20.5%
Columbia, SC$159,950+19.7%
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA$157,890+18.1%