Sales
Advertising Sales Agents
Also called: Advertising Account Executive, Advertising Account Representative, Advertising Consultant, Advertising Representative
US median pay
$64,820
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
-7.2%
declining
Openings a year (US)
7,800
99,300 employed
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
Preparation 3/5 · Medium preparation
What this job is
Sell or solicit advertising space, time, or media in publications, signage, TV, radio, or Internet establishments or public spaces.
What they do day to day
- Explain to customers how specific types of advertising will help promote their products or services in the most effective way possible.
- Prepare and deliver sales presentations to new and existing customers to sell new advertising programs and to protect and increase existing advertising.
- Obtain and study information about clients' products, needs, problems, advertising history, and business practices to offer effective sales presentations and appropriate product assistance.
- Provide clients with estimates of the costs of advertising products or services.
- Maintain assigned account bases while developing new accounts.
- Recommend appropriate sizes and formats for advertising, depending on medium used.
- Locate and contact potential clients to offer advertising services.
- Draw up contracts for advertising work, and collect payments due.
- Deliver advertising or illustration proofs to customers for approval.
- Process all correspondence and paperwork related to accounts.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Persuasion4.1/5
- Social Perceptiveness3.9/5
- Negotiation3.9/5
- Service Orientation3.6/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.1/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.1/5
- Time Management3.0/5
- Systems Analysis3.0/5
Knowledge
- Sales and Marketing4.8/5
- English Language4.3/5
- Customer and Personal Service4.2/5
- Communications and Media4.1/5
- Computers and Electronics3.5/5
- Administrative3.4/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 3 of 5 — Medium preparation. Usually vocational training, an associate's degree or an apprenticeship.
Typical entry education (BLS): High school diploma or equivalent.
Who this job suits
Mostly Enterprising
Leading, persuading and starting things
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Artistic
Creating, designing and self-expression
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.