Dreaming up and producing the ads you see and hear everywhere, from Super Bowl commercials to billboards and TikTok spots.
Top pay: highest pay, longest training
Creative Director (Advertising): Leads the teams of writers and designers who dream up ad campaigns, and has the final say on the creative work. Typical pay $150k.
Advertising & Promotions Manager: Plans advertising and promotional campaigns like contests, coupons, and giveaways to build interest in a product. Typical pay $134k.
Agency Account Director: Manages an ad agency's relationship with big clients and makes sure the agency delivers. Typical pay $125k.
Media Director: Decides where a company's ad money goes: TV, streaming, podcasts, billboards, social, and more. Typical pay $135k.
Art Director: Creates the visual style of ads, magazines, packaging, and campaigns, and directs designers and photographers. Typical pay $112k.
Chief Creative Officer: The top creative leader at an ad agency, responsible for the quality of every campaign it makes. Typical pay $280k.
Agency New Business Director: Wins new clients for an advertising agency by running big competitive pitches. Typical pay $160k.
Agency Executive Producer: Oversees the filming of commercials, managing big budgets, directors and production companies. Typical pay $165k.
Commercial Director: Directs the filming of TV and online ads, turning an agency's idea into a 30-second film. Typical pay $150k.
Mid pay: solid pay, degree or apprenticeship
Advertising Copywriter: Writes the words for ads, commercials, billboards, websites, and social campaigns. Typical pay $75k.
Agency Account Executive: Keeps an ad agency's projects on track for clients day to day. Typical pay $65k.
Media Planner / Buyer: Plans and buys the ad space for campaigns, from TV slots to online ads bought by algorithm. Typical pay $68k.
Commercial Producer: Turns an approved ad idea into a real commercial: hiring directors, managing budgets, and running shoots. Typical pay $90k.
Motion Graphics Designer: Animates text, logos, and graphics for ads, social videos, and TV. Typical pay $80k.
Storyboard Artist: Draws comic-strip-style sketches of commercials and films so everyone can see the plan before shooting. Typical pay $100k.
Photo Retoucher: Perfects photos for ads, magazines, and online stores. Typical pay $58k.
Jingle & Commercial Music Composer: Writes the catchy tunes and sound logos used in ads, like the short notes you hear when a brand's logo appears. Typical pay $70k.
Advertising Sales Agent: Sells advertising space on TV, radio, podcasts, websites, billboards, or in magazines. Typical pay $62k.
Broadcast Standards & Ad Clearance Editor: Reviews TV commercials before they air to make sure claims are backed by proof and nothing breaks laws or network rules. Typical pay $78k.
Starter: fastest way in
Agency Traffic Coordinator: Tracks every ad project moving through an agency so nothing misses a deadline. Typical pay $48k.
Commercial Production Assistant: Helps on set during commercial shoots: running errands, managing equipment, and keeping things moving. Typical pay $40k.
Billboard Installer: Climbs billboards and installs the giant ads you see from highways. Typical pay $46k.
Sign Spinner: Draws attention to a business by spinning, flipping and dancing with a big arrow sign on a street corner. Typical pay $31k.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.