Salary, Wages, Pay: Advertising, Marketing, Promotions, Public Relations, and Sales Managers

Median annual earnings in 2002 were $57,130 for advertising and promotions managers, $78,250 for marketing managers, $75,040 for sales managers, and $60,640 for public relations managers. Earnings ranged from less than $30,310 for the lowest 10 percent of advertising and promotions managers, to more than $145,600 for the highest 10 percent of marketing and sales managers.

Median annual earnings advertising and promotions managers in 2002 in the advertising and related services industry were $72,630.

Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of marketing managers in 2002 were as follows:

Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of sales managers in 2002 were as follows:

Median annual earnings of public relations managers in 2002 in colleges, universities, and professional schools were $55,510.

According to a National Association of Colleges and Employers survey, starting salaries for marketing majors graduating in 2003 averaged $34,038; starting salaries for advertising majors averaged $29,495.

Salary levels vary substantially, depending upon the level of managerial responsibility, length of service, education, firm size, location, and industry. For example, manufacturing firms usually pay these managers higher salaries than do nonmanufacturing firms. For sales managers, the size of their sales territory is another important determinant of salary. Many managers earn bonuses equal to 10 percent or more of their salaries.