Advertising Sales Agents
Advertising Sales Agents (SOC 41-3011) earn a median $64,820 a year ($31.16 an hour) in the United States, with 91,700 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Washington.
What advertising sales agents do
Advertising sales agents sell or solicit advertising space, airtime, or media in publications, signage, television, radio, or online outlets and public spaces. They find and contact potential clients to offer advertising, study the client's products, needs, problems, advertising history, and business practices, and use that to build and give sales presentations that win new advertising programs or protect and grow existing ones. They explain how particular types of advertising will best promote a client's products or services, give cost estimates, and use a computer to produce promotional plans, sales literature, media kits, and contracts. They look after their assigned accounts while building new ones, and they handle the correspondence and paperwork that goes with accounts. Account specialist, advertising agent, and advertising consultant are further listed titles.
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report a bachelor's degree as the usual education level (about 52 percent).
Also called: Account Planner, Account Specialist, Advertising Account Representative, Advertising Agent, Advertising Assistant.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $16.94 | $22.61 | $31.16 | $48.07 | $70.20 | $38.79 | 91,700 |
| Annual | $35,240 | $47,020 | $64,820 | $99,990 | $146,010 | $80,670 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where advertising sales agents earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Washington | Hourly | $25.25 | $35.97 | $48.71 | $64.54 | $88.32 | $53.65 | 3,510 | 0.99 | 1.67 |
| Annual | $52,510 | $74,820 | $101,320 | $134,240 | $183,700 | $111,590 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $23.83 | $32.36 | $47.29 | $64.49 | $85.86 | $53.55 | 13,570 | 1.40 | 2.37 |
| Annual | $49,560 | $67,300 | $98,360 | $134,140 | $178,600 | $111,380 | ||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $21.70 | $29.70 | $38.70 | $60.76 | $64.82 | $43.58 | 1,480 | 0.41 | 0.69 |
| Annual | $45,130 | $61,770 | $80,500 | $126,390 | $134,820 | $90,640 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $20.32 | $26.93 | $38.64 | $50.32 | $75.54 | $43.64 | 9,620 | 0.53 | 0.90 |
| Annual | $42,260 | $56,010 | $80,360 | $104,660 | $157,130 | $90,780 | ||||
| District of Columbia | Hourly | $28.36 | $32.09 | $36.07 | $51.83 | $84.75 | $45.34 | 320 | 0.45 | 0.77 |
| Annual | $58,990 | $66,740 | $75,030 | $107,810 | $176,270 | $94,310 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York | Hourly | $23.83 | $32.36 | $47.29 | $64.49 | $85.86 | $53.55 | 13,570 | 1.40 | 2.37 |
| Annual | $49,560 | $67,300 | $98,360 | $134,140 | $178,600 | $111,380 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $20.32 | $26.93 | $38.64 | $50.32 | $75.54 | $43.64 | 9,620 | 0.53 | 0.90 |
| Annual | $42,260 | $56,010 | $80,360 | $104,660 | $157,130 | $90,780 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $16.67 | $21.73 | $28.09 | $37.54 | $61.60 | $33.44 | 6,420 | 0.65 | 1.10 |
| Annual | $34,680 | $45,190 | $58,420 | $78,080 | $128,120 | $69,560 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $15.25 | $20.88 | $28.98 | $36.44 | $47.94 | $31.66 | 6,230 | 0.44 | 0.75 |
| Annual | $31,710 | $43,430 | $60,280 | $75,790 | $99,710 | $65,860 | ||||
| Pennsylvania | Hourly | $17.20 | $21.24 | $28.05 | $38.62 | $55.74 | $32.49 | 4,260 | 0.70 | 1.19 |
| Annual | $35,770 | $44,170 | $58,350 | $80,340 | $115,950 | $67,570 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $28.34 | $38.84 | $54.45 | $68.64 | $85.86 | $56.48 | 380 | 0.34 | 0.57 |
| Annual | $58,950 | $80,790 | $113,250 | $142,760 | $178,580 | $117,470 | ||||
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | Hourly | $29.33 | $38.14 | $50.63 | $64.90 | $98.63 | $57.19 | 2,770 | 1.33 | 2.25 |
| Annual | $61,000 | $79,340 | $105,320 | $134,990 | $205,150 | $118,960 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $24.14 | $34.70 | $47.60 | $64.47 | $85.42 | $53.82 | 13,210 | 1.39 | 2.36 |
| Annual | $50,200 | $72,180 | $99,010 | $134,090 | $177,660 | $111,940 | ||||
| Richmond, VA | Hourly | $19.78 | $28.74 | $46.00 | $64.17 | $64.17 | $46.09 | 330 | 0.51 | 0.86 |
| Annual | $41,150 | $59,780 | $95,680 | $133,470 | $133,470 | $95,870 | ||||
| Tulsa, OK | Hourly | $16.83 | $22.61 | $43.18 | $83.78 | $83.78 | $48.10 | 260 | 0.57 | 0.97 |
| Annual | $35,010 | $47,020 | $89,820 | $174,260 | $174,260 | $100,040 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $24.14 | $34.70 | $47.60 | $64.47 | $85.42 | $53.82 | 13,210 | 1.39 | 2.36 |
| Annual | $50,200 | $72,180 | $99,010 | $134,090 | $177,660 | $111,940 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $20.32 | $26.93 | $38.64 | $50.13 | $75.54 | $43.46 | 5,230 | 0.84 | 1.42 |
| Annual | $42,260 | $56,010 | $80,360 | $104,280 | $157,130 | $90,410 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $15.00 | $24.87 | $36.34 | $48.38 | $77.60 | $39.97 | 2,830 | 0.63 | 1.06 |
| Annual | $31,200 | $51,730 | $75,590 | $100,620 | $161,410 | $83,130 | ||||
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | Hourly | $29.33 | $38.14 | $50.63 | $64.90 | $98.63 | $57.19 | 2,770 | 1.33 | 2.25 |
| Annual | $61,000 | $79,340 | $105,320 | $134,990 | $205,150 | $118,960 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $17.08 | $20.50 | $29.40 | $36.48 | $47.10 | $31.87 | 2,390 | 0.59 | 1.00 |
| Annual | $35,520 | $42,640 | $61,150 | $75,880 | $97,960 | $66,290 | ||||
Top industries employing advertising sales agents
Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services employ 47.8% of advertising sales agents nationally (43,870 jobs) at a median $72,910 a year ($35.05 an hour), followed by Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers (16.1%) and Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations (12.4%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services NAICS 541800 | 43,870 | 47.8% | $72,910 | $35.05 |
| Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers NAICS 513100 | 14,720 | 16.1% | $52,100 | $25.05 |
| Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations NAICS 516100 | 11,390 | 12.4% | $59,910 | $28.80 |
| Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers NAICS 516200 | 6,880 | 7.5% | $77,940 | $37.47 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services NAICS 541600 | 3,280 | 3.6% | $76,970 | $37.01 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (91,700). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $52,340 for advertising sales agents in May 2021 and $64,820 in May 2025, with employment of 96,660 and 91,700.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $52,340 | $25.16 | 96,660 |
| May 2022 | $58,450 | $28.10 | 106,560 |
| May 2023 | $61,270 | $29.46 | 108,100 |
| May 2024 | $61,460 | $29.55 | 97,470 |
| May 2025 | $64,820 | $31.16 | 91,700 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
50 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington profile | $48.71 | $101,320 | $52,510 | $183,700 | 3,510 | 0.99 | 1.67 |
| 2 | New York profile | $47.29 | $98,360 | $49,560 | $178,600 | 13,570 | 1.40 | 2.37 |
| 3 | Massachusetts profile | $38.70 | $80,500 | $45,130 | $134,820 | 1,480 | 0.41 | 0.69 |
| 4 | California profile | $38.64 | $80,360 | $42,260 | $157,130 | 9,620 | 0.53 | 0.90 |
| 5 | District of Columbia profile | $36.07 | $75,030 | $58,990 | $176,270 | 320 | 0.45 | 0.77 |
| 6 | Utah profile | $35.70 | $74,260 | $38,470 | $155,120 | 1,110 | 0.64 | 1.08 |
| 7 | Colorado profile | $35.30 | $73,420 | $38,160 | $164,930 | 1,110 | 0.39 | 0.65 |
| 8 | New Jersey profile | $33.47 | $69,620 | $37,760 | $125,890 | 2,110 | 0.49 | 0.84 |
| 9 | South Carolina profile | $32.79 | $68,200 | $25,750 | $147,110 | 1,770 | 0.77 | 1.30 |
| 10 | Illinois profile | $31.87 | $66,290 | $31,200 | $142,870 | 3,790 | 0.62 | 1.05 |
| 11 | Michigan profile | $31.15 | $64,800 | $40,180 | $134,950 | 2,040 | 0.46 | 0.78 |
| 12 | Wisconsin profile | $30.42 | $63,270 | $37,950 | $118,740 | 1,290 | 0.44 | 0.75 |
| 13 | Nebraska profile | $30.24 | $62,890 | $32,180 | $180,510 | 1,190 | 1.16 | 1.97 |
| 14 | Oregon profile | $30.20 | $62,810 | $35,820 | $106,330 | 960 | 0.49 | 0.83 |
| 15 | Minnesota profile | $30.13 | $62,660 | $35,340 | $127,710 | 1,750 | 0.59 | 1.00 |
| 16 | Arizona profile | $29.83 | $62,050 | $35,720 | $103,100 | 1,160 | 0.36 | 0.61 |
| 17 | Connecticut profile | $29.72 | $61,820 | $34,010 | $140,180 | 740 | 0.44 | 0.74 |
| 18 | Missouri profile | $29.54 | $61,440 | $37,020 | $128,300 | 1,640 | 0.56 | 0.95 |
| 19 | Hawaii profile | $29.47 | $61,290 | $40,790 | $92,520 | 310 | 0.50 | 0.85 |
| 20 | Texas profile | $28.98 | $60,280 | $31,710 | $99,710 | 6,230 | 0.44 | 0.75 |
| 21 | South Dakota profile | $28.94 | $60,190 | $39,010 | $95,670 | 390 | 0.86 | 1.46 |
| 22 | Maryland profile | $28.76 | $59,830 | $43,130 | $137,590 | 880 | 0.32 | 0.54 |
| 23 | Vermont profile | $28.25 | $58,750 | $35,220 | $102,570 | 160 | 0.54 | 0.91 |
| 24 | Iowa profile | $28.12 | $58,480 | $30,250 | $92,120 | 900 | 0.58 | 0.98 |
| 25 | Florida profile | $28.09 | $58,420 | $34,680 | $128,120 | 6,420 | 0.65 | 1.10 |
| 26 | Pennsylvania profile | $28.05 | $58,350 | $35,770 | $115,950 | 4,260 | 0.70 | 1.19 |
| 27 | Georgia profile | $27.95 | $58,140 | $29,690 | $117,110 | 3,150 | 0.64 | 1.09 |
| 28 | Oklahoma profile | $27.73 | $57,670 | $27,460 | $173,050 | 700 | 0.41 | 0.69 |
| 29 | Indiana profile | $27.42 | $57,030 | $28,450 | $103,870 | 1,410 | 0.44 | 0.74 |
| 30 | New Hampshire profile | $26.38 | $54,870 | $30,500 | $101,120 | 290 | 0.42 | 0.71 |
| 31 | Idaho profile | $25.70 | $53,460 | $28,800 | $158,610 | 220 | 0.26 | 0.44 |
| 32 | Delaware profile | $25.23 | $52,480 | $37,880 | $85,220 | 140 | 0.28 | 0.48 |
| 33 | Kentucky profile | $24.80 | $51,580 | $27,740 | $93,490 | 620 | 0.31 | 0.53 |
| 34 | Alabama profile | $24.46 | $50,870 | $22,410 | $106,530 | 910 | 0.43 | 0.73 |
| 35 | Ohio profile | $24.24 | $50,410 | $31,200 | $96,840 | 3,220 | 0.58 | 0.98 |
| 36 | North Dakota profile | $24.09 | $50,110 | $32,180 | $94,440 | 260 | 0.59 | 1.01 |
| 37 | Arkansas profile | $23.61 | $49,120 | $28,920 | $96,150 | 900 | 0.69 | 1.18 |
| 38 | Louisiana profile | $23.47 | $48,810 | $25,480 | $100,800 | 860 | 0.44 | 0.75 |
| 39 | Maine profile | $23.45 | $48,780 | $37,600 | $104,990 | 400 | 0.63 | 1.06 |
| 40 | Kansas profile | $23.39 | $48,660 | $27,150 | $90,440 | 920 | 0.64 | 1.08 |
| 41 | Rhode Island profile | $23.09 | $48,040 | $39,470 | $104,550 | 340 | 0.67 | 1.14 |
| 42 | Wyoming profile | $22.73 | $47,290 | $28,900 | $123,310 | 150 | 0.52 | 0.89 |
| 43 | Mississippi profile | $22.50 | $46,810 | $24,740 | $100,500 | 490 | 0.42 | 0.71 |
| 44 | Montana profile | $22.14 | $46,040 | $28,730 | $84,270 | 240 | 0.46 | 0.78 |
| 45 | New Mexico profile | $21.93 | $45,620 | $28,920 | $93,560 | 300 | 0.35 | 0.59 |
| 46 | West Virginia profile | $21.49 | $44,700 | $20,580 | $93,170 | 290 | 0.42 | 0.71 |
| 47 | Alaska profile | $21.08 | $43,840 | $30,850 | $111,150 | 230 | 0.71 | 1.20 |
| 48 | Tennessee profile | $19.67 | $40,910 | $28,200 | $82,960 | 1,820 | 0.56 | 0.94 |
| – | Nevada profile | * | * | * | * | 580 | 0.38 | 0.64 |
| – | North Carolina profile | * | * | * | * | 2,220 | 0.45 | 0.76 |
Part of Sales and Related Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 41-3011 Advertising Sales Agents.
*- Wage estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 41-3011, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 41-3011.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.