Mid-Level

Advertising Sales Manager (Ad Sales Manager)

The sales leader — managing advertising sales teams and driving revenue through strategy and team development.

Career Level
Junior
Mid
Senior
Director
VP
Executive
Work Personality
E
C
A
S
I
R
Enterprisingleading, persuading
Conventionalorganizing, detail-oriented
Based on Holland Code framework
Job markets for Advertising Sales Manager (Ad Sales Manager)s
Employment concentration · ~61 areas
Based on employment in related occupations
Mapped SOC categories:
BLS Occupational Employment Statistics
What it's like

What it's like to be a Advertising Sales Manager (Ad Sales Manager)

As an Advertising Sales Manager, you're leading a team of advertising sales professionals. This means setting sales strategy, managing and developing your team, overseeing key accounts, forecasting revenue, and being accountable for the team's performance against targets.

Your day balances coaching, strategy, and direct involvement. You might run a team pipeline meeting in the morning, coach a rep on a difficult deal, meet with a key client, and work on territory or target adjustments. Expect significant people management with ongoing accountability for team results.

The people who thrive here are strong salespeople who can develop others. You need sales expertise to guide your team, leadership skills to motivate and develop people, and strategic thinking to optimize territory and resource allocation.

AchievementAbove avg
Working ConditionsAbove avg
RecognitionAbove avg
IndependenceAbove avg
RelationshipsAbove avg
SupportModerate
O*NET Work Values survey
StrategyExecution
StructuredAdaptable
ManagingContributing
CollaborativeIndependent
Team sizePersonal quotaMedia typeAccount mixSupport resources
Sales management varies by team structure and media. Some managers have large teams with minimal personal selling; others carry significant personal quotas alongside management. Media types have different sales dynamics. The degree of strategic vs. operational focus varies by organization.
✦ Editorial — written by Truest from industry research and career patterns
Career Paths

Where this role sits in the broader career landscape — and where it can take you.

$239K$179K$119K$60K$0KLower paying387 metro areas, sorted by salary level
All experience levels1
This level's estimated range
INDUSTRIES PAYING ABOVE AVERAGE
1 BLS OEWS May 2024 covers all Advertising Sales Manager (Ad Sales Manager)s (SOC 11-2011.00), not just this title · BEA RPP 2023
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.
Exploring the Advertising Sales Manager (Ad Sales Manager) career path? Truest helps you figure out if it's the right fit — and plan your path forward.
Explore career tools
1
Team development
Building a pipeline of future top performers
2
Strategic planning
Optimizing go-to-market approach
3
Executive presence
Representing sales to senior leadership
What size team would I manage?
What are the team performance expectations?
Is there a personal sales component?
How is the territory structured?
What support and resources are available?
✦ Editorial — career progression and interview guidance based on industry patterns
The Broader Landscape

Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape — helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.

$63K–$208K
Salary Range
10th – 90th percentile
21K
U.S. Employment
-2.2%
10yr Growth
2K
Annual Openings

How this category is changing

$76K$72K$68K$65K$61K201920202021202220232024$61K$76K
BLS OEWS May 2024 · BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034

Skills & Requirements

Active ListeningCritical ThinkingSpeakingSocial PerceptivenessReading ComprehensionJudgment and Decision MakingWritingCoordinationTime ManagementComplex Problem Solving
O*NET OnLine · Bureau of Labor Statistics
11-2011.00

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Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) · BLS Employment Projections · O*NET OnLine
Truest editorial: Fit check, role profile, things that vary, advancement analysis, lateral moves, interview questions.