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Careers›Roles›Radio Time Salesperson
Mid-Level

Radio Time Salesperson

Selling radio advertising time to local and regional businesses — explaining audience reach, day-part pricing, building campaign packages. Local-market work, often with smaller business clients who need education on radio media buying as much as a quote.

Radio Time Salesperson pay typically runs $45K–$91K at this level, and jobs in this field are projected to shrink 6% through 2034.

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
Industries that often hire Radio Time Salespersons
Financial ServicesHealthcareProfessional Services · 53%Technology & Information · 42%Administrative Services · 1%Wholesale & Distribution · 1%
Job markets for Radio Time Salespersons
Where Radio Time Salesperson jobs concentrate · ~220 metro areas
Based on employment in related occupations
Mapped SOC categories:
Sales
BLS Occupational Employment Statistics
Jump to:What it's likeCareer pathsBy the numbers

While you’re learning about the Radio Time Salesperson role, anything we can help you with this week?

What it's like

What it's like to be a Radio Time Salesperson

Radio time salespeople sell advertising spots to local and regional businesses — explaining audience reach, day-part pricing, and building campaign packages that fit the client's budget and goals. The market is typically local: the clients are business owners, dealerships, restaurants, and retailers who need to understand what radio advertising buys them before they commit a dollar. Education is often part of the sale — explaining how ratings work, what drive-time reach means, and why a consistent schedule outperforms one big burst.

What people in this role value
RelationshipsHigh
Working ConditionsAbove avg
IndependenceAbove avg
AchievementAbove avg
RecognitionModerate
SupportModerate
O*NET Work Values survey
Role Profile
StrategyExecution
StructuredAdaptable
ManagingContributing
CollaborativeIndependent
Things that vary from job to job as a Radio Time Salesperson
Market size (local vs. regional)Station format (news, country, top 40)Direct business vs. agency accountsRate card and inventory complexitySingle-station vs. cluster selling
A radio time salesperson at a small-market station is often selling to business owners who are new to advertising, with rate cards that reflect limited inventory and smaller audiences; one at a large-market station or cluster sells to more sophisticated buyers with agency relationships and larger budgets. Station format matters — country and talk stations attract specific demographic profiles that appeal to different advertisers. Cluster selling (multiple stations under one media group) allows reps to offer reach across formats but requires managing more complex inventory.

Is Radio Time Salesperson right for you?

An honest look at who tends to thrive in this role — and who might find it challenging.

This role tends to work well for...
This role tends to create friction for...
✦ Editorial — written by Truest from industry research and career patterns

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Career Paths

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

Earning potential across this track
$239K$179K$119K$60K$0KLower paying387 metro areas, sorted by salary level
All experience levels1
This level's estimated range
INDUSTRIES PAYING ABOVE AVERAGE
Technology & Information$97K+110%
Energy & Utilities$95K+107%
Professional Services$94K+104%
Financial Services$79K+72%
Government$69K+51%
Compared to Sales average across all industries
1 BLS OEWS May 2024 covers all Radio Time Salespersons (SOC 41-3011.00), 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.
Related rolesExplore Sales →
Radio Time SalespersonCampaign Program ManagerAdvertising Operations Manager (Ad Operations Manager)Time BrokerAdvertising AgentAccount PlannerAdvertising AssistantSite Leasing AgentSite Promotion AgentAdvertising ConsultantAccount SpecialistField Service RepresentativeDigital Advertising Sales Representative (Digital Advertising Sales Rep)Sales Promotion RepresentativeIdea ManAdvertising RepresentativeOutdoor Advertising Leasing AgentAdvertising Account RepresentativeYellow Pages Space SalespersonRadio and Television Time Sales RepresentativeMarketing CoordinatorSales SpecialistAdvertising Sales Representative (Ad Sales Representative)Marketing RepresentativeField Marketing Representative+1 more

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What it takes to advance
1
2
3
Lateral Moves
Radio and TV Time Sales Representative
Adding TV inventory to the portfolio expands the client base and income potential within media sales.
Digital Advertising Sales
Radio selling instincts transfer to digital; the campaign-based relationship model is similar even if the metrics are different.
Marketing Coordinator (local business)
Deep understanding of local advertising from the media side translates into managing marketing budgets from the client side.
Questions you might ask when interviewing
What is the expected split between new business development and renewal account management?
What ratings data is available — Arbitron, Nielsen Audio, or proprietary research?
Is this a single-station role, or does it involve selling across a cluster of stations?
What is the compensation structure — base salary, commission rate, and any draw?
How has advertising revenue trended in this market over the past two to three years?
✦ 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.

$33K–$134K
Salary Range
10th – 90th percentile
97K
U.S. Employment
-6.4%
10yr Growth
9K
Annual Openings

How Radio Time Salesperson pay & employment are changing

$64K$61K$58K$55K$52K201920202021202220232024$52K$64K
BLS OEWS May 2024 · BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034

Skills & Requirements

SpeakingPersuasionSocial PerceptivenessService OrientationNegotiationActive ListeningReading ComprehensionJudgment and Decision MakingCritical ThinkingCoordination
O*NET OnLine · Bureau of Labor Statistics
Mapped SOC Codes
41-3011.00

Explore related roles

Roles with similar work and overlapping career paths

juniorJunior Radio Time Salesperson$61KmidCampaign Program Manager$127KmidAdvertising Operations Manager (Ad Operations Manager)$127KmidTime Broker$61KjuniorJunior Radio And Television Time Sales Representative$61KjuniorJunior Advertising Solicitor$61K
View all Sales roles →

Common questions about what it's like to be a Radio Time Salesperson

What does a Radio Time Salesperson do?

Selling radio advertising time to local and regional businesses — explaining audience reach, day-part pricing, building campaign packages. Local-market work, often with smaller business clients who need education on radio media buying as much as a quote.

How much does a Radio Time Salesperson make?

Median pay for a Radio Time Salesperson is about $61K nationally, with the field ranging roughly from $33K to $134K depending on experience, employer, and metro (BLS).

What skills does a Radio Time Salesperson need?

Core skills for this role include Speaking, Persuasion, Social Perceptiveness, Service Orientation, and Negotiation.

What education do you need to be a Radio Time Salesperson?

Most people in this role hold a bachelor's degree.

Is a Radio Time Salesperson in demand?

Employment in this field is projected to decline about 6.4% through 2034, with roughly 97,470 people working in it today (BLS).

What jobs are similar to a Radio Time Salesperson?

Closely related roles include Junior Radio Time Salesperson, Campaign Program Manager, and Advertising Operations Manager (Ad Operations Manager).

Career advice

Radio Time Salesperson career advice

Do one small thing to grow in your career this week. Pick one of these; each comes with the words to use.

  • SequenceA simple listening tour for your first month, to learn what the people around your role need and how you can helpMeet the people your work touches
  • Simple exerciseUnderstand the business you work in, and see where your work fits.Understand how your company makes money
  • Simple exerciseLook at the steps up and sideways from your job, and find one you'd be excited to do.Walk the roles next to yours
  • Simple exerciseA simple exercise for your first weeks in a new job, to meet the people who matter before you need themMeet the people who'll shape your first 90 days

Swipe for more

More career advice

  • Add a buffer to your estimates
  • Take a break from asking for feedback
  • Run a short daily check-in
  • Offer a peer feedback they didn't ask for
  • Keep one lesson from a setback
  • Compare the whole offer
  • Ask how much each piece of feedback matters
  • Understand a company before you apply

We believe careers grow through small steps taken often, more than big leaps. So we’ve collected hundreds of them for you to try.

Browse career advice

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Your career belongs to you.

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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.

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