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 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.
An honest look at who tends to thrive in this role — and who might find it challenging.
Where this role sits in the broader career landscape — and where it can take you.
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.
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.
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).
Core skills for this role include Speaking, Persuasion, Social Perceptiveness, Service Orientation, and Negotiation.
Most people in this role hold a bachelor's degree.
Employment in this field is projected to decline about 6.4% through 2034, with roughly 97,470 people working in it today (BLS).
Closely related roles include Junior Radio Time Salesperson, Campaign Program Manager, and Advertising Operations Manager (Ad Operations Manager).
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