How to Become an Advertising Creative Director

A career in advertising is a steady bet in the coming decade as jobs in this sector are expected to grow 14% from now until 2020, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. As a creative director you will be in charge of overseeing the success of any advertising campaign.

It is important to note that advertising isn’t just for creatives. In fact, the majority of roles are behind the scenes from media buyers and to research executives. However, it remains the creative fields that have the most allure.

Overview & Salaries

And there are plenty of opportunities for every skill set under the advertising umbrella.

Art Directors $80,630
Copywriter $55,420
Copy Editor $54,000
Digital Copywriter $70,000
Graphic Designers $43,500
Multimedia Artists and Animators $58,510

Places to Work

The following are the top cities in America to find advertising work. But you should make sure to check out what agencies or campanies around you are looking for high level creative advertisers.

  • New York
  • Los Angeles
  • Chicago
  • Boston
  • Seattle

Employment and Information Data for Creative Advertising

Why Creative Advertising

The creatives of advertising (also known as the talent) are the rock stars of the advertising universe, while the media planners and sales teams and researchers can be considered their roadies. These professionals conceive, plan and execute campaigns that millions of people see and experience whether it is a newspaper ad, television spot, billboard, radio or online display ad.

Recommended Creative Advertising Courses

  • Account Planning
  • Advertising design
  • Fundamentals of Advertising
  • Web Design
  • Creative and Strategic Planning
  • Digital Media campaigns
  • Brand Strategy
  • Interactive advertising
  • Graphic Design
  • Photography

Degrees for Creative Advertising Careers

Certificate
Most creative advertising certificate programs introduce students to the basics concepts of creating unique advertising campaigns for print, electronic and television mediums.

Associate’s Degree
A more advanced associate’s covers working in different formats, as well as introduces students to the wider world of the advertising business. Much like most associate’s degrees, these programs typically take two-years to complete.

Bachelor’s Degree
Bachelor’s degree programs in advertising are available at most colleges, universities and online schools. These four-year programs provide students with the opportunity to take many advertising and non-advertising courses.