How to Become a Media Planner & Buyer

As growth in the advertising sector continues to expand across new digital and mobile channels, the overall job market will increase 14% from now until 2020, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Overview & Salaries

Media planning in the ad game can be lucrative. The median annual wage of advertising and promotions managers in this space is $83,890, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Advertising Sales Agents $45,350
Media Planner $46,700
Digital Media Planner $68,400
Media Buyer $63,450
Digital Buyer $57,900
Digital Sales Planner $48,700

Places to Work

As you’ll see again and again – look on any of the advertising job boards and you’re likely to see these five below. – the most action (jobs) is where the money. These jobs can range from big multinational agencies to the local advertising boutique around the corner.

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

Employment and Information Data for Media Planner

Why Media Planner

The roles of media planner and buyers are benefiting greatly from the proliferation new distribution channels – smartphones, tablets, online, etc. This has sparked a demand for the qualified buyers and planners who understand how important it is for brands to capture their audience at the optimum point along the purchase funnel.

Recommended Media Planner Courses

  • Developing the creative brief
  • Social media strategies for business
  • Mobile marketing
  • Media planning and buying
  • Media sales and promotion
  • Defining and positioning a brand
  • Creating the marketing plan
  • Advertising sales and media planning

Degrees for Media Planner Careers

Advertising Certificate
An Advertising Certificate program offers courses focusing on introductory aspects of the industry including internet advertising, media planning, sales and concepts of selling. A certificate program is a great way to learn more about advertising, while increasingly your odds of finding employment in the industry.

Associate’s Degree
The associate’s degree is generally a two-year program that focuses on the core concepts of advertising and the advertising industry. A good program offers a robust selection of writing, marketing and overall business courses that focus on how to navigate in the advertising business.

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