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Media Planning Manager Salary in the United States

How much does a Media Planning Manager make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Media Planning Manager in the United States is $114,180 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $55.

However, a Media Planning Manager's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $139,849
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $101,481 to $127,616
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $89,919
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Media Planning Manager Salaries

A Media Planning Manager's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Media Planning Manager Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Media Planning Manager's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Media Supervisor (7+ years): $101,844
  • Media Planning Supervisor (7+ years): $103,700
  • Media Planning Manager (7+ years): $114,180
  • Media Planning Senior Manager (7+ years): $154,671
  • Media Planning Director (7+ years): $173,823
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Media Supervisor7+ years$101,844
Media Planning Supervisor7+ years$103,700
Media Planning Manager7+ years$114,180
Media Planning Senior Manager7+ years$154,671
Media Planning Director7+ years$173,823
View as Graph

How Do Media Planning Managers Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Media Planning Managers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $126,420.
  • California: $125,941.
  • Massachusetts: $124,262.

Top Paying Cities for Media Planning Manager

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $144,015
  • San Francisco: $142,438
  • Oakland: $139,437

What Skills Can Increase a Media Planning Manager's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Insight (Mentioned in 3.04% Job Postings): Insight is the understanding cause and effect based on the identification of relationships and behaviors within a model, context, or scenario.
  • A/B Testing (Mentioned in 2.97% Job Postings): A/B Testing is also known as bucket testing or split-run testing. It's a method of user-experience research where by there are 2 variants of a single variable. A user will be tested in response to variant A against variant B, ultimately to determine the more effective variant.
  • Copywriting (Mentioned in 1.12% Job Postings): Copywriting is the act, or occupation of writing text for the purpose of advertising or other forms of marketing. The product, called copy, is written content that aims to increase brand awareness and ultimately persuade a person or group to take a particular action. Copywriters help create billboards, brochures, catalogs, jingle lyrics, magazine and newspaper advertisements, sales letters and other direct mail, scripts for television or radio commercials, taglines, white papers, social media posts, and other marketing communications.
Skills Demand Percentage
Insight 3.04%
A/B Testing 2.97%
Copywriting 1.12%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Media Planning Manager's salary.

  • Marketing Automation: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
  • Demand Generation: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Product Marketing: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Marketing Automation $127,882
12%
Demand Generation $122,173
7%
Product Marketing $122,173
7%
Get Latest Data

Media Planning Manager Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Media Planning Manager salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $127,818. While startup companies pay approximate $108,131.

Media Planning Manager Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $108,131
Growth Stage 51~500 $114,361
Established 501~5000 $123,431
Enterprise 5000+ $127,818

Media Planning Manager Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Media Planning Manager roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 56% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Internet sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 28% above the average. In contrast, Media Planning Manager positions in Transportation or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Media Planning Manager as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Media Planning Manager

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals$146,150$70.028%
Internet$139,300$67.022%
Insurance$125,598$60.010%
Energy & Utilities$123,314$59.08%
Telecom$121,031$58.06%

How Education impacts an Media Planning Manager's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Media Planning Manager enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Media Planning Manager with a Bachelor's Degree is between $125,831 and $136,585.

Media Planning Manager Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Media Planning Manager
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.4%
High School 3.1%
Associates 5.4%
Bachelors 58.3%
Masters 31.4%
Doctorate 1.3%
View as Graph

Media Planning Manager Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Media Planning Manager's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$101,481
Average $114,180/year
$127,616
$8,457
Average $9,515/month
$10,635
$1,952
Average $2,196/week
$2,454
$49
Average $55/hour
$61
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $127,616 $10,635 $2,454 $61
Average $114,180 $9,515 $2,196 $55
25th Percentile $101,481 $8,457 $1,952 $49

Media Planning Manager Salary Growth & Career Path

Media Planning Manager

Next Role

Advancement

Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As a Media Planning Manager, you have the following paths for advancement. The table below compares the salary raises for common next-step roles. By comparing these figures, you can choose the career path that best meets your financial goals.

Next Step Role Estimate Salary Projected Raise
Advertising Senior Manager $154,659 35%
Media Planning Senior Manager $154,671 35%

Most common benefits for Media Planning Manager

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Media Planning Manager

Here are companies hiring for Media Planning Manager and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Media Planning Manager

1. Where can a Media Planning Manager earn the most?

A Media Planning Manager's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Media Planning Manager earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Media Planning Manager is $144,015.

2. What is the highest pay for Media Planning Manager?

The highest pay for Media Planning Manager is $139,849.

3. What is the lowest pay for Media Planning Manager?

The lowest pay for Media Planning Manager is $89,919.

4. What are the responsibilities of Media Planning Manager?

Manages the team responsible for the planning, execution, and optimization of media plans across multiple media channels. Coordinates the client's overall marketing strategy, tactics, message, and objectives. Uses analytics to design innovative strategies to ensure the client's marketing campaigns are accurate, data-driven, and reach the target audience. Oversees campaign tactics and execution to monitor spending, manage budgets, and control pacing, optimization, and timelines for all types of media campaigns. Requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a director. Manages subordinate staff in the day-to-day performance of their jobs. True first level manager. Ensures that project/department milestones/goals are met and adhering to approved budgets. Has full authority for personnel actions. Typically requires 5 years experience in the related area as an individual contributor. 1-3 years supervisory experience may be required. Extensive knowledge of the function and department processes.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Media Planning Manager?

The Pharmaceuticals industry offers the highest average compensation for Media Planning Manager roles, with salaries approximately 28% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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