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Ad Manager Salary in the United States

How much does an Ad Manager make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an Ad Manager in the United States is $72,001 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $35.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $78,887
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $67,676 to $75,606
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $63,739
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Ad Manager Salaries

An Ad 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 Ad Manager Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Ad 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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $71,736
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $87,060
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $104,243
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $130,238
  • Expert (over 8 years): $101,157
Levels Salary
Ad Manage... Level Ad Manager$71,736
Digital P... Level Ad Manager$87,060
Digital P... Level Ad Manager$104,243
Digital P... Level Ad Manager$130,238
Digital P... Level Ad Manager$101,157
View as Graph

How Do Ad Manager 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 Ad Managers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $79,720.
  • California: $79,418.
  • Massachusetts: $78,359.

Top Paying Cities for Ad Managers

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: $90,815
  • San Francisco: $89,821
  • Oakland: $87,928

What Skills Can Increase an Ad Manager's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Project Management (Mentioned in 3.8% Job Postings): Project management is the application of processes, methods, skills, knowledge and experience to achieve specific project objectives according to the project acceptance criteria within agreed parameters. Project management has final deliverables that are constrained to a finite timescale and budget.
  • Digital Media (Mentioned in 2.86% Job Postings): Digital media are any media that are encoded in machine-readable formats. Digital media can be created, viewed, distributed, modified and preserved on digital electronics devices.
  • Multimedia (Mentioned in 2.04% Job Postings): Multimedia is a computerized method of presenting information combining textual data, audio, visuals (video), graphics and animations.
Skills Demand Percentage
Project Management 3.8%
Digital Media 2.86%
Multimedia 2.04%
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 an Ad Manager's salary.

  • Programming: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
  • Digital Marketing: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Coordination: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Programming $79,922
11%
Digital Marketing $77,762
8%
Coordination $76,321
6%
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Ad Manager Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Ad Manager roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 120% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Insurance and Aerospace & Defense sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 60% above the average. In contrast, Ad Manager positions in Internet or Biotechnology typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Ad Manager as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Ad Manager

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Insurance$115,202$55.060%
Aerospace & Defense$108,002$52.050%
Healthcare$100,802$48.040%
Energy & Utilities$93,602$45.030%
MFG Nondurable$90,002$43.025%

How Education impacts an Ad Manager's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Ad Managers enter the field with a Associate's Degree 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 Ad Manager with a Associate's Degree is between $64,716 and $67,659).

Ad Manager Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Ad Manager
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 19.3%
High School 19.3%
Associates 9.1%
Bachelors 64.8%
Masters 6.8%
Doctorate 0.0%
View as Graph

Ad Manager Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Ad 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 September 01, 2026
$67,676
Average $72,001/year
$75,606
$5,640
Average $6,000/month
$6,300
$1,301
Average $1,385/week
$1,454
$33
Average $35/hour
$36
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $75,606 $6,300 $1,454 $36
Average $72,001 $6,000 $1,385 $35
25th Percentile $67,676 $5,640 $1,301 $33

Most common benefits for Ad Manager

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

Common company salaries for Ad Manager

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

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FAQ about Ad Manager

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Ad Manager?

The Insurance industry offers the highest average compensation for Ad Manager roles, with salaries approximately 60% 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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