Advertising Sales Agent Salary
Advertising Sales Agents earn a median $64,820 a year nationally. Sales and Related Occupations
U.S. median
$64,820
$31.16 per hour
Range
$35,240 – $146,010
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
91,700
across the U.S.
▲5.5%
Pay trend: The median for advertising sales agents in the U.S. rose from $61,460 (May 2024) to $64,820 (May 2025). That beat inflation (2.4%), a real raise of about 3.1%.
What advertising sales agents do
Sell or solicit advertising space, time, or media in publications, signage, TV, radio, or Internet establishments or public spaces.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -7.2% (declining)
- Openings per year
- 7,800
- Self-employed
- 8%
Employment of advertising sales agents is projected to shrink 7.2% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 7,800 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Advertising Sales Agent take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$54,263
per year · effective tax rate 16.3%
$4,522Monthly
$2,261Twice a month
$2,087Every 2 weeks
$26.09Hourly
- Federal income tax$5,598
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,019
- Medicare (1.45%)$940
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$54,263
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,240 | $16.94 | $30,495 |
| 25th percentile | $47,020 | $22.61 | $39,961 |
| Median (50th) | $64,820 | $31.16 | $54,263 |
| 75th percentile | $99,990 | $48.07 | $79,173 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $146,010 | $70.20 | $111,064 |
Best cities for advertising sales agents (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $105,320 | $82,923 | $74,616 | 2,770 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $99,010 | $73,682 | $65,459 | 13,210 |
| 3 | Chicago, IL | $75,590 | $58,411 | $56,384 | 2,830 |
| 4 | Los Angeles, CA | $80,360 | $61,075 | $53,779 | 5,230 |
| 5 | Dallas, TX | $61,150 | $51,314 | $49,776 | 2,390 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- Seattle, WA — $105,320
- New York, NY — $99,010
- Los Angeles, CA — $80,360
- Chicago, IL — $75,590
- Dallas, TX — $61,150
Advertising Sales Agent salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $101,320 | +34.6% | $80,109 | $52,510 – $183,700 | 3,510 |
| New York | $98,360 | +3.5% | $73,263 | $49,560 – $178,600 | 13,570 |
| Massachusetts | $80,500 | +3.0% | $61,657 | $45,130 – $134,820 | 1,480 |
| California | $80,360 | +32.9% | $61,075 | $42,260 – $157,130 | 9,620 |
| District of Columbia | $75,030 | +1.2% | $58,183 | $58,990 – $176,270 | 320 |
| Utah | $74,260 | +4.9% | $58,696 | $38,470 – $155,120 | 1,110 |
| Colorado | $73,420 | −10.5% | $57,959 | $38,160 – $164,930 | 1,110 |
| New Jersey | $69,620 | −5.0% | $55,509 | $37,760 – $125,890 | 2,110 |
| South Carolina | $68,200 | −8.9% | $53,874 | $25,750 – $147,110 | 1,770 |
| Illinois | $66,290 | −0.1% | $52,307 | $31,200 – $142,870 | 3,790 |
| Michigan | $64,800 | +3.8% | $51,744 | $40,180 – $134,950 | 2,040 |
| Wisconsin | $63,270 | +4.3% | $51,015 | $37,950 – $118,740 | 1,290 |
| Nebraska | $62,890 | +3.8% | $50,730 | $32,180 – $180,510 | 1,190 |
| Oregon | $62,810 | +39.3% | $47,982 | $35,820 – $106,330 | 960 |
| Minnesota | $62,660 | +3.0% | $49,790 | $35,340 – $127,710 | 1,750 |
| Arizona | $62,050 | +13.3% | $50,695 | $35,720 – $103,100 | 1,160 |
| Connecticut | $61,820 | +8.7% | $49,995 | $34,010 – $140,180 | 740 |
| Missouri | $61,440 | +8.8% | $49,597 | $37,020 – $128,300 | 1,640 |
| Hawaii | $61,290 | +23.9% | $48,299 | $40,790 – $92,520 | 310 |
| Texas | $60,280 | — | $50,615 | $31,710 – $99,710 | 6,230 |
| South Dakota | $60,190 | +22.3% | $50,543 | $39,010 – $95,670 | 390 |
| Maryland | $59,830 | — | $47,775 | $43,130 – $137,590 | 880 |
| Vermont | $58,750 | +3.0% | $47,851 | $35,220 – $102,570 | 160 |
| Iowa | $58,480 | +1.7% | $47,598 | $30,250 – $92,120 | 900 |
| Florida | $58,420 | −0.3% | $49,120 | $34,680 – $128,120 | 6,420 |
| Pennsylvania | $58,350 | +17.7% | $47,273 | $35,770 – $115,950 | 4,260 |
| Georgia | $58,140 | +25.3% | $46,501 | $29,690 – $117,110 | 3,150 |
| Oklahoma | $57,670 | +10.1% | $46,468 | $27,460 – $173,050 | 700 |
| Indiana | $57,030 | −3.3% | $46,351 | $28,450 – $103,870 | 1,410 |
| New Hampshire | $54,870 | +12.1% | $46,268 | $30,500 – $101,120 | 290 |
| Idaho | $53,460 | −27.9% | $43,410 | $28,800 – $158,610 | 220 |
| Delaware | $52,480 | −9.2% | $42,112 | $37,880 – $85,220 | 140 |
| Kentucky | $51,580 | +11.5% | $41,937 | $27,740 – $93,490 | 620 |
| Alabama | $50,870 | +6.9% | $40,776 | $22,410 – $106,530 | 910 |
| Ohio | $50,410 | −14.0% | $42,081 | $31,200 – $96,840 | 3,220 |
| North Dakota | $50,110 | +2.4% | $42,443 | $32,180 – $94,440 | 260 |
| Arkansas | $49,120 | +6.4% | $39,945 | $28,920 – $96,150 | 900 |
| Louisiana | $48,810 | +4.5% | $40,321 | $25,480 – $100,800 | 860 |
| Maine | $48,780 | −9.4% | $39,264 | $37,600 – $104,990 | 400 |
| Kansas | $48,660 | +0.3% | $39,363 | $27,150 – $90,440 | 920 |
| Rhode Island | $48,040 | −35.2% | $39,596 | $39,470 – $104,550 | 340 |
| Wyoming | $47,290 | +11.1% | $40,178 | $28,900 – $123,310 | 150 |
| Mississippi | $46,810 | +0.0% | $38,651 | $24,740 – $100,500 | 490 |
| Montana | $46,040 | −6.8% | $37,766 | $28,730 – $84,270 | 240 |
| New Mexico | $45,620 | +6.9% | $37,841 | $28,920 – $93,560 | 300 |
| West Virginia | $44,700 | +0.2% | $36,811 | $20,580 – $93,170 | 290 |
| Alaska | $43,840 | −16.3% | $37,405 | $30,850 – $111,150 | 230 |
| Tennessee | $40,910 | −14.9% | $35,051 | $28,200 – $82,960 | 1,820 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance Sales Agent | $62,280 | High school diploma or equivalent | +3.3% |
| Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel | $69,990 | High school diploma or equivalent | +2.7% |
| Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents | $78,660 | Bachelor's degree | +1.4% |
| Travel Agent | $50,160 | High school diploma or equivalent | +0.2% |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | $72,080 | High school diploma or equivalent | -0.9% |
| Real Estate Broker | $73,220 | High school diploma or equivalent | +0.8% |
| Real Estate Sales Agent | $52,830 | High school diploma or equivalent | +1.7% |
| First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers | $48,520 | High school diploma or equivalent | -3.7% |
| Model | $48,470 | No formal educational credential | -2.1% |
| Sales and Related Workers, All Other | $48,280 | High school diploma or equivalent | +1.1% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a advertising sales agent make?
The national median salary for advertising sales agents is $64,820 a year ($31.16 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $35,240 and the top 10% earn over $146,010. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays advertising sales agents the most?
Washington has the highest median pay at $101,320. After taxes and local prices, Seattle, WA offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many advertising sales agents are there in the U.S.?
About 91,700 people work as advertising sales agents nationwide.