Assistant media planners look at the latest trends and market research to put together recommendations for clients.
Advertising is a field comprised of professionals whose specialties encompass a plethora of creative and business areas. In addition to account executives, copywriters, graphic designers and media buyers, media planning professionals research and recommend different types of media that should be included in ad campaigns. However, media planners must first become assistant media planners to learn the basics of media planning and the advertising industry. The average salary for assistant media planners in the U.S. was $41,000, according to a June 2011 Simply Hired report.
Function
In Monroe Community College's career profile for advertising and public relations, the national average salary for assistant media planners was listed as $39,470, according to a 2007 Bureau of Labor Statistics report. Assistant media planners generally assist senior-level media planners in the development of local, national and international media campaigns. These entry-level professionals conduct industry research and market analyses, create client activity reports and prepare campaign reviews. Media planning departments then send their recommendations to media buyers, who purchase ad space based on client specifications and budget parameters. Likewise, assistant media planners work closing with their agency's buying department to make sure client portfolios are in compliance with media plans and guidelines.
Geography
In June 2011, Indeed.com showed that assistant media planner salaries ranged across geographic regions. For example, assistant media planners employed in Arizona averaged $44,000 annually. Assistant media planners working in North Carolina received an average annual wage of $48,000. In California, assistant media planners were paid an average annual wage of $54,000 per year. The average salary for assistant media planners in Arkansas was $50,000 per year.
Advancement
Assistant media planners who excel on the job can advance their careers and increase their salary potential. Volunteering for increasingly complex projects and handling large client accounts boosts candidates' credentials for senior media planner roles. Assistant media planners can also enroll in continuing education courses to build their knowledge in subjects such as marketing, psychology, accounting and graphic design.
Additional on-the-job training in industry software programs, project management, client relations and market trends also helps assistant media planners progress to supervisory roles. Often, assistant media planners with enough experience transition to managerial roles within marketing and advertising. The Bureau of Labor Statistics stated that advertising and promotions managers earned an average salary of $98,720 as of May 2010.
Job Outlook
Although the advertising agency is sensitive to economic downturns, budget cuts and other industry changes, the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that jobs for advertising and PR professionals will grow 8 percent through 2018. As the economy expands and new products and services are introduced to the marketplace, businesses will seek advertisers to help them compete for consumers' attention. Assistant media planners with a bachelor's degree and knowledge of the latest multimedia tools will have the best job prospects during this time period.
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