Why We Love It
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$61,690Potential Avg. Salary
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-2.7%Job Growth Rate
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Deal MakingCareer Attribute
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Get to TravelCareer Attribute
Billboard advertising salespersons sell advertising space on billboards located within a specific sales region. They identify leads, pitch advertising opportunities, create billboard advertising contracts, and work with art departments to communicate client needs for new placements.
Recommended Schools
What is a Billboard Advertising Salesperson?
The following job responsibilities are common for individuals in billboard advertising salesperson roles:
- Develop new leads using cold calling techniques, competitor research, and other sources
- Prepare pitches for new clients to inform of the benefits of billboard advertising, and to educate on the locations of vacant and/or high-traffic billboards
- Work with clients to choose duration of advertising and locations of available billboard advertising space
- Prepare contracts for advertising space sold to clients
- Work with art departments when necessary to create advertisements that fit client needs
A Day in the Life
Billboard advertising salespersons are responsible for securing advertisements to display on billboards located throughout a region. The billboard advertising salesperson’s region many vary widely depending on the number of billboards managed—the salesperson may sell ads for a specific neighborhood or city, or even for a large region that spans multiple states. The billboard advertising salesperson is responsible for securing advertising to appear on vacant billboards, or for scheduling ads to appear over time on popular, high-traffic billboards.
The billboard advertising salesperson may spend some of his/her time working in an office and some of his/her time in the field meeting with leads and clients. A thorough understanding of the region and its traffic patterns is critical for billboard ad sales in order to create pitches for prospective clients that inform on the benefits of advertising on specific stretches of roads and highways. The billboard ad salesperson may sell traditional image ads, or he/she may sell LED ads that change graphics.
After discovering leads, making pitches, and converting prospects, the billboard advertising salesperson must create contracts for the sale. He/she may also work with an art department to help communicate client needs, goals, and preferences if the billboard company is handling creation of the ad in addition to hosting the ads on its billboards. When an advertising run is complete, the salesperson works with the client to encourage future sales or looks for other clients to fill the vacant space.
Typical Work Schedule
Most billboard advertising salesperson roles are full-time positions, though the job does not guarantee a 9-5 schedule. Some individuals in this career field work irregular hours, including evenings and weekends.
Typical Employers
Most billboard advertising salespersons work for billboard advertising companies. These companies may manage billboard space in a single region, or they may manage billboard space in a variety of regions across the U.S. In general, billboard ad salespersons live in the areas they service so that they can travel to client sites frequently.
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How To Become a Billboard Advertising Salesperson
Though a bachelor’s degree is generally preferred for billboard advertising salesperson roles, it is not an absolute requirement. Some billboard ad salespersons are able to find work with only a high school diploma, but professional experience in outside sales and marketing is usually a prerequisite for individuals without degrees. Entry-level sales positions can lead to a record of success that can be used as evidence of sales acumen when applying for billboard ad salesperson positions after earning experience in the field.
For individuals who want to skip the requirement of taking on entry-level sales positions, a bachelor’s degree may be preferred. Aspiring billboard advertising salespersons commonly pursue bachelor’s degrees in sales and marketing, business, or advertising. These degrees provide the knowledge needed to succeed in outside sales, such as negotiation and presentation techniques, marketing best practices, and basic skills like working with computer programs and writing effective email communications.
Internships during college can help aspiring billboard advertising salespersons find work in the field more quickly after graduation. Taking an internship during college working in insurance sales, auto sales, collections, or assisting with a marketing team can provide the professional experience needed for being competitive for open billboard advertising sales positions after graduation.
Billboard Advertising Salesperson Salary Data
We’ve provided you the following to learn more about this career. The salary and growth data on this page comes from recently published Bureau of Labor Statistics data while the recommendations and editorial content are based on our research.
National Anual Salary
Low Range
$32,470Average
$61,690High Range
$114,350National Hourly Wage
Low Range
$16/hrAverage
$30/hrHigh Range
$55/hrHow do Billboard Advertising Salesperson salaries stack up to other jobs across the country? Based on the latest jobs data nationwide, Billboard Advertising Salesperson's can make an average annual salary of $61,690, or $30 per hour. On the lower end, they can make $32,470 or $16 per hour, perhaps when just starting out or based on the state you live in.
Salary Rankings And Facts
#255 Nationally for All Careers
Above Average Salary Nationally
Programs and Degrees
Here are the most common degrees for becoming a Billboard Advertising Salesperson. a is usually recommended and specifically a degree or coursework that prepares you for the particular field, see below.
Highest Education Among Billboard Advertising Salespersons
- 0.7% Doctorate
- 7.3% Masters
- 49% Bachelors
- 7.7% Associates
- 22.4% College
- 11.4% High School
- 1.4% Less than High School
Job Growth Projections and Forecast
2014 Total Jobs
167,9002024 Est. Jobs
163,400Job Growth Rate
-2.7%Est. New Jobs
-4,500How does Billboard Advertising Salesperson job growth stack up to other jobs across the country? By 2024, there will be a change of -4,500 jobs for a total of 163,400 people employed in the career nationwide. This is a -2.7% change in growth over the next ten years, giving the career a growth rate nationwide of Above Average.
Growth Rankings And Facts
#663 Nationally for All Careers
Above Avg. Growth Nationally
What Companies Employ The Most Billboard Advertising Salespersons
| Industry | Current Jobs | New Jobs Needed | % Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advertising, public relations, and related services | 60,800 | 2,100 | 2% |
| Newspaper publishers | 22,700 | -6,400 | -6% |
| Radio broadcasting | 16,400 | -3,100 | -3% |
