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SOC 2473 Business, media and public service professionals

Advertising accounts managers and creative directors Salary

Median salary £46,356 per year (2025). Based on ONS ASHE data.

About this role

Advertising accounts managers and creative directors lead campaigns and client relationships within agencies. Account managers coordinate between clients and creative teams, while creative directors set artistic vision and oversee creative output.

Key responsibilities

  • Managing client relationships and campaign briefs
  • Overseeing creative concept development and production
  • Managing budgets, timelines and deliverables
  • Presenting work and strategy to clients
  • Leading creative and account teams

Qualifications and entry routes

Typically requires a degree in advertising, marketing or design. IPA qualifications are the industry professional development standard. Portfolio and track record are critical for creative directors.

Career outlook

Strong demand for digital advertising expertise. Programmatic, social media and data-driven skills are particularly valued.

Key skills

Client management Creative direction Campaign strategy Presentation Budget management

Common industries

  • Advertising agencies
  • Media agencies
  • Digital agencies
  • Brand consultancies
  • In-house creative teams

Data coverage

SOC code 2473
Data source ONS ASHE
Years available 2015–2025
Estimated jobs 31,000

Median Salary

£46,356

Mean Salary

£52,936

Jobs (000s)

31k

Data Years

11 years

Salary Range (2025)

P25: £33,276Median: £46,356P75: £62,896
P10: £24kP25: £33kMedian: £46kP75: £63kP90: --

Estimated Career Progression

Based on salary percentile distribution for this occupation

Entry Level

£23,514

0-2 years

Mid Level

£33,276

3-7 years

Senior

£62,896

8-15 years

Potential career growth: +167% from entry to leadership

Salary Trend (2015-2025)

Nominal growth: +37.7%Real growth: +0.7%

Gender Pay Comparison (2025)

Gender pay gap: 15.2%

Full-time vs All Employees (2025)

All Employees

£46,356

Full-time Only

£48,977

Full-time premium: +£2,621