SOC 2494 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.

Gross pay, before deductions. See take-home pay on £46,000 after tax and National Insurance →

For advertising accounts managers and creative directors, £48,977 is the typical (median) pay. That is well above the UK full-time median of £39,039 — +25% versus the national average. Experienced advertising accounts managers and creative directors (top 25%) earn over £62,896.

About this role

Advertising accounts managers and creative directors (2020 SOC) lead strategic and creative delivery of advertising campaigns across digital, print, broadcast and social channels, managing client portfolios and overseeing creative execution.

Key responsibilities

Managing client accounts and campaign strategies
Directing creative output across channels
Overseeing production and performance reporting
Building new business through pitches
Managing creative teams

Qualifications and entry routes

Degrees in advertising, marketing or creative arts are common. IPA qualifications and D&AD membership add professional credibility. Creative directors require strong portfolios.

Career outlook

Digital ad spend continues to grow. Demand strong for professionals combining creative thinking with data analytics.

Key skills

Strategic advertising Creative leadership Client management Digital channels Data-driven optimisation

Common industries

Full-service agencies
Digital agencies
Social media agencies
In-house marketing
Media buying

Data coverage

SOC code 2494

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)

Adjust for inflation

Nominal growth: +37.7%Real growth: +0.8%

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

Advertising accounts managers and creative directors salary: common questions

How much do advertising accounts managers and creative directors earn in the UK?

Advertising accounts managers and creative directors earn a median of £48,977 a year (ONS ASHE 2025). The middle half earn between £33,276 and £62,896.

Is £48,977 a good salary in the UK?

What is the starting salary for advertising accounts managers and creative directors?

Entry-level advertising accounts managers and creative directors typically start near the lower end of the range. The bottom 25% earn up to £33,276, and the lowest-paid 10% earn under £23,514.

Have advertising accounts managers and creative directors salaries kept up with inflation?

Since 2016, median advertising accounts managers and creative directors pay has risen from £34,566 to £48,977 — +42% in cash terms, or +4.0% after CPIH inflation. That is ahead of inflation over the period.

Is there a gender pay gap for advertising accounts managers and creative directors?

Male advertising accounts managers and creative directors earn a median £48,890 and female advertising accounts managers and creative directors £41,441 — a gap of +15% in 2025.

Figures: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, gross annual pay. UK full-time median £39,039 (2025).