How to hire an account planner

How to hire an account planner, step by step

Here's a step-by-step account planner hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an account planner job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new account planner
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does an account planner do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your account planner job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find an account planner for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

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   Hiring the perfect account planner also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   The following list breaks down different types of account planners and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Account Planner	Description	Hourly rate
   Account Planner	Market research analysts study market conditions to examine potential sales of a product or service. They help companies understand what products people want, who will buy them, and at what price.	$23-51
   Marketing Analyst	A marketing analyst specializes in researching market conditions to develop strategies to boost sales and revenues. They are primarily responsible for analyzing competition and trends, identifying the organization's strengths and weaknesses, and determining potential opportunities... Show more	$19-40
   Research Analyst	A research analyst is responsible for providing a company with insights and advice concerning finance, investments, and expenditures. Utilizing their analytical skills and extensive expertise in marketing, they analyze the trends and significant factors to conclude which decision should be the best to make... Show more	$21-51

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Digital Marketing
   • Media Sales
   • Nielsen
   • Account Executives
   • PowerPoint
   • Creative Strategy
   • Qualitative Research
   • Account Management
   • Creative Briefs
   • Market Research
   • Account Planning
   • Client Objectives
   • Quantitative Research
   • Primary Research

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Guide production planning activities ranging from developing and revising production schedules, forecasting trends and customer demand, and managing logistics.
   • Direct inbound or outbound logistics operations, such as transportation or warehouse activities, safety performance, or logistics quality management.
   • Coordinate the quality control for clients' letters and mailings as well as ran data pulls and file selects for clients.

   More account planner duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your account planner job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. An account planner can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, account planners' average salary in oklahoma is 46% less than in delaware.
   • Seniority. Entry-level account planners 55% less than senior-level account planners.
   • Certifications. An account planner with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in an account planner's salary.

   Average account planner salary

   $71,823yearly

   $34.53 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level account planner salary

   $48,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

   Average account planner salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New York	$81,518	$39
   2	Texas	$81,516	$39
   3	Colorado	$77,157	$37
   4	California	$74,399	$36
   5	Michigan	$73,360	$35
   6	Illinois	$71,879	$35
   7	Georgia	$65,654	$32
   8	South Carolina	$64,631	$31
   9	Pennsylvania	$62,424	$30
   10	Wisconsin	$60,616	$29
   11	Ohio	$60,580	$29
   12	Missouri	$52,553	$25
   13	Nebraska	$52,231	$25
   14	Kansas	$50,702	$24

   Average account planner salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Google	$115,233	$55.40	24
   2	TBWA Worldwide	$93,970	$45.18
   3	Razorfish	$89,125	$42.85
   4	Campbell-Ewald	$88,966	$42.77
   5	Deutsch LA	$85,607	$41.16
   6	MARC USA	$84,206	$40.48
   7	PVH	$83,370	$40.08	4
   8	Sanders\Wingo	$83,234	$40.02
   9	The Vidal Partnership	$78,525	$37.75
   10	Cornett	$76,502	$36.78
   11	The Integer Group	$76,350	$36.71
   12	Lopez Negrete Communications	$74,024	$35.59
   13	Mediabrands	$72,055	$34.64
   14	Dieste Harmel & Partners	$71,699	$34.47
   15	LSC Communications	$71,663	$34.45
   16	Euro Rscg	$70,346	$33.82
   17	Wunderman Thompson	$70,217	$33.76
   18	Teladoc	$68,599	$32.98
   19	Robert Half	$66,550	$32.00	38
   20	Spectrum	$66,528	$31.98	2

4. Writing an account planner job description

   An account planner job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of an account planner job description:

   Account planner job description example

   The Senior Planner serves as Integrated Strategist supporting brands as a core team member, coordinating strategic efforts across the Integrated Strategy dept: Planning, Engagement, Media, Marketing Intelligence, Social. The Senior Planner provides high level Planning skills and a broad understanding of the role the other disciplines play, adeptly bringing in subject matter experts to support projects as needed.
   
   Role EssentialsTarget Identification: deep understanding of target attitudes, beliefs and behavior Insight Mining: expertise in uncovering and utilizing target insights Market research: able to leverage market research to uncover learnings and insights, high level of proficiency in variety of research methodologies Storytelling & creative inspiration: good verbal, writing and presentation skills Pharma-proficiency: ability to get up to speed quickly on new therapeutic areas Act as Planning lead on new business pitches
   
   Functions & ResponsibilitiesLead planning-focused projects on supported brands, including market research, insight mining, audience narratives, customer journeys, and positioning development Seamlessly coordinate integration of multiple disciplines as Integrated Strategist: Engagement, Media, Marketing Intelligence and SocialLead insight, positioning, and messaging workshops Author creative briefs Lead inspiring creative briefings Evaluate creative output through the target-lens Provide professional guidance to Planners and Associate Planners in the department
   
   Qualifications5-7 years prior agency experience [at least 3 years in Planning]Bachelor's degree [preference for social sciences, marketing, communication, sciences]Pharmaceutical experience a plus Must be innately curious about human behavior Must have an interest in health & wellness
   
   Since our beginning in 1981, AbelsonTaylor has remained singularly focused on brands that help people live healthier lives. We don't design for sneakers, or beer, or cars. We are 100% focused on and passionate about health and wellness.
   
   At AbelsonTaylor, we are focused on the vital goal of building a diverse and inclusive workforce and creating an environment where different people with unique skill sets and diverse backgrounds can work together toward a common goal. After all, when the products you sell are ideas, strategies and relationships, your most important asset is your people!
   
   And we are Passionate about our People. It says so right in our Values, along with Cherish Creativity, Fearlessly Independent, Always Curious, and Teamwork. All of which support our Vision: Be the most sought after Health and Wellness agency.
   We are committed to providing reasonable accommodation to all applicants who require additional accessibility to this process, please note in your application if you require additional assistance.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right account planner for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your account planner job on Zippia to find and recruit account planner candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as swipe files, exit five, marketinghire, american marketing association.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with account planner candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new account planner

   Once you've selected the best account planner candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new account planner. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire an account planner?