How to hire an assistant media buyer

How to hire an assistant media buyer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step assistant media buyer hiring guide:

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the assistant media buyer you need to hire. Certain assistant media buyer roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them an assistant media buyer to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire an assistant media buyer that fits the bill.

   The following list breaks down different types of assistant media buyers and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Assistant Media Buyer	Description	Hourly rate
   Assistant Media Buyer	Buyers and purchasing agents buy products and services for organizations to use or resell. They evaluate suppliers, negotiate contracts, and review the quality of products.	$19-30
   Material Analyst	A materials analyst is responsible for managing the assets and materials of an organization, ensuring the adequacy of office inventories to support business operational functions. Materials analysts identify cost-reduction materials by coordinating with trusted suppliers and third-party vendors... Show more	$23-42
   Purchaser	A Purchaser is responsible for buying goods and services from distribution centers to sell to customers or other companies. They conduct data analysis and research current market trends to identify public demands and generate resources that would increase the company's revenues and profitability... Show more	$17-32

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Buying Process
   • Media Buying
   • Media Planning
   • TV Stations
   • Nielsen
   • Sales Reps
   • Insertion Orders
   • Post Analysis
   • Billing Issues
   • Direct Response
   • Buy Analysis
   • Target Audience
   • Account Executives
   • PowerPoint

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage team responsible for SEM, digital media, and campaign optimization.
   • Create PowerPoint presentations demonstrating which markets perform best, as measured by consumer ratings they achieve quarter-by-quarter.
   • Follow current trends on all SEO & SEM topics through research and networking.
   • Utilize SEO best practices to optimize internal web properties and mobile sites/apps.
   • Present creative media plans directly to clients, utilizing Donavan, PowerPoint, and other media software.
   • Research and analyze Nielsen ratings, demographics and programming trends to suit client objectives for each media plan.

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, assistant media buyers' average salary in utah is 31% less than in district of columbia.
   • Seniority. Entry-level assistant media buyers 38% less than senior-level assistant media buyers.
   • Certifications. An assistant media buyer 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 assistant media buyer's salary.

   Average assistant media buyer salary

   $50,861yearly

   $24.45 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level assistant media buyer salary

   $40,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 18, 2025

4. Writing an assistant media buyer job description

   An assistant media buyer 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 assistant media buyer job description:

   Assistant media buyer job description example

   Assistant Media Buyer/Video & Audio
   
   We're looking for a bright media planning/buying assistant to help manage the day-to-day responsibilities on our Local and National Audio/Video buying accounts. The job includes managing media schedules, budget oversight, communicating with media sales reps, reconciliation, as well as administrative tasks such as organizing and preparing recommendation decks.
   
   We're a true cross channel agency and everyone here learns about all media types (broadcast, digital, print and everything in between). A naturally curious mind, resourcefulness, a love for numbers and a passion for advertising are a must. Previous marketing or media agency experience are a definite plus. You should be diligent and resourceful and enjoy working in a fun and fast paced environment.
   
   Responsibilities:
   
   Assist a team of buyers in the implementation, monitoring and stewardship of local and national broadcast schedules
   
   Handle reconciliation and billing deadlines and work with finance teams to streamline process and meet deadlines
   
   Monitor and maintain schedules to ensure delivery to client goals and estimates
   
   Assist Supervisors and Directors across accounts on budget allocation and goals
   
   Provide tracking reports and post-buy delivery analyses on quarterly and annual bases.
   
   Handle requests for various clients, including data collection for information regarding television ratings/programming and industry/ marketplace/technology trends
   
   Qualifications:
   
   Ideal is 3-6 months + or an internship in a TV/Radio Media Buying role
   
   Highly organized and detailed oriented
   
   Proactive and capable of meeting deadlines
   
   A love for working with numbers
   
   Team oriented
   
   An interest in building a career in media.
   
   Highly proficient in working with Excel
   
   Tools experience: ideally with Strata and Adazzle, Nielsen, Kantar, MRI, Simmons, Telmar, YouGov, Datorama
   
   Salary and Benefits:
   
   Our principles of Trust, Reason and the Pursuit of Happiness are brought to life through benefits that recognize and support the diversity and physical, emotional, and professional well-being of our people.
   
   Salary 43k-48k, plus overtime (commensurate with experience)
   
   Open PTO policy and paid sabbaticals at significant milestone anniversaries
   
   Fully funded healthcare options and agency-wide physical & mental health support
   
   401(k) with company match, student loan relief program and financial counseling support
   
   Generous paid parental leave policy
   
   Life milestone recognition & support
   
   The Pursuit of Happiness Fund devoted to helping Crossmedians find their happy (be it travel, enrichment class, fitness membership or professional development)
   
   Cell phone/tech reimbursement
   
   Student Loan payment plan and tuition reimbursement
   
   And burgers - lots and lots of burgers!
   
   Commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
   
   Diversity is in our DNA. As a minority-owned company, our commitment to an inclusive environment has long been embedded into agency practices and at every level. Almost one third of senior leadership identifies as a person of color and over half of our executive leadership are women. We have active mentoring & internship programs that create opportunities for underrepresented groups. Internal agency programming is anchored by XMEquity365, a permanent, year-round initiative fostering acknowledgement and support of marginalized communities within five pillars - Excellence, Voices, Education, Giving & Representation.
   
   

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5. Post your job

   To find assistant media buyers for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any assistant media buyers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level assistant media buyers with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your assistant media buyer job on Zippia to find and recruit assistant media buyer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting assistant media buyers requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete 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 assistant media buyer

   Once you've decided on a perfect assistant media buyer candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new assistant media buyer. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

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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