How to hire an assistant media planner

How to hire an assistant media planner, step by step

Here's a step-by-step assistant media 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 assistant media planner job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new assistant media planner
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

Post an assistant media planner job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring an assistant media planner, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect assistant media 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.

   This list shows salaries for various types of assistant media planners.

   Type of Assistant Media Planner	Description	Hourly rate
   Assistant Media Planner	Public relations specialists create and maintain a favorable public image for the organization they represent. They design media releases to shape public perception of their organization and to increase awareness of its work and goals.	$14-23
   Publicist	Public Relations Supervisors are responsible for implementing the media and public relations strategy of an organization. Their duties include developing public relations campaigns, organize public relations events, assist in emergency response planning, updating documentation, monitoring media, improve management of press office, and manage media databases... Show more	$14-39
   Public Relations Internship	A public relations intern is responsible for assisting the public relations department in creating content to engage customers and prospective clients in availing of the goods and services of the company. Public relations interns participate in meetings to suggest strategies and observe areas of improvement... Show more	$11-18

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • PowerPoint
   • Media Planning
   • Insertion Orders
   • MRI
   • Target Audience
   • Digital Marketing
   • Media Research
   • Nielsen
   • POVs
   • Campaign Performance
   • Research Tools
   • Comscore
   • Competitive Analysis
   • TV

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage display and paid search campaigns to specific KPIs.
   • Assist in managing media plans consisting of spot TV, local radio, trade magazines and outdoor.
   • Manage MRI research system generating specific demographic information for media recommendations.
   • Perform market research into media habits of target populations (GfK MRI, Simmons, Nielsen).
   • Present recommendations, POVs and select analyses to clients and account service teams.
   • Develop RFP documents and field vendor inquiries surrounding client campaigns and overarching objectives.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your assistant media planner job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. An assistant media planner salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, assistant media planners' average salary in florida is 47% less than in washington.
   • Seniority. Entry-level assistant media planners earn 35% less than senior-level assistant media planners.
   • Certifications. An assistant media planner with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in an assistant media planner's salary.

   Average assistant media planner salary

   $38,916yearly

   $18.71 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level assistant media planner salary

   $31,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 26, 2025

4. Writing an assistant media planner job description

   A job description for an assistant media planner role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's an assistant media planner job description:

   Assistant media planner job description example

   Who We Are Horizon Media, founded in 1989 by Bill Koenigsberg, is recognized as one of the most innovative marketing and advertising firms. We are headquartered in New York City, with offices in Los Angeles and Toronto. A leader in driving business solutions for marketers, Horizon is known for its highly personal approach to client service. Renowned for its incredible culture, Horizon is consistently named to all the prestigious annual Best Places to Work lists published by Fortune, AdAge, Crain's New York Business and Los Angeles Business Journal. Together we are building a place of belonging.At Horizon, we understand the value that different perspectives can bring to our clients and culture, so we strive for an environment where our employees feel welcomed, safe and empowered. We value YOU and believe that your authentic voice and unique perspective allows us to create a more rewarding culture, and experience, together.
   
   Our simple recipe for success? We hire talented people (thinkers, doers, dreamers, makers), challenge them and give them every opportunity to grow.
   What You'll Do
   Campaign Management & Execution - 45%
   Assists in management of day-to-day communication with internal and external teams Collaborate with Campaign Management team for ad trafficking and site tagging, ensuring tags are properly QA'dWork alongside media planner on post campaign reconciliation and billing Compile specs documents and ensure all materials are received from creative agency Responsible for the creation of campaign post-launch information such as screenshots, links and delivery data to demonstrate proof of placement for clients
   
   Learning & Development - 30%
   Advance knowledge and learn about the media industry, Horizon Media, and our clients Further abilities with Microsoft Office Suite and other proprietary Horizon tools Participate in Horizon's Media 101 training program and other syndicated and proprietary training sessions (i.e. Excel Basics, Business Writing, Presentation Skills, and more).
   
   Media Negotiating & Buying - 15%
   Participates in team brainstorms to kick off plan and consideration set development Collaborate with planners, senior planners, and supervisor for digital plan development Assist in the creation and presentation of media specific documents such as media plans, objectives and strategies decks, and other related functions Collaborate with team to identify data and billing discrepancies and recommend creative solutions Assist with creation of contracts within internal systems/tools to reserve advertising space and is responsible for accuracy of plan details and confirmation of delivery ensuring proper protocol
   Reporting & Analysis - 10%
   Collaborate with Horizon Media Analytics teams to aggregate data and ensure accuracy, validating data from internal and external teams Monitor campaign pacing to ensure purchases match plans/client goals
   
   Who You Are
   Hungry to learn more and further your knowledge of the media landscape Interested in the digital landscape and a desire to innovate and keep up with trendsA strong, effective communicatorA problem solver with the ability to develop creative solutions Detail oriented with strong organizational skills An effective time manager, comfortable working with multiple timelines and deliverablesA left and right brain thinker Flexible in working both independently and with a team, willing to roll up your sleeves Takes pride in ownership of work and demonstrates accountability Able to thrive in an agile, fast paced environment and seek out feedback proactively Results and solutions oriented; consistently motivated, proactive, and resourcefulA supporter of and advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion
   Preferred Skills & Experience
   Bachelor's degree and/or relevant work or internship experience Experience working in fast-paced environment and able to multi-task Proficiency working within Microsoft Suite
   
   Certificates, Licenses and Registrations
   This role does not require certificates, licenses or registrations.
   Physical Activity and Work Environment
   This role does not require any physical activity.
   The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees and are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified. Furthermore, they do not establish a contract for employment and are subject to change at the discretion of the employer.
   
   #LI-TH1
   #LI-HYBRID

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find assistant media planners 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 planners they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level assistant media planners 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 planner job on Zippia to find and recruit assistant media planner candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as pr news job board, pr council, prsa job center, hoojobs.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting assistant media planners 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.

   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 assistant media planner

   Once you've selected the best assistant media 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 also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new assistant media planner first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

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.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire an assistant media planner?