How To Become A Media Manager: What It Is and Career Path

What is a media manager and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted experts

Eve Oishi Ph.D.,

Dr. Veronica Radeva Dawson Ph.D.

Media managers are in charge of the department that develops and implements all targeted content for various media platforms. They identify press opportunities through evolving issues and ensure that key messages align with vital business strategies. They also establish and monitor performance benchmarks and media cost with agencies, earning a median sum of $68,000 annually or $33 per hour.

Media managers execute the communications strategies of the company and oversee content creation on different media platforms. They are expected to be up-to-date with the current trends on media platforms by monitoring online and offline ad campaigns. Their duties also include increasing the public's interest in their products/services and optimizing advertising budgets in collaboration with the marketing director.

Typically, a media manager will earn a bachelor's degree in communications, photography, or other related fields. Gaining some years of work experience as a media manager or a similar role is strongly advised. It will also help to possess a demonstrable experience with building effective media campaigns.

What general advice would you give to a media manager?

Eve Oishi Ph.D.

Associate Professor and Chair, Claremont Graduate University

Students who receive a degree in ethnic or gender studies are sure to have received substantial training in how to identify and analyze structural inequality, cultural and political power dynamics, and historical trends. These are all tools that are highly useful and transferrable to innumerable fields. Many students face pressure from their families to avoid areas like these because they won't give them "practical" career training.

At the start of their careers, my advice to graduates would be to remember that the skills they have in critical thinking, writing, and understanding the most pressing issues of the current time, are skills that will make them attractive to employers in many fields. Be creative and bold in highlighting all of your diverse talents. Even if your skillset is not legible to your family or community, you can showcase it in your job search.

ScoreMedia ManagerUS Average

Salary

7.5

Avg. Salary $96,475

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.5

Growth rate 10%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

3.1

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.23%

Asian 8.15%

Black or African American 3.04%

Hispanic or Latino 8.67%

Unknown 5.32%

White 74.58%

Gender

female 48.28%

male 51.72%

Age - 38

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 38

Stress level

7.5

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

9.0

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

3.5

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a media manager

Explore media manager education requirements

Most common media manager degrees

Bachelor's

80.5 %

Master's

8.5 %

Associate

7.0 %

Start to develop specific media manager skills

Skills	Percentages
Digital Marketing	19.43%
KPIs	4.58%
Media Planning	4.31%
Media Management	3.83%
PowerPoint	3.56%

Complete relevant media manager training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New media managers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a media manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real media manager resumes.

Research media manager duties and responsibilities

Manage B2C media campaigns from inception to reporting.
Evaluate, select and manage relationships with PPC technology vendors.
Lead intranet and internet maintenance, content, development and marketing.
Execute vendor fund campaigns to achieve KPIs base on each individual brand s needs and drive ecommerce sales.

Prepare your media manager resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your media manager resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a media manager resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable media manager resume templates

Build a professional media manager resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your media manager resume.