Advertising accounts managers and creative directors: average salary and pay in the UK
Full-time advertising accounts managers and creative directors in the UK earned a median £48,977 in the year to 5 April 2025, according to the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE): 25% more than the £39,039 median for all full-time jobs.
What the figures show
That ranks 60th of 382 occupations on this measure.
The middle half of full-time jobs paid between £39,676 and £65,132.
The mean, £57,578, is 18% above the median, a sign of a few very high earners.
Median full-time pay: women £44,364 a year, men £49,540 a year.
ASHE counts roughly 37,000 employee jobs, 89% full-time.
Since 2021 it has risen 19.4%, from £783.90, slower than the 25.7% for all jobs.
The Annual Population Survey counts 55,700 people in this line of work, 35% of them in London.
Pay distribution, 2025 provisional
| Gross pay | Full-time, annual | Full-time, weekly | Full-time, hourly | All, annual | All, weekly | All, hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | £31,340 | £627.80 | £16.84 | £23,514* | £502.00* | £16.85 |
| 20th percentile | £35,879 | £728.50 | £19.93 | £31,518 | £645.40 | £19.72 |
| 25th percentile | £39,676 | £781.80 | £20.75 | £33,276 | £691.10 | £20.57 |
| 30th percentile | £41,581 | £823.70 | £21.93 | £35,948 | £766.60 | £21.15 |
| 40th percentile | £45,809 | £884.60 | £23.57 | £42,293 | £842.60 | £22.89 |
| Median (50th percentile) | £48,977 | £935.70 | £24.87 | £46,356 | £907.00 | £24.36 |
| 60th percentile | £52,210* | £972.80 | £26.24 | £50,276 | £958.20 | £25.95 |
| 70th percentile | £60,003* | £1,149.90 | £31.01 | £54,728* | £1,078.80 | £29.98 |
| 75th percentile | £65,132* | £1,243.80* | £33.31* | £62,896* | £1,185.00* | £31.78* |
| Mean | £57,578 | £1,074.70 | £28.76 | £52,936 | £1,006.10 | £28.68 |
Pay since 2021
| ASHE year | Full-time, annual median | Full-time, weekly median | Full-time, hourly median | All, annual median | All, weekly median | Jobs (thousands, indicative) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 revised | – | £783.90 | £21.77 | – | £713.20 | 32* |
| 2022 revised | £39,380* | £803.50 | £21.94 | £38,247* | £774.70 | 27* |
| 2023 revised | £42,658 | £828.10 | £22.61 | £40,439 | £814.00 | 35 |
| 2024 revised | £46,227 | £869.60 | £23.47 | £43,048 | £825.30 | 33 |
| 2025 provisional | £48,977 | £935.70 | £24.87 | £46,356 | £907.00 | 37 |
Advertising accounts managers and creative directors by region
UK: 55,700 (± 9,200), April 2025 to March 2026. 10 of the 12 regions and nations have samples too small to publish.
| Region or nation | People in employment | 95% confidence interval |
|---|---|---|
| London | 19,400* | ± 7,200 |
| South East | 10,300* | ± 4,000 |
Annual Population Survey (Nomis)
What advertising accounts managers and creative directors do
Advertising accounts managers and creative directors plan, design, organise and direct the advertising activities of an organisation. (ONS SOC 2020, 2494)
Also covers: account manager (advertising), advertising Manager, campaign Manager, creative Director, projects Manager (advertising), account manager, accounts manager, advertisement manager, creative consultant, creative planner, design director, fundraising manager, lottery manager, portfolio manager, press manager, production manager, projects manager and traffic manager (23 titles in the ONS coding index).
- Liaises with client to discuss product/service to be marketed, defines target group and assesses the suitability of various media
- Conceives advertising campaign to impart the desired product image in an effective and economical way, including planning which media to use, such as print, television, radio or online advertising
- Reviews and revises campaign in light of sales figures, surveys, etc.
- Stays abreast of changes in media, readership or viewing figures and advertising rates
- Arranges conferences, exhibitions, seminars, etc. to promote the image of a product, service or organisation
Entry is generally via career progression from related occupations. There are no pre-set entry standards, but in practice most directors hold a degree. Off and on-the-job training is provided.
Related
Media professionals (median £43,315) · Public relations professionals · Newspaper and periodical broadcast journalists and reporters · salary percentile · UK average weekly earnings growth · Mean
ASHE Table 14: 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 · coding index · notes · 15 October 2026