An advertising dispatch clerk has a national median salary of $63,000 a year. In larger production firms the dispatch clerk may make a higher yearly salary, this figure does not include benefits added in, benefits may be available with this position as with most in the advertising industry.
In order to become an advertising dispatch clerk there are a few traits that are typical, they are team players they must be in order to keep projects on track and ahead of deadline, it is important to be organized, have excellent communication skills, being very patient if projects are slower than planned. This position as with others in the advertising industry can be very stressful. Training and experience is needed to obtain a position but bachelor’s degree is not.
The responsibilities for the advertising dispatch clerk are as follows: The advertising dispatch clerk is responsible for compiling and dispatching the advertising schedule and materials to the composing room, this is typically for daily or weekly publications. They must review the advertising order and prepare the advertising schedule by listing ad size, organizing it by date the ads are scheduled to appear, they must assign the page and position on the page the advertisement should appear. The advertising dispatch clerk now searches an advertising database file for the proper layout mat, selects the corresponding layout mat, they then dispatch the mat, advertising layout, copy and advertising schedule to the advertising composing department. When the composing department is finished placing the advertisements in the proper places. The advertising dispatch clerk obtains the advertising final layout or proof from the composing department and dispatched it to the advertising department for proofreading. In order to help out other departments the advertising dispatch clerk may proofread advertisements as they come through and correct them if they need correcting. The advertising dispatch clerks need to maintain a working file of all advertising materials including mats, proofs and work orders. As the first edition comes off the press the advertising dispatch clerk will read it and double check it for any additional errors that may have been missed.
