The advertising media buyer salary has a national average of $76,000. This does not include company benefits such as insurance and 401k. Years of experience are necessary for this position. Typically this is an hourly paid position.
In the advertising industry advertising media buyers track the media space and times available for purchase within the advertising mediums such as TV, newspaper, radio and outdoor advertising. Advertising media buyers negotiate and purchase time and space for ads, and make sure ads appear exactly as scheduled. If ads do not appear as schedule it is the advertising media buyers’ responsibility to contact the medium which the ad was placed and negotiates a refund or additional runs. Advertising media buyers, have the task for buying media as part of an overall integrated marketing strategy or advertising campaign. Advertising media buyers take the media plan determined by the advertising media planners, and make the actual "buys" of air time, magazine pages, billboard space. Media buyers do so by contacting the representatives from the different media companies, checking on availability, and negotiating prices for each buy.
In order to become an advertising media buyer one must have a background in marketing and statistics and years of experience within the advertising media department. An education in the advertising industry is a plus. Advertising media buyers must poses personal qualities such as being a highly experienced negotiator, you must secure popular advertising slots at the lowest price possible to negotiate, although most advertising prices are set, it is almost always possible to secure a better location or price with negotiating. You must be able to think quickly and make decisions without delay. For the space may be bought by another buyer. Advertising media buyers are responsible for making sure the creative needs are met at the best possible price. As an advertising media buyer be prepared to crunch numbers!
