How much do media buyers make in 2023?
The profession of a media buyer, or media procurement specialist, has been rapidly gaining popularity in recent years. This is due to the growth of the digital advertising market and the ability to earn good money in this field.
According to open job postings in the labor market, media buyer salaries range quite widely, depending on their experience, qualifications, and the industry they work in.
Entry-level media buyers
For candidates without experience in media buying, the starting salary is usually around $600-1000 per month. This is because employers have to invest time and resources in training and mentoring new employees.
Important factors influencing the compensation of entry-level media buyers are:
- Depth of relevant education (specialized education gives an advantage)
- Availability of related experience in digital marketing, traffic arbitrage or analytics
- English language proficiency (fluency is mandatory)
- Portfolio of cases and work results (even for beginners)
Experienced media buyers
Specialists with 2-5 years of experience can expect salaries in the range of $1000-2000 per month. They are valued for their deep knowledge in the field of media planning, campaign analytics, and advertising budget optimization.
The following factors influence the compensation of experienced media buyers:
- Experience in specific industries (finance, cryptocurrencies, gambling, etc.)
- Skills in working with various advertising platforms and formats
- Ability to quickly test and scale profitable advertising campaigns
- Skill in forecasting the effectiveness of media channels and optimizing budgets
Top media buyers
Top-tier specialists with more than 5 years of experience and unique competencies can earn $2000-4000 per month or even more. They are experts in their field and manage complex multichannel advertising campaigns, ensuring high profitability.
The main factors affecting the high salaries of top media buyers:
- Deep understanding of arbitrage models and ability to scale advertising campaigns
- Expert knowledge in specific niches (crypto, gambling, finance, etc.)
- Experience in managing teams of media buyers and analysts
- Ability to forecast market trends and adapt strategies accordingly
- Personal KPIs for ROAS, ROI, and other key performance metrics
Prospects for the media buyer profession
Despite the high competition, the media buyer profession remains one of the most sought-after and well-paid in the digital marketing field. According to forecasts, the demand for qualified media buyers will only grow in the coming years.
Key factors determining the career prospects in this field are:
- Development of the digital advertising market and the emergence of new advertising channels
- Constant complexity of algorithms and targeting in leading advertising platforms
- High importance of media buyers in improving the efficiency of advertising budgets
- Shortage of professionals capable of quickly restructuring advertising strategies
Thus, if you possess the necessary competencies and are willing to constantly develop, the media buyer profession can become an interesting and well-paid career path for you.