Advertising sales agents sell ad space and time to businesses, in print, broadcast and online. Much digital advertising is now bought and placed automatically by software, without a salesperson in the loop. Agents still win and keep accounts, put together packages and handle buyers who want a person to deal with.
The short answer: automation is already shrinking this job. The ILO's 2025 index rates commercial sales representatives, the closest group, at gradient 2 with a score of 0.49. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 7 percent decline for advertising sales agents from 2025 to 2035, with about 7,800 openings a year from replacing workers who leave. Projections are estimates, not guarantees.
How exposed advertising sales agents are
The International Labour Organization scores occupations' tasks from 0 (cannot be automated with generative AI) to 1 (could be done without a human operator), and groups them into gradients from 1 to 4, with 4 the most exposed; below them sit minimal exposure and not exposed (ILO Working Paper 140, 2025).
| Occupation (ISCO-08) | ILO category | Mean task score (0 to 1) |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial Sales Representatives | Gradient 2 | 0.49 |
The ILO scores groups of occupations, so this is the closest group for advertising sales agents, not a score for the job title itself.
What the BLS projects
| Occupation | Projected change 2025 to 2035 | Openings a year |
|---|---|---|
| Advertising sales agents | Decline 7% | About 7,800 |
The BLS says advertising will keep growing in digital media, but that the ability to automate digital ad placement and the use of ad blockers may limit demand for agents. It also points to fewer people seeing ads in print media. It does not name AI specifically.
What automation is taking on
- Buying and placing digital ads automatically.
- Pricing ad space based on demand.
- Reporting on campaign results.
- Drafting proposals and follow-up emails.
What stays with advertising sales agents
- Relationships: local businesses and large accounts that want one contact.
- Custom packages: sponsorships and deals across print, broadcast and online.
- Advice: helping a client decide where their budget should go.
- Checking AI help: generated proposals and reports can be wrong, which NIST calls confabulation (NIST AI 600-1). See checking AI output.
How the job is changing
Routine placements move to software, so the remaining roles lean toward account management and custom deals. This page is general information, not career advice.
See also will AI replace salespeople?, will AI replace marketers? and will AI replace journalists?
Pay and how to get in
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the median annual pay for advertising sales agents at $64,820 in May 2025, against $50,980 for all workers. The typical education needed to enter is: high school diploma or equivalent. See how this job compares in AI exposure by pay and AI exposure by education level.
Questions and answers
Will AI replace advertising sales agents?
Automation is reducing the job. The BLS projects a 7 percent decline from 2025 to 2035 and names automated digital ad placement as a factor.
Why are advertising sales jobs declining?
The BLS points to automated digital ad placement, ad blockers and fewer people seeing print ads.
How many openings are expected?
About 7,800 a year on average over the decade, according to the BLS, from replacing workers who leave.
What work stays with ad sales agents?
Managing client relationships, building custom packages and advising clients on where to spend.