OOHGuide

Jobs in Out-of-Home Advertising: Roles, Pay and Who's Hiring

Updated 2026-10-11

Out-of-home (OOH) advertising is a $9.46 billion industry in the US (OAAA), and it runs on people: sellers, installers, real estate specialists, designers and, increasingly, digital and programmatic specialists. Here are the main roles, what they pay and where to look for openings.

OOH jobs and pay at a glance

Role What you do Typical pay
Account executive (sales) Sell billboard and OOH campaigns to local and national advertisers About $75,000 to $105,000 in current billboard sales postings; national median for ad sales agents $64,820
Sales manager / general manager Lead a sales team or run a market National median for sales managers $148,270
Billboard installer / poster Install vinyl, maintain structures, work at height About $36,000 to $51,000 for most installers
Real estate / leasing Find sites, negotiate ground leases with landowners, manage permits Varies widely; often salary plus deal bonuses
Graphic designer Design billboard creative for advertisers National median for graphic designers $62,960
Digital and programmatic Run digital screens, sell or traffic programmatic campaigns About $48,000 to $78,500 for most programmatic account managers
Operations / digital technician Keep digital billboards and lighting running Varies by market; often electrical or IT background

Sources: US Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025 medians for advertising sales agents, sales managers and graphic designers) and ZipRecruiter salary and job data for billboard installers, programmatic account managers and outdoor billboard advertising sales jobs, October 2026. National medians cover all industries, not only OOH.

The main roles in out-of-home

Sales (account executives)

Sales is the biggest hiring area at most billboard companies. Account executives call on local businesses (law firms, car dealers, healthcare, restaurants) and agencies, build proposals from available inventory, and renew existing advertisers.

Pay: usually a base salary plus commission. The BLS notes that most ad sales employers pay "some combination of salaries, commissions, and bonuses." The national median for advertising sales agents across all media was $64,820 in May 2025, with the top 10% earning more than $146,010. Billboard sales postings on ZipRecruiter currently cluster around $75,000 to $105,000.

Good fit if: you like local business relationships and a measurable, commission-driven role.

Sales and market leadership

Sales managers lead teams; general managers run an entire market, including sales, operations and real estate. The national median for sales managers is $148,270 (May 2025).

Installers and operations

Installers (sometimes called posters) hang vinyl on static boards, maintain lighting and structures, and work at height in all weather. ZipRecruiter puts most billboard installer pay between $36,000 and $51,000 a year, with an average around $41,800. Digital billboards also need technicians who maintain LED displays, power and connectivity.

Good fit if: you like hands-on outdoor work and don't mind heights.

Real estate and leasing

Real estate specialists find new sign locations, negotiate ground leases with landowners, renew existing leases and manage state and local permits. It is a niche skill set that combines sales, negotiation and regulation. See how billboard leases work and what it costs to build a billboard.

Creative and design

Many operators have in-house designers who create billboard artwork for advertisers who don't have their own. The national median for graphic designers is $62,960. Billboard design is its own discipline; see billboard design tips.

Digital, programmatic and data

Digital out-of-home is the fastest-growing part of the industry, at 36.3% of US OOH revenue in 2025. That has created roles in programmatic sales, ad operations, data and audience measurement. Programmatic account managers typically earn about $48,000 to $78,500, per ZipRecruiter. More on digital out-of-home.

Who's hiring in out-of-home

The largest employers are the big operators, which have offices in hundreds of markets:

Beyond the big three, hundreds of regional and family-owned operators hire salespeople, installers and real estate staff, often with less competition for each opening. Large regional employers with careers pages include Adams Outdoor, Reagan Outdoor, Link Media, Pattison Outdoor in Canada, and Orange Barrel Media.

To find more, open the company directory, filter by your state, and check "Has a careers page." We link to the careers pages of 78 operators, and each company profile shows a Careers and jobs link where one exists.

Place-based and digital networks, specialist agencies and OOH tech companies (measurement, programmatic platforms, screen manufacturers) also hire. The largest billboard companies list is a good starting point for a target list.

Tips for getting hired

  1. Target independents, not just the big three. Smaller operators often hire for sales and operations with fewer applicants.
  2. Learn the basics before you interview: formats, sizes, pricing and how campaigns are bought. Our guides on billboard costs, billboard sizes and how to rent a billboard cover what a new account executive needs to know.
  3. Bring local relationships. For sales roles, knowing local business owners is a real advantage.
  4. Highlight digital skills. Programmatic, data and digital screen experience is increasingly valued.

Frequently asked questions

How much do billboard salespeople make?

Billboard sales postings currently cluster around $75,000 to $105,000 a year, usually salary plus commission. The national median for all advertising sales agents was $64,820 in May 2025, with top performers above $146,000.

How much does a billboard installer make?

Most billboard installers earn about $36,000 to $51,000 a year, with an average around $41,800, according to ZipRecruiter.

Who are the biggest employers in out-of-home advertising?

Lamar Advertising, Clear Channel Outdoor and Outfront Media are the largest US operators. Hundreds of regional and local billboard companies also hire.

Do you need a degree to work in billboard sales?

Not always. The BLS lists a high school diploma as the typical entry requirement for advertising sales agents, though some employers prefer a bachelor's degree.

Sources

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