Hiring guide
Amazon / Retail Media Strategist: what they do, what to pay, and how to hire one
An Amazon or retail media strategist runs ads on Amazon, Walmart, Instacart, and other retail sites. They manage sponsored ads and DSP, set bids and budgets, and tie ad spend to total sales and profit. At an agency, they own retail media for several brands.
What an Amazon and retail media strategist does
- Runs Sponsored Products, Brands, Display, and DSP campaigns.
- Runs Walmart Connect, Instacart, and other retail media ads.
- Sets bids and budgets by product margin and stock.
- Works with the listing team on titles, images, and keywords.
- Reports sales, ACoS, TACoS, and new-to-brand sales to clients.
Skills and tools
- Platforms
- Amazon Ads, Amazon DSP, Walmart Connect, Instacart Ads
- Tools
- Seller Central, Vendor Central, Helium 10 or Pacvue
- Craft
- Bids, budgets, listings, inventory planning
- People
- Client reporting
Amazon and Retail Media Strategist salary
| Level | Pay | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Strategist | $80K to $100K | Commerce media strategist postings, Nov 2026 |
| Strategist, Amazon Search (NY) | $80K to $95K | Mediabistro listing, Nov 2026 |
| Senior strategist | $90K to $120K | Luminize via Built In |
| Manager | $98K to $140K | L'Oreal Amazon retail media manager, Mediabistro |
US base pay, Nov 2026, from job posts.
What a great Amazon and retail media strategist looks like
Hire for this bar. A cheaper hire who misses it costs more in lost months than the pay you save.
Reads TACoS and organic rank, not just ACoS.
Has run Sponsored Products, Brands, Display, and DSP.
Plans ads with stock so ads never push sold-out items.
Can run Walmart Connect or Instacart ads too.
Related titles and how they differ
Amazon Account Manager
Owns the whole Amazon account: listings, stock, and ads. Ads are one part.
Amazon DSP strategist
Runs display and video audiences on and off Amazon.
Amazon and Retail Media Strategist job description template
Copy this, then fill in the parts in brackets. Keep the pay range in the post. Strong people skip posts without one.
Job title: Amazon and Retail Media Strategist About the role We are hiring an Amazon and Retail Media Strategist to run ads on Amazon, Walmart, and other retail sites for our clients. What you will do - Run Sponsored Products, Brands, Display, and DSP for [N] brands. - Run Walmart Connect and Instacart ads where they fit. - Tie ad spend to total sales, TACoS, and profit. - Report results and next steps to each client every week. What you need - [2+] years running Amazon Ads for brands. - Hands-on with Amazon DSP or Walmart Connect. - Clear, calm writing for clients. Pay $[min] to $[max] base, plus [bonus or equity]. US market range for this level (Strategist, Amazon Search, NY): $80K to $95K.
Amazon and Retail Media Strategist interview questions
ACoS is fine but sales are flat. Why?
A strong answer: Checks organic rank, stock, price, and TACoS.
How do you split budget between Sponsored Products and DSP?
A strong answer: Captures search demand first, then uses DSP to reach shoppers who looked but did not buy, and tracks new-to-brand sales.
A top product is about to sell out. What do you change?
A strong answer: Checks weeks of stock, lowers bids or pauses ads on that item, and moves budget to items in stock.
Work test ideas for an Amazon and retail media strategist
An interview shows how someone talks. A short, paid work test shows how they work. Use one of these ideas to start.
- Account review: give made-up Amazon ad and sales data. Ask for the top fixes and a client note.
- DSP plan: ask for a first-month DSP plan for a brand that spends $50K a month on search ads.
- Listing rewrite: ask for a better title and five bullets for one product.
SuperHired builds a custom Work Simulation for each client. It uses your real accounts, your tools, and your standards, so you see the work before you make an offer.
Amazon and Retail Media Strategist FAQ
What does a retail media strategist do?
They run ads on Amazon, Walmart, Instacart, and other retail sites, and tie ad spend to total sales and profit.
How much does a retail media strategist make?
Most US retail media strategists earn $80K to $100K base. Managers earn $98K to $140K. These figures come from November 2026 job posts.
What does an Amazon account manager do?
They grow a brand's Amazon sales through listings, ads, stock, and account health.
How much does an Amazon account manager make?
Agency Amazon account managers are usually paid in the strategist band of $80K to $100K base. Commission on top of base is common.
For founders
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