Salary
Average Salary: $80,000
Expected Lifetime Earnings: $3,300,000
Naturally, the salary for an election campaign manager depends on whose race you're managing: There's a big difference between supervising operations for a presidential candidate and helping your aunt land a seat on the school board.
The median income for a campaign manager in the United States is $58,000, with a victorious high of $90,000 and a respectable turnout at $38,000 (source). Sorry, you don't get to keep the leftover campaign donations, but you might get a nice bonus of up to two months' salary if you win.
Political campaign management can also be a labor of love (translation: "no paycheck"). Some awesome folks have totally unrelated day jobs, and volunteer their services on the side to help out a friend or family member. Which reminds us, can we put one of these "Check the Box for Howard Fox" signs on your lawn?
Should the day come when you want to leave the political dog and pony show (wait, there are ponies?) or perhaps simply add another zero to your paycheck, you have options. How about advocating products instead of people? Campaign managers in marketing, advertising, or promotions (yes, they come in different flavors) are in charge of convincing you to buy something, be it a gooey chocolate bar or a time share in Florida.
They might even convince you to donate to a good cause, like finding a cure for cancer. Whether corporate or nonprofit, these campaign managers bring home the bacon; salaries run from $60,000 to upwards of $160,000 a year for the big leagues.