Marketing & Advertising: Salaries

A marketing degree salary is a sought-after goal for many undergraduates and graduates. The lucrative career options available in marketing and advertising will never go out of style. Let’s look at different salaries offered for assorted roles.

From education and work experience to industry trends and specialization, we’ll understand how different factors shape your earning potential in marketing. But first, let’s begin with a marketing degree’s essential value to all types of industries.

Related: Marketing & Advertising: Career Paths

A marketing degree allows you to develop a wide range of skills that are highly sought after in businesses, including critical thinking, problem-solving, data analysis, communication, creativity, and strategic planning. 

These transferable skills can be applied to various marketing roles in a broad range of industries. Marketing is fundamental to almost every industry, so you can find marketing positions across retail, healthcare, technology, finance, entertainment, and many others.

A marketing degree empowers you to break into the marketing and advertising industry without a lot of experience. Many marketing degree programs offer internships or practical components as part of the curriculum. You can acquire relevant industry experience, work alongside professionals, and build a portfolio that shows your skills and potential to future employers.

A marketing degree gives you foundational knowledge in data-driven marketing and builds skill sets in multi-channel marketing. The marketing landscape is constantly evolving, with new technologies, platforms, and channels. Employers value candidates who can adapt to these changes quickly and make decisions based on measurable results—contributing to the company’s bottom line.

A marketing degree helps you earn better salaries and even get a promotion. Your degree can help build trust and confidence in your abilities. Employers value specialized skills that come with a degree, and they may be willing to compensate you accordingly. The average salary for advertising, promotions, and marketing managers is $133,380, and many marketers get this with just a bachelor’s degree.

The demand for specific marketing skills can impact salary ranges. For example, expertise in digital marketing, data analytics, social media marketing, and similar other functions may offer attractive salaries. Let’s look into some bankable marketing roles and their corresponding average salaries:

Entry Level Marketing

An entry level position in marketing sets the foundation for building a career in marketing. You may pursue an associate or bachelor’s degree to begin your career in entry level roles.

In addition, continuous learning, staying updated with industry trends, and seeking opportunities for professional development can help accelerate your career in marketing. 

Digital Marketing

According to Indeed, the average salary for digital marketing professionals is $62,853.

As a digital marketer, you can expect to work across several tasks and responsibilities simultaneously. You may assist your team in social media management, content creation, search engine optimization (SEO), email marketing, data analysis, digital advertising support, website maintenance, and market research.

Marketing Coordinator

According to Indeed, the average salary for marketing coordinators is $50,938.

Working as a marketing coordinator, you would support your team across various marketing initiatives and assist in the coordination and execution of campaigns. You may contribute to content creation and editing, manage social media accounts, create marketing collateral, analyze campaign data and generate reports, collaborate with teams and stakeholders, and provide general administrative support to the marketing team.

Social Media Marketing

According to Glassdoor, the average salary for social media marketers is $58,906.

If you wish to work as a social media marketer, you would be responsible for managing and executing strategies across various social media platforms. Your tasks may include creating and scheduling engaging content, monitoring social media channels, responding to comments and messages, analyzing metrics, researching industry trends, collaborating with content creators and designers, and assisting in developing social media campaigns.

Marketing Assistant

According to Indeed, the average salary for marketing assistants is $55,044.

As a marketing assistant in an entry-level position, you would primarily focus on providing administrative support to the marketing team. Your responsibilities may include managing schedules, coordinating meetings and appointments, handling correspondence, maintaining marketing databases and files, assisting in preparing reports and presentations, conducting market research, and providing assistance with various marketing projects as needed.

Affiliate Marketing

The average salary for affiliate marketers is $57,290.

In an entry-level position as an affiliate marketer, you would be responsible for promoting and driving sales through affiliate programs. Your tasks may include identifying potential affiliate partners, reaching out to them for collaboration, negotiating partnership terms, creating and optimizing affiliate marketing campaigns, tracking performance, and providing support to affiliates.

Mid Level Marketing

As a mid-level marketer, you can expect increased responsibilities and a higher salary range compared to entry-level positions. The specific salary will depend on your education, industry, location, and level of expertise.

Mid-level marketers have a solid understanding of their target audience and industry trends, allowing them to contribute valuable insights and make data-driven decisions. They may be involved in more strategic initiatives, such as brand positioning, market expansion, or product launches.

NOTE:
You can apply for these roles either with a bachelor’s degree and considerable work experience (5+ years) or just get a master’s degree qualification to work in a managerial position.

Digital Marketing Manager

The average salary for digital marketing managers is $121,299.

Digital marketing managers play a crucial role in shaping the organization’s online presence, driving customer engagement, and achieving digital marketing objectives.

Your role would involve overseeing the execution of multi-channel campaigns, optimizing performance, collaborating with cross-functional teams, managing digital advertising budgets, developing and implementing SEO and SEM strategies, and coordinating with external vendors and agencies.

Marketing Manager

The average salary for marketing managers is $140,040.

As a marketing manager, you would play a pivotal role in guiding the marketing efforts, aligning them with business objectives, and ensuring the success of marketing initiatives.

You would be responsible for developing marketing plans and budgets, managing a team of marketers, coordinating marketing campaigns across various channels, analyzing market trends and consumer insights, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and conducting competitor research.

Content Marketing Manager

The average salary for brand and content marketing managers is $139,800.

When you work as a brand and content marketing manager, you play a critical role in shaping the brand identity, driving content strategy, and fostering meaningful connections with the target audience.

You would be responsible for driving brand awareness, engagement, and loyalty, conducting market research and competitor analysis, defining brand positioning and messaging, creating and managing content calendars, managing brand guidelines, identifying opportunities for brand partnerships and collaborations, and ensuring consistent brand messaging across various channels. 

Marketing Operations Manager

The average salary for marketing operations managers is $92,877.

Working as a marketing operations manager, you would play a key role in improving data-driven decision-making and driving operational excellence in marketing initiatives.

You would be responsible for implementing marketing automation processes, developing and documenting marketing workflows and standard operating procedures, coordinating with cross-functional teams to ensure seamless campaign execution, and managing marketing budgets and resource allocation.

Product Marketing Manager

The average salary for product marketing managers is $139,813.

As a product marketing manager, you would play a crucial role in driving the success of products by effectively communicating their value proposition, supporting sales efforts, and fostering customer satisfaction and loyalty.

You would be responsible for developing and executing comprehensive product marketing strategies to drive product adoption, customer engagement, and revenue growth. 

Several factors influence your average marketing salary. These factors can vary based on your personal qualifications and/or the specific dynamics of the job market. Here are some key factors that may impact your earning potential:

Level of Education

A bachelor’s degree in marketing may offer a different salary range compared to a master’s degree or a doctoral degree. Higher levels of education often correspond to increased expertise and specialized knowledge, which lead to higher-paying job opportunities.

Work Experience

The amount and “relevance” of work experience you have in marketing can significantly impact your salary. Relevance matters because of the array of roles you can choose to pursue in marketing.

For example, if you have worked in the fashion industry and have developed a deep understanding of consumer trends, brand positioning, and marketing strategies specific to that sector, you may be considered a valuable asset by fashion companies. As a result, you could negotiate a higher salary compared to candidates without industry-specific experience.

Industry and Company Size

The industry you work in and the size of the company can impact your marketing degree salary. Certain industries, such as technology or finance, tend to offer higher salaries compared to other sectors. Additionally, larger companies with larger marketing budgets may have more resources available to offer competitive salaries. 

Skills and Specialization

The specific skills and areas of specialization you possess within marketing can impact your earning potential. Skills in high-demand areas such as digital marketing, data analytics, social media marketing, or marketing automation can often command higher salaries. 

By focusing on specific industries, market segments (specific consumers or groups), or marketing functions (specific process in marketing, such as, research, sales, distribution..), you can differentiate yourself from other applicants. 

Professional Certifications

Additional professional certifications and credentials along with your degree can contribute to higher marketing degree salaries. Here are some certifying bodies that have much to offer beyond traditional education:

• American Marketing Association (AMA) Professional Certified Marketer (PCM)
• International Advertising Association (IAA)
• Public Relations Society of America (PRSA)

NOTE:

While these factors can influence marketing degree salaries, they do not operate in isolation. They often interact and depend on each other. 

For example, a combination of relevant work experience, industry specialization, and advanced education can lead to higher-paying marketing roles. 

A marketing degree holds immense value in today’s competitive business landscape. Whether you’re starting as an entry-level marketing professional or aiming for a mid-level management position, continuous learning, professional development, and specialization can enhance your earning potential. 

Remember, the marketing industry is constantly evolving, so staying updated with the latest trends and honing your skills with an in-person or online degree will contribute to your long-term career success.