Marketing Careers in Nova Scotia


If you are interested in a career in marketing within Nova Scotia choose from the resources below.

What is the Industry like in Nova Scotia?
What are the Major Firms?
What are Salaries like in Nova Scotia?
What School Programs are Available?

Nova Scotia Marketing Job Industry

Nova Scotia’s marketing industry is the sixth largest in Canada with earnings of $66.8 million in 2008, and salaries paid to employees totaling $25.7 million.  Within the industry, agencies devoted to marketing earned $34.1 million in 2008 and distributed $15.8 million in salary and benefits to employees. Public relations services reaped $5.2 million in 2008, while paying out $2.0 million in salaries and benefits.

Nova Scotia businesses paid marketing businesses $10.2 million for display advertising in 2008, and $7.1 million for specialty advertising distribution.   All other marketing services generated $2.3 million for marketing firms.

Nova Scotia Job Statistics

  • 2012 Median Salary for Marketing Managers in Nova Scotia: $88,840
  • 2012 Median Salary for Market Research Analysts in Nova Scotia: $54,812
  • 2012 Median Salary for Top Marketing Executives in Nova Scotia: $138,141
  • Nova Scotia’s Marketing Revenue for 2008: $66.8 million
  • Total Earnings for NS Marketing Professionals in 2008: $25.7 million

Nova Scotia’s economy is diverse but primarily based on manufacturing and resources.  Manufacturing businesses generated $2.6 billion in 2006, and Nova Scotia houses major industrial companies like Michelin and Emera.  The defense and aerospace industries generate almost $1.5 billion for the provincial economy.  Tourism supports almost 40,000 jobs and contributes $1.3 billion annually to the local economy. Nova Scotia is a major exporter of fish, with over $1 billion in fish exports annually to over 90 countries.  Most of these industries rely heavily on marketing in domestic and international markets to leverage business growth, and are expected to produce considerable business for marketing professionals in the coming years.

Halifax Regional Municipality has undergone a significant transformation from a rural area into an urban municipality in the last decade, which has helped keep unemployment below 6.0% and spurred economic growth.  The introduction of natural gas and oil production has helped stimulate the economy and create a number of high paying jobs.  The port of Halifax is a major economic engine which serves as an access point for natural gas and oil exports. 

Marketing Firms in Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia’s burgeoning marketing industry has produced some of Canada’s most successful marketing firms including

  • Alpha Search of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
  • M5 Marketing Communications of Halifax, Nova Scotia
  • Cossette Communication Group of Halifax, Nova Scotia
  • Bristol Group, Inc. of Halifax, Nova Scotia
  • Time & Space Media of Halifax, Nova Scotia

Professional Associations

Marketing Salaries in Nova Scotia

Marketing professionals in Nova Scotia earned considerably more than other residents of the state.  Many non-managerial marketing professionals with little experience could still out earn most Nova Scotians.  The lowest quartile of market research analysts earned $47,325 which approximates the provincial household income of $47,100.  The median annual salary for this profession in 2012 was $54,812 or $7,712 more than the provincial average.  Market research analysts in the top quartile of Nova Scotia earned on average $62,146 in 2012, or $15,046 more than the provincial average.

Marketing professionals in management positions could earn much larger salaries.  Marketing managers in the lowest 25% of the Nova Scotian profession could expect $68,899 in annual salary, or $21,7999 more than the provincial average.  The median salary for this profession in 2012 was $88,840.  Marketing managers in the highest quartile in Nova Scotia earned $111,189 in 2012, a $64,089 premium over most Nova Scotians.

Executive marketing professionals earned the most of any marketing professional subcategory.  A top marketing executive in the lowest 25% of his profession’s wage earners could expect $116,018 in 2012.  The median salary for this profession in Nova Scotia was $138,141 and those in the highest quartile could earn $157,165.

In 2011, advertising and marketing professionals in Nova Scotia averaged $78,206, according to data provided by Statistics Canada, the economic research branch of the Government of Canada. Overall, advertising and marketing salaries were higher in Cape Breton than Halifax.

Advertising managers in Cape Breton earned a median salary of $82,540 compared to $81,836 in Halifax. Market integration managers in Cape Breton earned a median salary of $87,408 compared to $86,663 in Halifax. Market research analysts in Cape Breton earned a median salary of $55,283 compared to $54,812 in Halifax. Market research managers in Cape Breton earned a median salary of $77,872 compared to $77,209 in Halifax. In Cape Breton, marketing managers were among the highest paid in the Province. The median among them was $89,603 compared to $88,840 in Halifax.

Position
City
Median
Advertising Manager
Cape Breton
$82540
Advertising Manager
Halifax
$81836
Market Integration Manager
Cape Breton
$87408
Market Integration Manager
Halifax
$86663
Market Research Analyst
Cape Breton
55283
Market Research Analyst
Halifax
$54812
Market Research Manager
Cape Breton
$77872
Market Research Manager
Halifax
$77209
Marketing Manager
Cape Breton
$89603
Marketing Manager
Halifax
$88840

Employment and salary data included in these tables was originally published by Statistics Canada.

Marketing Degrees in Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia is home to eleven universities and one community college.  Almost all of these educational institutions offer a program in a marketing related field like finance, graphic design, communications or law.

A Bachelor’s degree is usually necessary to attain a position in the marketing industry, although an Associate’s degree may be sufficient for some entry level positions.  To become a manager, it is often necessary to possess a Master’s degree or higher in order to demonstrate intellectual prowess. These management jobs also usually require at least seven years of work experience.  Executive positions are usually given to highly qualified individuals with at least a Master’s degree and 15 years of work experience.

Among the great public and private colleges in Nova Scotia are many online and campus-based schools offering marketing programs. Here is a list of a few that might meet your educational criteria in Nova Scotia: