Marketing Salaries

Marketing careers are some of the most lucrative in the business world, with even entry level positions like marketing associate or marketing assistant possessing the potential to earn more than $50,000 annually.  Careers in executive positions like director of marketing and CEO of a major marketing firm can easily earn over $130,000 annually and in some select cases may be over a million dollars per year.

Marketing careers demand highly developed analytical skills, long work hours and an intense devotion to the job, but professionals who can demonstrate talent and professional commitment in this very competitive climate can be extremely well compensated.

Entry Level Jobs

Marketing Associate

This position is often available to prospective marketers just completing their undergraduate educations. There is wide variation in the salaries due to the number factors that bear upon compensation, like work experience (e.g. summer jobs in marketing, marketing internships), demonstrated facility with marketing tools, job responsibilities, years in position, industry of employment, geographical location and undergraduate degree.

According to Salaryexpert.com the average salaries for this position in some of the most important U.S. areas for 2011 are as follows:

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Experienced Marketing Careers

The rank and file professionals in the marketing industry earn considerably more than the majority of their business counterparts, but their annual income is dependent on a number of factors.  The most important factor is a successful track record within the marketing industry.  In this highly reputation dependent profession, demonstrated success on a number of effective marketing projects can boost salaries considerably.  Other important considerations include geographical locations, years in profession, academic credentials, specialization and industry of occupation.

Advertising Sales Agents

These marketing professionals serve as liaisons between businesses, clients and media distributors, and can command high incomes due to their skill at producing effective advertisements and facilitating media purchases.  According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, advertising sales agents in the five most lucrative state markets had the following characteristics in 2011:

In 2003, the median annual income for advertising sales agents was $38,640, but rose to $45,250 in 2011.  The $6,610 boost in income over an eight year period constitutes a 17.11% increase.

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Media Buyer

A media buyer is an expert in media outlets and assists businesses in choosing the optimal media platform for their marketing strategy.  They consistently earn outstanding incomes due to their highly developed negotiating skills that are utilized during the purchase of television or radio time, print ad space or online media.  MediaBuyerSalary.com reports that salaries for this position in 2011 were as follows:

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Graphic Designer

These professionals provide the visual imagery essential to many marketing campaigns.  Their expertise in producing effective promotional ads, videos and website content earn them very large salaries in a variety of fields.  According the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, graphic designer salaries in 2011 in the most lucrative geographical locations were as follows:

Graphic designers throughout the country earned on average $36,020 for the year 2001, while the same job earned $44,010 on average for the year 2011.  This $7,990 or 18.15% climb in income occurred over a ten year period.

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Marketing Consultant

These professionals work as independent contractors or within marketing consultancies and usually perform a wide variety of duties for their clients. Their broad expertise and sterling professional histories allow them to command very high fees and earn enormous annual salaries.  ConsultantSalary.Org reported that marketing consultants could earn the following:

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Market Research Analyst

A market research analyst may come into the job with a Bachelor’s degree or a Master’s degree.  The highly technical nature of this job and the commensurate educational preparation necessary to fulfill the job responsibilities make this career highly lucrative.  The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that annual incomes in the five most highly paid markets in 2011 were as follows:

In 2001, the national average annual income for market research analysts was $53,450.  In 2011, the national average annual income for the same position had risen to $60,250, which reflects a$6,800 or a 12.72% boost in income over a ten year period.

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SEO Specialist

SEO specialists are capable of generating enormous revenue for ecommerce businesses, and therefore earn enormous salaries.  Due to the online nature of this profession, geographical location plays a diminished role in salary variance, however industry of employment is extremely important.  According to Glassdoor.com, SEO specialists at some of the most prominent companies in 2011 earned the following:

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Management Careers

Public Relations Manager

Public relations managers serve as key overseers of company reputations.  Their responsibilities require proficiency across multiple media platforms and enormous understanding of public opinion and behavior.  The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported their wages in May 2011 were as follows:

Nationally, public relations managers earned on average $105,690 in 2011. In 2001, the national average was $64,280.  The $41,410 bump in salaries over a ten year period constitutes 64.42% increase.

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Product Manager

Product managers oversee company products from design through manufacturing to distribution and promotion.  These critical marketing professionals enjoy enormous salaries due to their essential professional responsibilities.  ProductManagerSalary.net reported that product managers earned the following amounts in 2011:

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Program manager

A program manager provides comprehensive oversight of a marketing strategy.  Their long hours, extensive marketing and managerial expertise and considerable job responsibilities are usually extremely well compensated.  According to CBSalary.com program managers earned the following amounts in 2011:

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Brand Manager

Brand managers coordinate all short term and long term initiatives that enhance a product’s or company’s reputation.  These managers serve as guardians of a company’s public image and help manage all of the promotion, external communications and corporate responsibilities associated with the brand.  These considerable responsibilities make brand managers a highly sought after and well compensated position.  Payscale.com reports that company size has an overriding importance on the annual incomes for this position in 2010:

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Marketing Manager

This position consistently reports one of the highest salaries in the management field, despite a wide variation in job responsibilities and required skills.  Marketing managers are often tasked with overseeing an entire marketing department or project.  The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports in 2011, that marketing managers earned the following:

The BLS reports the national mean annual income was $126,190 in 2011, while the national mean annual income in 2001 was $78,410.  This denotes a 60.94% increase in salary for this career in the past ten years.

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Director of Marketing

This senior management position often oversees all marketing operations for a company or a firm.  Their position as the head strategist and the final authority for all marketing initiatives conveys upon the enormous burden of leadership but is almost universally well compensated.  CBSalary.com reports that directors of marketing earned 2011 the following amounts:

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