Careers in marketing have always been in-demand, but the arrival of 2020 and the novel coronavirus pandemic changed everything we thought we knew about marketing and how businesses attract customers. The pandemic has had a significant impact on customer habits and preferences, and companies are having to adapt. This often means modifying the products and services they offer, as well as how they offer them.
It’s a whole new environment, and businesses in industries from healthcare to manufacturing to insurance to finance, are turning to marketing professionals to re-evaluate and reimagine their marketing strategies for post-COVID era.
As a result, marketing professionals at every level are enjoying strong salaries and outstanding professional opportunities. Even the rank and file professionals in the marketing industry earn considerably more than the majority of their business counterparts.
Marketing Salaries by State
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Marketing Associate Salaries
The marketing associate position is usually an entry-level position in the field, and while it comes with entry-level salaries, a number of factors influence the earning potential for these professionals, including work experience (e.g. summer jobs in marketing, marketing internships), demonstrated competency with specific marketing tools, job responsibilities, and education (expect to hold at least a bachelor’s degree if you want to get your foot in the door).
According to Robert Half’s 2021 Creative & Marketing Salary Guide, these entry-level professionals usually hold the title of marketing coordinator within corporate advertising and marketing agencies and earn a salary range of between $42,250 – $51,000. Those with a few years of experience in the profession enjoy a salary range of $59,250 – $73,750.
In advertising and marketing agencies, marketing associates usually hold the title of account coordinator and earn a starting salary range of $35,500 – $42,250, while those with several years of experience earn a salary range of $50,250 – $61,000.
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Advertising Sales Salaries
Advertising sales agents are on the front lines, serving as liaisons between businesses, clients, and media distributors to facilitate media purchases. Because much of their income is commission-based, successful advertising sales agents can earn lofty salaries.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), advertising sales agents earned an average of $64,660 as of May 2019. Salaries vary according to industry/setting:
- Advertising, public relations and related services: $69,420
- Radio and Television broadcasting: $60,650
- Newspaper publishers: $54,170
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Media Buyer Salaries
Media buyers help businesses choose the media platform that best aligns with their marketing strategy. They consistently earn strong salaries due to their highly developed negotiating skills that they put to good use when purchasing television or radio time, print ad space, and online media.
According to Robert Half’s 2021 Creative & Marketing Salary Guide, media buyers earn an average salary of $63,000. Those in the 25th percentile – likely those new to the profession – earn an average salary $54,000, while those in the 75th-95th percentile earn $76,000 – $91,500, reflecting a greater level of experience.
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Graphic Designer Salaries
Graphic designers provide the visual imagery essential to many marketing campaigns. Their expertise in producing effective promotional ads, videos, and website content earn them strong salaries in a variety of fields.
According to the BLS, graphic designers earned an average salary of $56,510 as of May 2019. Those in advertising and specialized design companies earned salaries that beat out their colleagues working in print advertising by about $10,000 annually:
- Advertising, public relations, and related services: $58,270
- Specialized design services: $58,830
- Newspaper, periodical, book, and directory publishers: $48,770
- Printing and related support activities: $45,490
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Marketing Consultant Salaries
Marketing consultants generally work as independent advisors. Their broad skillset in the marketing industry allows them to perform a wide array of duties for their clients, which includes designing and implementing effective marketing strategies. Marketing consultants with a solid reputation in the industry and a track record of successful marketing strategies can earn some of the highest salaries in the marketing field.
According to Robert Half’s 2021 Creative & Marketing Salary Guide, marketing consultants may go by a number of titles, including account director, account supervisor, or account executive. Average salary ranges for these professionals (50th-95th percentile) include:
- Account director: $103,000 – $155,250
- Account supervisor: $84,750 – $133,500
- Account executive: $59,500 – $89,750
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Market Research Analyst Salaries
Market research analysts are responsible for studying marketing and sales trends, measuring the effectiveness of marketing strategies, and preparing reports that highlight their findings.
According to the BLS, market research analysts earned an average salary of $71,570 as of May 2019.
Robert Half’s 2021 Creative & Marketing Salary Guide also reported salaries for market research analysts in different roles. Market researchers are more entry-level professionals, earning an average salary of $62,750, while marketing analytics specialists and marketing analytics managers are more senior-level positions, earning an average salary of $69,250 and $97,000, respectively.
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SEO Specialist Salaries
SEO (search engine optimization) specialists analyze website content and make changes to better optimize the site for search engines. These marketing professionals develop engaging and relevant content while ensuring that the website shows up at the top of search engine results.
According to Robert Half’s 2021 Creative & Marketing Salary Guide, SEO specialists in advertising and marketing agencies earn an average salary of $65,750, while those in the 95th percentile – those with significant experience – earn an average salary of $96,000.
SEO specialists in content development and management, often referred to as web content managers, earn an average salary of $55,750, while those in the 95th percentile earn an average salary of $89,000.
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Public Relations Manager Salaries
Public relations managers serve as key overseers of company reputations. Their responsibilities require proficiency across multiple media platforms and an extensive understanding of public opinion and behavior.
The BLS reports that public relations managers earned an average salary of $132,630. The highest earners work agents for entertainers and athletes, earning more than $234,330 a year.
Robert Half’s 2021 Creative & Marketing Salary Guide reported a salary range (50th – 95th percentile) of $80,750 – $121,000 for public relations manager, and 50th – 95th percentile) of $98,000 – $150,250 for public relations directors.
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Product Manager Salaries
Product managers oversee company products from design through manufacturing to distribution and promotion.
According to Robert Half’s 2021 Creative & Marketing Salary Guide, product managers earn an average salary of $65,750. Entry-level product managers earn an average salary of $50,000, while the highest earners (top 5 percent) earn an average salary of $96,000.
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Program Manager Salaries
Program managers are top-level marketing executives who provide comprehensive oversight of a marketing strategy. Their position comes with long hours, extensive marketing and managerial expertise, considerable job responsibilities, and some of the highest salaries in the marketing industry.
In advertising, program managers may have the title of account manager, account supervisor, or account director. According to Robert Half’s 2021 Creative & Marketing Salary Guide, average salary ranges (50th – 95th percentile) for these professionals include:
- Account manager: $59,500 – $89,750
- Account supervisor: $84,750 – $133,500
- Account director: $103,000 – $155,250
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Brand Manager Salaries
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.
Robert Half’s 2021 Creative & Marketing Salary Guide reported an annual, average salary of $90,500 for brand managers. The top 5% in this profession earn an average salary of $132,750.
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Marketing Manager Salaries
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.
According to the BLS, marketing managers earned an average of $149,200 as of May 2019. Marketing managers working for streaming services providers earning more than $190,730
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Director of Marketing Salaries
This senior management position often oversees all marketing operations for a company or a firm. Marketing directors are the head strategist and the final authority for all marketing initiatives. As a result, their salaries are among the highest in the industry.
According to Robert Half’s 2021 Creative & Marketing Salary Guide, marketing directors earned an average salary of $109,000. They may also hold the title of vice president of marketing, which has an average salary of $146,500, and chief marketing officer, which has an average salary of $165,500.
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