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Over the past 10 years, careers in marketing have seen a significant spike. As organizations increasingly focus on driving more traffic to their websites and converting online leads, there is a growing need for experienced and knowledgeable marketing professionals.
Though digital marketing careers have become more popular, marketing professionals can take many different paths. Below are some of the most popular careers in marketing and the type of education you need to obtain them.
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Types of Marketing Degrees
While experience in marketing is important, having a degree can help you stand out from other job applicants. A marketing-specific degree introduces key marketing concepts you will use on the job and allows you to network with other marketing professionals.
Bachelor of Science in Marketing
A Bachelor of Science in marketing can be a good degree for aspiring marketing professionals to gain the education necessary to thrive in the industry. Most programs focus on areas such as marketing research, advertising strategies, social media marketing and consumer behavior.
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
Students who are interested in marketing but also want to understand how other parts of a company function should consider pursuing a Bachelor of Science in business administration. While earning this degree, students learn about marketing basics and also build knowledge in other disciplines, such as finance and accounting.
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Career Paths in Marketing
One of the most appealing aspects of a job in the marketing industry is the multiple career paths. For instance, if you enjoy numbers and data, a position as a marketing analyst would be a good fit. Below are some of the most popular careers in marketing.
We sourced the below salary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and Payscale.
Marketing Specialist
Marketing specialists’ responsibilities vary depending on their work environment. For some organizations, professionals with the specialist title implement marketing strategies for specific brands. Smaller companies may have specialists working in all areas of marketing. On average, marketing specialists earn a median annual salary of $68,230 per year as of May 2022, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
For a better chance of securing a position as a marketing specialist, you’ll want to ensure you gain skills and experience in the following areas:
- Marketing communications
- Social media marketing
- Strategic marketing
- Project management
- Email marketing
Marketing Manager
Professionals looking to move up in organizations should consider looking for opportunities as marketing managers. These managers typically run teams and report directly to their company’s vice president of marketing while working on brand strategy and management. Marketing managers made a 2022 annual median wage of $140,040, the BLS reports.
As marketing managers gain experience, they can take on more responsibility as marketing directors. Higher positions usually translate to higher pay.
Marketing professionals looking to move into a management role should consider developing the following skills:
- Brand management
- Product management
- Strategic marketing
- Marketing communication
- Leadership
- Project management
Content Marketer
Professionals who enjoy the creative side of marketing should consider a position in content marketing. Most content marketers work on creative writing for marketing materials and websites or build out creative assets, such as videos and infographics.
Content marketers average about $58,000 a year, but their salary depends on their skills and experience.
To succeed as a content marketer, you need a wide variety of skills. Below are a few skills that companies may look for:
- Copywriting
- Project management
- Editing
- Managing content management systems
- Product management
- Leadership
Social Media Coordinator
One of the most common entry-level positions in the marketing industry is a social media coordinator. These junior marketers play an essential role in establishing a company’s presence on social platforms like LinkedIn and Facebook. They often answer customer questions, post content and manage social media calendars.
Even though it’s an entry-level position, most social media coordinators still make over $44,000. With more experience, the average salary can increase to $51,000.
If you’re interested in becoming a social media coordinator, focus on developing the following skills:
- Copywriting
- Marketing communication
- Search engine marketing
- Data analytics and tracking
SEO Specialist
An SEO specialist occupies a crucial role for companies looking to improve their website traffic. These marketing professionals are experts at identifying opportunities to improve rankings for keywords and implementing strategies to rank higher on search engines such as Google.
Due to their expertise in search engine optimization, SEO specialists can expect an average salary of around $52,000.
For aspiring SEO specialists, having a solid foundation in the following areas will help when it comes to securing a position with a company:
- Google analytics
- Digital marketing
- Online marketing
- Web design
- Basic coding
- Web content management
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the highest-paid marketing job?
While there are many well-paying careers in the marketing field, the highest-paid individuals often hold the title of chief marketing officer (CMO). A CMO can make around $182,000 a year on average.
Is marketing a good career for the future?
Marketing is a career with a lot of future growth. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, advertising, promotions and marketing managers should experience a career growth of at about 6% over the next decade.
Does sales or marketing pay more?
Sales and marketing careers often use different pay scales. Sales jobs offer commissions and bonuses, while marketers often earn higher base salaries. At the management level, however, sales managers made a median annual wage of $130,600 in 2022, while marketing managers earned $140,040, the BLS reports.
