Plan, direct, or coordinate marketing policies and programs, such as determining the demand for products and services offered by a firm and its competitors, and identify potential customers. Develop pricing strategies with the goal of maximizing the firm's profits or share of the market while ensuring the firm's customers are satisfied. Oversee product development or monitor trends that indicate the need for new products and services.
Marketing Managers
Plan, direct, or coordinate marketing policies and programs, such as determining the demand for products and services offered by a firm and its competitors, and identify potential customers. Develop pricing strategies with the goal of maximizing the firm's profits or share of the market while ensuring the firm's customers are satisfied. Oversee product development or monitor trends that indicate the need for new products and services.
What does a Marketing Managers do?
How much can you earn?
National Salary Distribution
Key Insights
- •Salary range spans -$81,900 from entry level to top earners
- •Middle 50% earn between $111,210 and $211,080
- •Salary spread is 62.0% around the median, showing high variation
- •Total national employment: 384,980 professionals
What's the job outlook?
Job Market Intelligence
Current Employment
Top Industries
10-Year Outlook
Employment Projections
Growth Category: As fast as average
Geographic Salary & Employment Data
Explore where Marketing Managers professionals work across the United States
Understanding the Data
Location Quotient (LQ):
- • LQ > 1.0: More jobs than national average
- • LQ = 1.0: Same as national average
- • LQ < 1.0: Fewer jobs than national average
Data Source:
Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024
Key Growth Factors
- •Average growth expected
What skills do you need?
Top 10 Most Important Skills
Skills Overview
Skills are rated on a scale of 0-5, with 5 being the most important. The complexity level indicates how advanced the skill typically needs to be.
Speaking
advancedSales and Marketing
advancedOral Expression
advancedSocial Perceptiveness
advancedEnglish Language
advancedOral Comprehension
advancedAdministration and Management
intermediateActive Learning
intermediateWritten Comprehension
intermediateActive Listening
intermediateCustomer and Personal Service
intermediateCommunications and Media
intermediateHighly Transferable Skills
These skills are valuable across multiple career paths, making career transitions easier:
Skills by Career Stage
Entry Level
- ✓Speaking
- ✓Social Perceptiveness
- ✓Active Listening
- ✓Sales and Marketing
- ✓English Language
- →Monitoring
- →Mathematics
- →Computers and Electronics
Mid Career
- ✓Speaking
- ✓Social Perceptiveness
- ✓Active Listening
- ✓Sales and Marketing
- ✓English Language
Senior Level
- ★Speaking
- ★Social Perceptiveness
- ★Active Listening
- ★Sales and Marketing
- ★English Language
Skill Development Tips
- •Focus on developing the top 5 skills first - they have the highest impact on career success
- •Transferable skills open doors to related careers and provide flexibility
- •Balance technical skills with soft skills for well-rounded professional development
- •Entry-level positions prioritize foundational skills that can be built upon over time
What technology will you use?
Technology & Digital Skills
Essential technology proficiencies for Marketing Managers
Digital Literacy Requirements
This career requires expert digital literacy
Key Digital Competencies:
Hot Technologies in Demand
These technologies are currently trending and highly sought after in this field
Intuit QuickBooks
🔥 Hot TechIBM SPSS Statistics
🔥 Hot TechSAS
🔥 Hot TechThe MathWorks MATLAB
🔥 Hot TechGitHub
🔥 Hot TechTableau
🔥 Hot TechAsana
🔥 Hot TechSlack
🔥 Hot TechSplunk Enterprise
🔥 Hot TechAtlassian JIRA
🔥 Hot TechSalesforce software
🔥 Hot TechApache Cassandra
🔥 Hot TechTechnology Stack
Technology Stack Overview
Key technologies used in this career
📚 Technology Learning Resources
Recommended Certifications
- •Vendor-specific software certifications
- •Industry-recognized technology credentials
- •Professional development courses
Online Learning Platforms
- •LinkedIn Learning - Comprehensive technology courses
- •Coursera - University-level programs
- •Udemy - Practical skills training
💡 Technology Skill Development Tips
- •Focus on mastering hot technologies first - they're currently most in-demand
- •Build a portfolio demonstrating your proficiency with key tools and software
- •Stay current through continuous learning - technology evolves rapidly
- •Consider vendor certifications to validate your skills to employers
What's the work environment like?
💡Is This Work Environment Right for You?
Consider these factors when evaluating if you'll thrive in this work environment:
- •Are you comfortable working in mostly indoor environments?
- •Can you meet moderate physical demands?
- •Do you enjoy mostly team team environments?
- •Are you comfortable working with safety protocols and protective equipment?
What are the key tasks?
Tasks & Responsibilities
Develop pricing strategies, balancing firm objectives and customer satisfaction.
🔴Identify, develop, or evaluate marketing strategy, based on knowledge of establishment objectives, market characteristics, and cost and markup factors.
🔴Evaluate the financial aspects of product development, such as budgets, expenditures, research and development appropriations, or return-on-investment and profit-loss projections.
🔴Direct the hiring, training, or performance evaluations of marketing or sales staff and oversee their daily activities.
🔴Negotiate contracts with vendors or distributors to manage product distribution, establishing distribution networks or developing distribution strategies.
🔴Consult with product development personnel on product specifications, such as design, color, or packaging.
🔴Compile lists describing product or service offerings.
🔴Use sales forecasting or strategic planning to ensure the sale and profitability of products, lines, or services, analyzing business developments and monitoring market trends.
🔴Select products or accessories to be displayed at trade or special production shows.
🟡Confer with legal staff to resolve problems, such as copyright infringement or royalty sharing with outside producers or distributors.
🟡💡 Key Takeaways
- •Daily tasks focus primarily on planning & development activities
- •35% of tasks are performed by most workers in this occupation
- •Career advancement brings increased leadership and strategic responsibilities
What career paths are available?
Career Pathways
Advancement Opportunities
Typical career progression paths from Marketing Managers
💡 Career Planning Tips
- •Most successful advancement happens after 3-5 years of experience
- •Lateral moves can provide valuable cross-functional experience for future leadership roles
- •Focus on developing skills that are transferable across multiple career paths
- •Consider industry trends when planning long-term career moves
Is this career right for you?
Personality & Values Fit
Is This Career Right for You?
Marketing Managers professionals typically have a ECI Holland code and highly value working conditions
Important Personality Traits
Work styles that contribute to success as a Marketing Managers
Initiative
CriticalInitiative
Leadership
Very ImportantLeadership
Dependability
Very ImportantDependability
Attention to Detail
Very ImportantAttention to Detail
Achievement/Effort
Very ImportantAchievement/Effort
Adaptability/Flexibility
Very ImportantAdaptability/Flexibility
Complete Work Styles Profile
💡 Tips for Career Fit Success
- •While personality fit is important, skills can be developed with practice and training
- •Consider informational interviews to better understand the day-to-day personality requirements
- •Work environments vary by employer - research specific companies for cultural fit
- •Your interests and values may evolve - reassess periodically throughout your career
What education is required?
Education Level
Preparation Level
Experience Needed
📚 Education Requirement
Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Significant preparation with related work experience
💼 Experience Requirement
A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience needed
Common pathways to gain experience:
- • Bachelor's degree in related field
- • Several years of work experience
- • Professional certifications often required
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Ready to Start Your Journey?
Explore educational programs that can help you become a Marketing Managers.
Browse Training Programs →Trade Colleges That Train for Marketing Managers
Top trade colleges by completions in fields that prepare students for this career.
Ivy Tech Community College
Indianapolis, IN
5.0k program completions/year
Cerritos College
Norwalk, CA
2.8k program completions/year
Eastern Gateway Community College
Steubenville, OH
2.5k program completions/year
Lee College
Baytown, TX
1.6k program completions/year
Wake Technical Community College
Raleigh, NC
1.3k program completions/year
Fayetteville Technical Community College
Fayetteville, NC
1.3k program completions/year
Northern Virginia Community College
Annandale, VA
1.3k program completions/year
Pasadena City College
Pasadena, CA
1.2k program completions/year
Mt San Antonio College
Walnut, CA
1.2k program completions/year
Irvine Valley College
Irvine, CA
1.0k program completions/year
Connecticut State Community College
New Britain, CT
978 program completions/year
Mesa Community College
Mesa, AZ
897 program completions/year