Marketing Jobs & Careers: Types of Jobs & Salary

Even if a company has the greatest products or services in the world, it means little if prospective users do not know of their existence. Marketing professionals create strategies to get the word out and distinguish their employer’s brand from the multitude.

In the modern world, many marketing efforts center around online presence. This is beneficial for job seekers looking for flexible and remote opportunities as numerous types of marketing careers can be performed remotely.

Most marketing careers require at least a bachelor’s degree in marketing or a related discipline. Employers particularly value digitally savvy candidates with a strong understanding of the online world and how to navigate it. Good verbal and written communicators who work well both on a team and independently also gain attention.

Ready to forge your marketing career path? Here’s a look at what’s involved in some of the most popular types of marketing jobs.

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Types of Marketing Jobs & Careers

Market Research Analyst

Median annual salary: $63,120

Knowledge about sales trends, competitors, and consumer behavior helps companies to make sound marketing decisions. Market research analysts gather such information and create reports to refer to when developing marketing strategies.

Targeted marketing reduces costs and increases sales, so demand for skilled market research analysts is high, making it a desirable marketing career path. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment in the field to grow 20% between 2018-2028. Especially desirable are candidates who can competently handle “big data”—huge amounts of information with potentially great insight on patterns of human behavior.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Average annual salary: $49,263

The ability for potential customers to find your company among the many in the crowded global marketplace can be the difference between success and failure. People with titles such as search marketing specialist and SEO consultant figure out how to make sure their employer’s website and offerings place prominently when someone does an online keyword search.

Employers hiring for SEO jobs look for tech-competent individuals experienced with website analysis tools such as Moz, Google Analytics, and SEMrush. Strong candidates in this marketing career can write interest-grabbing web copy and titles, generate creative link-building strategies, and develop relationships with press outlets and online influencers.

Pay-per-Click Advertising (PPC)

Average annual salary: $39,340

When Internet users search for something, they often click on an ad targeted to appear when a keyword or phrase is entered into a search engine. Pay-per-click professionals develop these ads and decide where to put them for maximum results. They carefully monitor their effectiveness and make adjustments if the ad isn’t generating an appropriate number of clicks or sales from paid ads.

Success in this position involves a passion for the online world. PPC pros must firmly understand all major search engines and keep up with Internet trends. They also should possess solid research skills, including the ability to analyze consumer behavior.

Digital Marketing Analyst

Average annual salary: $60,823

Companies trying to figure out how well their online marketing campaigns are working turn to digital marketing analysts. These professionals examine statistics and make recommendations on how to improve performance through efforts such as social media ads, website banner ads, and online branding.

People seeking this type of marketing career must be comfortable gathering and interpreting data. Good interpersonal skills aid them in working with designers and other marketing specialists to improve campaigns. Exceptional problem-solving skills also prove useful in order to generate ideas on why something isn’t providing desired results and how to fix the issue.

Content Writing

Average annual salary: $48,729

Companies eager to establish themselves as trustworthy experts often build positive perceptions through what they put on their website, social media platforms, and the like. Content writers play a critical role by crafting material in line with objectives. They further connections between the brand and current/future customers by presenting useful information. An insurance company, for instance, may run a Facebook post on ways to keep your home safe from intruders.

Outstanding writing skills are a must. Employers also may look for knowledge of SEO best practices, experience with graphic design, and evidence of ability to conduct research.

Graphic Design

Average annual salary: $44,304

Strong visuals attract attention, making them an integral part of marketing efforts. Graphic designers collaborate with other team members to design logos, brochures, websites, and promotional materials. While demand for graphic designers in the print industry is declining, those adept at digital formats face a solid job market.

Employers often like to see a degree from an institution accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design. Perhaps the greatest aid to a career in graphic design, however, is a strong portfolio that demonstrates your flair for creative visual expression.

Social Media Marketing Manager

Average annual salary: $50,332

One of the “newer” marketing careers, social media professionals utilize Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, and other forms of social media provide companies a chance to promote their brand and interact with customers. Common tasks for a social media marketing manager include responding to questions, resolving complaints, writing engaging posts (or supervising others who create them), analyzing social media trends, and maintaining consistency between outlets to strengthen the organization’s image.

Employers look for strong communicators with solid interpersonal skills to represent their company in this role. Individuals also should be highly organized, up to date on social media activity and trends, and committed to positive public relations.

Product Marketing Manager

Average annual salary: $88,165

With a thorough understanding of the item(s) they’ve been charged to promote, product marketing managers figure out the best ways to generate interest. They develop an overall plan that may include elements such as advertising, press releases, and product demonstrations.

Knowledge of the target audience assists with getting the word out to the most promising customers, so candidates must be adept at understanding the customer base. When hiring, employers particularly want to see evidence of previous success in developing a product campaign.

Brand Manager

Average annual salary: $70,636

Trendy, eco-friendly, reliable? How the public perceives a certain brand gets shaped by the efforts of the brand manager. This specialized marketing manager job involves crafting an image and promote it to the public. Getting the message across requires consistency among outlets and collaboration with colleagues to stay on the same page.

Overseeing a brand is an important responsibility, so people seeking such a position need to demonstrate past success in a marketing department. Good abilities to possess include experience with CRM (customer relationship management) software, creativity, and budget management prowess.

Your Marketing Career Path

FlexJobs can help you take charge of your marketing career. Consider these success stories from members who found legitimate, flexible marketing opportunities. You can also check out our post on companies that hire for marketing jobs. Then, browse our database of marketing jobs, including entry-level marketing jobs, to find positions in your desired marketing niche. Opportunities are available with a wide variety of companies, including Yelp jobs, Google jobs, American Express jobs, and more.