Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Bachelor's degree
5 years or more
None
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Marketing managers oversee efforts to promote products, services, and brands, combining creativity with analytical thinking and leadership. This occupation employs about 407,000 people nationally, reflecting a sizable professional community and wide-ranging opportunities across industries and regions. The national median annual salary of $161,030 indicates strong earning potential, with even higher median pay in some states and metro areas. Projected employment growth of 6.6% and 34,000 annual openings suggest a steady flow of new and replacement positions. Success in this career draws on skills such as creativity and innovation, project management, leadership, problem solving and decision making, and strong speaking and listening abilities. Critical and analytical thinking, mathematics, customer service, interpersonal skills, and adaptability also play an important role. Related career paths include advertising and promotions managers, sales managers, education administrators (postsecondary), fundraising managers, and fundraisers, giving professionals multiple directions to explore as they build experience and refine their interests over time.
Marketing managers benefit from high earning potential, with a national median annual salary of $161,030. Salaries vary significantly by location. Among the top states by opportunity score, Massachusetts shows a median salary of $212,020, and California offers $193,620, both well above the national median. New York has a median of $181,200, while Colorado and Washington report $182,730 and $172,270, respectively. At the metro level, earnings can be even higher. The San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA metro reports a median salary of $231,370, and San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CA reports $220,480. New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ offers a median of $192,840, while Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NH is at $213,910 and Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WV at $181,260. These figures highlight significant geographic differences and the potential for increased earnings in certain states and metropolitan areas.
Marketing managers show solid employment presence and projected growth. National employment stands at about 407,000, indicating that this is a large occupation with positions spread across many organizations. The projected employment growth rate is 6.6%, pointing to an expanding field over the projection period. In addition, there are an estimated 34,000 annual openings, which include new jobs as well as openings created when current managers change roles or leave the workforce. This combination of an existing large workforce, measurable growth, and substantial yearly openings suggests an ongoing need for qualified marketing managers. Growth of 6.6% is also reflected consistently in the top states and metro areas by opportunity score, implying broadly similar projected expansion across multiple regions, including California, Massachusetts, New York, Colorado, Washington, and major metros such as San Jose, New York–Newark–Jersey City, and San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont.
Location plays a significant role in opportunity for marketing managers. Among states, California, Massachusetts, and New York stand out by CareerGPS opportunity score, combining relatively high median salaries and sizeable employment. California has a median salary of $193,620 with 54,660 employed marketing managers, while New York combines a $181,200 median with 54,000 employed. Massachusetts offers the highest listed state median salary at $212,020, with 14,270 employed. Colorado and Washington also rank among the top states, with median salaries of $182,730 and $172,270 and employment of 6,010 and 8,880, respectively. At the metro level, San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA has the highest opportunity score (77.42) and the highest median salary at $231,370. The New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ metro closely follows in opportunity score (77.27) with a large employment base of 54,730. San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CA, Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WV, and Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NH also offer strong combinations of pay, employment, and growth.
The typical education requirement for marketing managers is a bachelor’s degree. This level of education provides a foundation for the broad mix of skills associated with the role. Creativity and innovation are central for developing and guiding marketing initiatives, while project management skills support planning and execution of campaigns and initiatives. Leadership is important for directing teams and aligning efforts, and problem solving and decision making help managers navigate complex situations. Strong speaking and listening abilities contribute to effective communication with colleagues, clients, and stakeholders. Critical and analytical thinking, along with mathematics, support data-driven evaluation and planning. Customer service and interpersonal skills help marketing managers understand and work effectively with different audiences and teams. Adaptability rounds out the profile, enabling professionals to adjust to changing needs and conditions. Together, a bachelor’s degree and this skill set position individuals to pursue and grow in marketing management roles.
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