Are you curious about potential salaries in the marketing field?
If you're a marketer wondering about earning potential, this insight breakdown is for you.
We went straight to the source and researched across industries and career stages to share their salaries and career journeys.
Here’s the winding path of marketing salaries in 2024.
The Entry-Level Grind
The first rung on the marketing ladder involves coordinator or specialist roles. Common entry-level salaries:
Social media/marketing coordinator: $40,000 - $50,000
Marketing specialist: $45,000 - $55,000
Marketing analyst: $50,000 - $65,000
It's a tough grind initially, but key to gaining experience.
Other entry-level marketing salaries are:
Marketing generalist in food & beverage (Midwest): $50k
Social media marketer in tech: $82k (though this person noted not asking for a raise in 3 years)
Digital marketing specialist with 1-year experience in London: £33k ($42k USD)
One marketer shared their entry-level journey: "I started at $40k at an agency, then moved to $66,880 after 3 years at my current job".
The First Promotion Bump
The first major promotion to a manager role can increase salaries to:
Marketing manager: $60,000 - $75,000
Digital marketing manager: $65,000 - $80,000
This 2-4 year mark is when marketers start developing strategic skills.
One marketer in the entertainment industry in LA reported making $120k as a Product Marketing Manager with 7 years of experience after transitioning from an agency role.
A content marketing manager in tech with 6 years of experience shared a salary of $103k, highlighting the potential for higher earnings in the tech sector.
Changing Companies for Growth
Most marketers need to switch companies every 2-3 years to keep salaries rising.
Staying stagnant means pay won't increase much.
Changing jobs allows progression to senior/specialist roles like:
Senior digital marketing strategist: $85,000 - $100,000
Content marketing director: $90,000 - $110,000
Marketing operations manager: $95,000 - $120,000
However, job hopping has risks like joining unstable teams or getting laid off.
For those in niche industries like craft beer, salaries at this senior level can be lower, like the $70k reported by someone with 10 years of experience in Portland, OR.
Hitting Six Figures
After 8-10 years of strategic moves and skill development, marketers can potentially land director/VP roles with salaries ranging from $100,000 to $140,000+.
For those in major tech hubs or at large companies, senior roles like VP of Digital Strategy can reach $200,000 or more.
One marketer shared their impressive journey: "I make ~$300K TC (salary+RSUs+bonus+other benefits) in marketing analytics at a US tech company you've probably heard of. 6 YOE in marketing analytics + a couple more in webdev at an agency".
Another reported: "$171K base salary, small cash bonus, equity. 16ish YOE. Director of Content Strategy at B2B software startup that services the commercial real estate industry".
Salaries can also vary by geographic region.
For example, one marketing lead in Canada with 4-8 years of experience managing a team made $88k CAD ($65k USD).
A marketing supervisor in paid social with 14 years of experience working remotely for a California tech company made $105k, noting being 'underpaid/under-titled' compared to their previous agency role.
Read more about high-paying marketing roles in our Best B2B Marketing Advice For New Marketers guide.
The Appeal of Going In-House
Some marketers eventually transition from agencies to in-house corporate roles, even taking a pay cut for better work-life balance and benefits.
As one shared, "I took a pay cut going in-house, but the work-life balance improvement was mind-blowing. I'll never go back to an agency."
The Burnout Reality
Whether agency or in-house, marketing can be extremely tough long-term with high turnover and burnout rates.
A 17-year veteran reflected, "Even though I've been in marketing for seventeen years, it feels like forty."
Their advice?
"Work hard for ten years, then consider changing careers to prevent burnout."
Based on one data point from Germany, a marketer with 6 years of experience there made $60k.
See more on avoiding marketing career burnout in our Marketing Beyond Advertising Comprehensive Guide.
Seeking Balance Over Money
For those who stay, priorities often shift from chasing higher salaries to finding roles with better work-life balance.
As one person stated, "I'm job hunting again, but focused more on work-life balance than salary."
Some marketers even choose lower-paying industries for personal fulfillment.
One shared: "Downsized myself from an agency girlie to a craft beer girlie. Less pay, more fun. The running joke is no one's in beer to make money".
The Winding Path
Looking at the insights, a few themes emerge:
The early years require patience, frequent job changes, and hard work to grow earnings
Hitting $100K is a big milestone but increases stress/burnout risks
Many eventually start valuing balance over maximum pay
Tech, finance, and healthcare tend to offer higher salaries in marketing roles
Geographic location and company size significantly impact earning potential
But, there's no single path to marketing riches.
It's a winding road of constant skill development, smart career moves, and adaptability. The salaries can be lucrative but weigh the personal tradeoffs carefully.
For a deeper dive into building a successful marketing career, check out our book recommendations.
We hope these insights from real marketers help you navigate your own career path in Marketing.
Remote Marketers
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