The marketing manager is a linchpin of the marketing team. This pro works behind the scenes orchestrating many, if not all, facets of an organization’s marketing efforts.
Common Job Titles
Marketing Manager, Product Marketing Manager, Digital Marketing Manager
Projected job growth
10%*
median annual Salary
$132,230*
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
In this role, you’re often in charge of coming up with marketing strategy, managing staff and budgets, and collaborating across the team to execute marketing plans. At an agency or a midsize or large company, you might specialize in one area or channel, like email marketing or social media. At a smaller company, you might be more of a generalist, a Jack or Jill of all trades, and handle them all.
Whether you’re a specialist or generalist, though, you need two key traits to succeed: storytelling skills and technical aptitude, noted Jennifer Wong, VP of marketing at TUNE and an instructor in our Certificate in Strategic Marketing.
“Marketers in general should be good storytellers, able to create emotion and connection to a brand,” Wong said. “And with the role of technology today, marketing efforts have become more complex. You have to engage offline and online; you need to be able to leverage new technologies.”
The Washington Market Is Hot, Hot, Hot
While demand for marketing managers is strong nationally, with growth projected at 10 percent, demand in Washington state is estimated to be more than six times that — at 68 percent — according to the O*NET career website.
“I definitely see growing opportunities, especially in Washington state, because of all the new companies that are blooming every single day,” Wong said. “And now that marketing is becoming more measureable with technology, there’s a definite justification behind it. It’s not necessarily seen as an expense for a company anymore; it’s seen as a revenue driver.”
Becoming a Marketing Manager
Interested in starting or advancing a career in marketing management? Check out our Certificate in Strategic Marketing. Or explore one of our other related programs.