Marketing Managers
SOC code 11-2021 · O*NET-SOC 11-2021.00 · Considerable preparation needed
Bright Outlook — O*NET expects rapid growth for this occupation
Marketing Managers pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$166,790
a year
Hourly
$80.19
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$177,770
$85.47 per hour
Middle 50%
$123,020 – $216,410
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$90,260 – $293,610
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
395,240
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $90,260
- $43.39/hr
- 25th percentile
- $123,020
- $59.15/hr
- Median percentile
- $166,790
- $80.19/hr
- 75th percentile
- $216,410
- $104.04/hr
- 90th percentile
- $293,610
- $141.16/hr
What does a marketing manager do?
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.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- Formulate, direct, or coordinate marketing activities or policies to promote products or services, working with advertising or promotion managers.
- Use sales forecasting or strategic planning to ensure the sale and profitability of products, lines, or services, analyzing business developments and monitoring market trends.
- Identify, develop, or evaluate marketing strategy, based on knowledge of establishment objectives, market characteristics, and cost and markup factors.
- Direct the hiring, training, or performance evaluations of marketing or sales staff and oversee their daily activities.
- Evaluate the financial aspects of product development, such as budgets, expenditures, research and development appropriations, or return-on-investment and profit-loss projections.
- Develop pricing strategies, balancing firm objectives and customer satisfaction.
- Initiate market research studies, or analyze their findings.
- Consult with buying personnel to gain advice regarding the types of products or services expected to be in demand.
How to become a marketing manager
Preparation level: zone 4 — Considerable preparation needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
The federal survey did not capture education levels for this specific occupation, so the preparation-level card above is the best guide to the entry route.
Common questions
How much does a marketing manager earn?
The national median is $166,790 a year. The full range runs from $90,260 at the 10th percentile to $293,610 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a marketing manager without a degree?
Not usually — this occupation sits in preparation zone 4, where the typical entry route is most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not. The education breakdown above shows what people in the role actually reported.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Active Listening4.1/5
- Speaking4.0/5
- Reading Comprehension3.9/5
- Critical Thinking3.9/5
- Active Learning3.9/5
- Monitoring3.9/5
Knowledge areas
- Sales and Marketing4.7/5
- English Language4.5/5
- Customer and Personal Service4.3/5
- Communications and Media4.1/5
- Administration and Management4.0/5
- Education and Training3.2/5
- Personnel and Human Resources3.2/5
- Administrative3.2/5
Transferable strengths: Persuasion, Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Systems Evaluation.