Average Marketing Specialist Salary in the US

Marketing specialists often enjoy many perks, including demand across various industries, dynamic work environments, and exciting opportunities to contribute to a brand’s growth. Additionally, these skilled professionals have solid earning power. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average marketing specialist salary in the United States is $83,190 per year, with an average hourly rate of $40 [1]. However, the exact amount you can expect will vary depending on factors such as your education, experience, location, and industry. 

As a marketing specialist, you will help create marketing campaigns, shape brand identity, and conduct market research. You'll also be in demand, as jobs for marketing and advertising professionals are growing faster than average. Around 31,100 jobs in the field should open each year on average through 2033 [2].

What is a marketing specialist? 

A marketing specialist creates and implements the strategies that help drive customers to buy a company's products and services. In this role, you will help shape brand identity through social media marketing and develop materials such as brochures, content for websites, and other forms of content marketing (i.e., blog posts, social media posts, videos, and infographics). You may also be responsible for generating leads directly and organizing opportunities for clients to stay engaged, whether through online channels like social media or at conferences and trade shows. 

As a marketing specialist, you may collect and analyze marketing data in pricing, market trends, and competition. You will likely work with a team of specialists and people from other internal departments and report to a marketing director. 

What is the average marketing specialist salary? 

The average marketing specialist's salary ranges from $57,200 to $81,190, according to October 2024 data from five sources. The average breakdown from each source is as follows [1, 3, 4, 5, 6]: 

Factors that impact salary

Your salary will depend on many factors, including your highest level of education, the number of years you’ve worked in the field, and your geographic location. The company you choose to work for will also determine how much you earn. 

Education 

Zippia lists the average salary for marketing specialists by education level as follows [4]: 

• Associate degree: $53,403

• Bachelor’s degree: $61,415

• Master’s degree: $68,413

• Doctorate: $68,939

Read more: What Is an Undergraduate Degree?

Years of experience

Previous experience working in similar roles can impact how much you can earn as a marketing specialist. For example, an entry-level marketing specialist makes an average of $37,872 to $54,041, while a senior-level marketing specialist's salary averages $69,887 to $104,749.

Industry

The industry you’re working in will also play a role in how much you can earn as a marketing specialist. According to Zippia, salary averages in different industries break down as follows [4]: 

• Finance: $70,504

• Technology: $67,895

• Manufacturing: $64,941

• Retail: $62,163

• Hospitality: $61,379

• Media: $61,365

• Professional: $57,237

Location

Where you are in the United States will also impact your salary. The average marketing specialist salary varies from the highest-paying state—California at $74,001— to the lowest—Kentucky at $42,391 [4]. 

Highest paid cities

• San Francisco, CA: $81,355

• Seattle, WA: $72,662

• New York, NY: $68,613

• Minneapolis, MN: $65,132

• Broomfield, CO: $62,395

Highest paid states 

• California: $74,001

• New Jersey: $73,368

• Washington: $72,424

• New York: $68,512

• Oregon: $66,237

Lowest paid states

• Kentucky: $42,391

• Mississippi: $43,412

• Florida: $46,306

• Hawaii: $46,402

• Wyoming: $46,487

Job outlook and related careers

Regarding the job outlook for marketing careers, the BLS projects an 8 percent growth for advertising, promotions, and marketing managers between 2023 and 2033 [7]. Explore three similar job titles, including details about an events and marketing specialist, marketing and sales specialist, and marketing strategist's salaries. 

Events and marketing specialist

Average salary: $56,762 [8]

Educational requirements: Many employers require a bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, marketing, or a related field, though experience may substitute for formal education in certain cases.

As an events and marketing specialist, you will plan and implement promotional events and other marketing strategies to influence brand image and strategy. You might plan events, coordinate with vendors, manage press communications, and be the person of contact for these events. In this role, you will work with a team or as an intermediary between parties. 

Marketing and sales specialist

Average salary: $61,932 [9]

Educational requirements: Typically, employers require a bachelor's degree in marketing or a related field.

As a marketing and sales specialist, you will help develop and analyze marketing strategies for effectiveness. You may collect data and conduct market research, look for new sales opportunities and use data to evaluate trends. In this role, you will likely negotiate sales with new clients. 

Marketing strategist

Average salary: $83,377 [10]

Educational requirements: You may be able to get an entry-level job with an associate degree or even a certificate in an area like SEO. You may need a bachelor's degree in marketing or communications for more advanced positions. 

As a marketing strategist, you will work with a marketing team to develop and implement marketing strategies. This position requires you to collect and analyze market research for the best opportunities and optimized marketing techniques. You will also set marketing goals for your organization. 

How to become a marketing specialist 

To become a marketing specialist, you must complete your education and gain some marketing experience. Employers typically prefer a bachelor’s degree, although you may still find opportunities with an associate degree or less. You'll also need to possess certain skills. 

Required skills

The exact skills you’ll need as a marketing specialist depend on your industry, job responsibilities, title, and company. According to ZipRecruiter, the top ten skills for marketing specialists include the following [11]: 

• Collaboration

• Detail-oriented

• Social media

• Project management

• Communication skills

• Familiarity with marketing campaigns

• Digital skills

• Microsoft Office

• Innovation

• Digital marketing

Education requirements

Most marketing specialists earn their bachelor’s degree. Zippia reports that 76 percent of marketing specialists have a bachelor’s degree, 10 percent hold a master’s degree, 8 percent hold an associate degree, and 6 percent hold a high school diploma or other degree [12]. Business, marketing, public relations, and communication are four popular majors for marketing specialists. 

Next steps 

As a marketing specialist, you'll set marketing goals for your organization and help implement strategies so that your employer meets them. The role typically requires a bachelor's degree, but additional forms of education can help you stand out when applying for a job. 

If you’re ready to get started in a career as a marketing specialist, consider earning your Google Digital Marketing & E-commerce Professional Certificate on Coursera. You could learn search engine optimization, email marketing, display advertising, and e-commerce skills in less than six months.