Marketing Managers
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.
Marketing Managers earn a median of $80.19/hr — about $167,000 a year. The lowest-paid 10% earn $43.39/hr; the top 10% earn $141.16/hr. (Annual figures are approximate: hourly × 2,080.)
What you'd actually do
- Identify, develop, or evaluate marketing strategy, based on knowledge of establishment objectives, market characteristics, and cost and markup factors.
- Formulate, direct, or coordinate marketing activities or policies to promote products or services, working with advertising or promotion managers.
- 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.
- Compile lists describing product or service offerings.
- Direct the hiring, training, or performance evaluations of marketing or sales staff and oversee their daily activities.
How you get there
Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree. Overall preparation: considerable preparation (Job Zone 4 of 5).
The feel of the work
Time pressure is a real part of the job; it rewards working independently. (Compared against the other 818 careers in the guide.)
Working for yourself
About 3.6% of marketing managers are self-employed.
Who it tends to fit
This work tends to fit people who are take-charge and organized and detail-focused.
Work a simulated shift in this job — freeMake the real decisions this job involves, then see what your choices say about you.Related careers
- Financial Managers
- Natural Sciences Managers
- Architectural and Engineering Managers
- Computer and Information Systems Managers
- Human Resources Managers
- Sales Managers
Quick questions
- How much does a marketing manager make?
- The median pay is $80.19 per hour — roughly $167,000 a year, with the real range running from about $43.39/hr (10th percentile) to $141.16/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Do you need a degree to be a marketing manager?
- The typical entry-level education is: Bachelor's degree. Overall preparation level: considerable preparation (Job Zone 4 of 5).
- What does a marketing manager actually do all day?
- Identify, develop, or evaluate marketing strategy, based on knowledge of establishment objectives, market characteristics, and cost and markup factors. Formulate, direct, or coordinate marketing activities or policies to promote products or services, working with advertising or promotion managers. Evaluate the financial aspects of product development, such as budgets, expenditures, research and development appropriations, or return-on-investment and profit-loss projections.
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