Marketers are involved in every aspect of a business’ function, from product development to sales and customer satisfaction. They are experts in analyzing and identifying market segments, estimating demand, setting prices, and generating consumer interest. As a result, marketing majors can be found in virtually every organization creating advertising strategies, managing public relations, performing market research, and planning events.
Here is a list of 12 possible jobs for marketing majors:
Most Common Jobs for Marketing Majors
1. Public Relations Specialist
PR specialists are employed by organizations or individuals to manage their public image and communicate with the public. They often serve as the middleman between an organization and the media. On a day-to-day basis, PR specialists communicate with the media to help shape their organization’s public perception. This often involves completing a variety of tasks, which might include writing press releases, responding to media inquiries, arranging interviews, drafting speeches, or holding press conferences. A bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications or a related field is typically enough to qualify for a position as a PR specialist.
Median annual wage: $59,300
Common entry-level degree: Bachelor’s degree
Likelihood that robots will take your job:18%
2. Market Research Analyst
Market research analysts are employed by a company or a marketing firm to study market conditions for a particular product or service. Market researchers spend their days researching, monitoring and forecasting marketplace trends by gathering data on consumer behavior and analyzing market data. They also help develop marketing strategies and campaigns for their clients or company. A degree in marketing, business or a related field is essential for entry into the field. A graduate degree is typically not necessary for entry-level positions, but provides opportunities for advancement into a leadership role.
Median annual wage: $63,230
Common entry-level degree: Bachelor’s degree
Likelihood that robots will take your job:61%
3. Sales Representative
Sales representatives are responsible for selling goods or services to businesses or individuals. Sales representatives work in a wide variety of fields, from real estate to pharmaceuticals and everything in between. But while the products that sales representatives work with may vary, the job typically involves the same tasks — contacting potential clients, pitching your company’s or organization’s services, and maintaining relationships with clients. Some sales positions may be open to candidates with a high school diploma, but competitive positions will typically require at least a bachelor’s degree, and sometimes more depending on the product.
Median annual wage: $56,970
Common entry-level degree: Bachelor’s degree
Likelihood that robots will take your job:85%
Specialized/Unique Jobs for Marketing Majors
4. Marketing Manager
Marketing managers are tasked with developing and implementing an organization’s marketing strategy. Typically, they are responsible for determining the demand for their employer’s products or services and developing strategies for the company to increase its profits and expand its market share. This involves monitoring market trends, conducting research to identify new markets, and working with product development and sales staff to develop, price and sell products. A bachelor’s degree with strong work experience as a sales representative, market research analyst, or PR specialist is generally enough to qualify for most marketing management positions.
Median annual wage: $132,230
Common entry-level degree: Bachelor’s degree
Likelihood that robots will take your job:1.4%
5. Advertising Manager
Advertising managers are responsible for developing advertising campaigns in order to generate interest in a product or service. They may be employed by an organization to develop advertising strategies from within, or by an advertising agency to develop campaigns for clients on a project-to-project basis. Typically, a bachelor’s degree with experience in the advertising field is required to become an advertising manager.
Median annual wage: $106,130
Common entry-level degree: Bachelor’s degree
Likelihood that robots will take your job:4%
6. Sales Manager
Sales managers organize and direct a company’s sales team. In a broad sense, they have a simple objective — to increase sales and, by extension, their company’s profits. They are responsible for developing sales strategies, setting sales goals, managing budgets and expenditures, and hiring and training sales representatives. Sales managers typically have a bachelor’s degree with experience in sales.
Median annual wage: $121,060
Common entry-level degree: Bachelor’s degree
Likelihood that robots will take your job:1.3%
Non-Traditional Jobs for Marketing Majors
7. Social Media Specialist
This job may not have existed 15 years ago, but has become one of the fastest growing careers. Most companies now employ social media specialists to handle all or some of their social media accounts. Social media specialists are responsible for developing their company’s social media presence, improving its online reputation, and generally growing its brand. On a day-to-day basis, they typically draft, develop and execute social media marketing strategies, create new content, and manage social media accounts. A bachelor’s degree in marketing, advertising, or communications is typically enough to find employment in the field.
Median annual wage: $59,300
Common entry-level degree: Bachelor’s degree
Likelihood that robots will take your job:18%
8. Graphic Designer
If you’re interested in the visual and creative side of marketing and have artistic ability, you might consider becoming a graphic designer. Graphic designers are artists who are employed or contracted by marketing agencies or companies to develop a brand’s visual content and design logos and images that will attract consumers. They may work with photography, animation and various other media. While a bachelor’s degree in marketing will certainly help you become a graphic designer, you will also need significant coursework in art and computer-assisted design. You will also need a strong portfolio of original designs.
Median annual wage: $48,700
Common entry-level degree: Bachelor’s degree
Likelihood that robots will take your job:8%
9. Artist Manager or Agent
Marketing majors who are interested in working in the creative industry might consider pursuing a career as an artist manager or agent. Artist managers represent and promote artists and performers in their business dealings. This often involves a wide array of responsibilities, such as contract negotiation, media engagement, booking management, and promotion. Artist managers may be self-employed or work for a talent agency. While there is obviously no formal education requirement to be a self-employed artist manager, typically, talent agencies look for candidates with a bachelor’s degree when hiring.
Median annual wage: $64,940
Common entry-level degree: Bachelor’s degree
Likelihood that robots will take your job: 24%
Other Potential Jobs for Marketing Majors
10. Fundraiser
Fundraisers are employed primarily by nonprofit organizations, such as charities, museums or religious institutions, to organize fundraising campaigns and raise money for the organization. Some fundraisers are functionally event planners who organize galas and charity events for an organization. Others might solicit donations from large and small donors. Typically, a bachelor’s degree in a related field and strong communication skills are enough to find employment as a fundraiser.
Median annual wage: $55,640
Common entry-level degree: Bachelor’s degree
Likelihood that robots will take your job: 1.5%
11. Event Planner
Event planners are hired by clients to organize a variety of events. They may specialize in organizing a specific kind of event, such as a wedding, a conference, or a convention. Event planners are typically responsible for organizing an event from the bottom up, meeting with clients to develop a plan, managing costs, booking venues, and coordinating and monitoring event services and activities. Most event-planning positions require a bachelor’s degree.
Median annual wage: $48,290
Common entry-level degree: Bachelor’s degree
Likelihood that robots will take your job:4%
12. Copywriter
Marketing majors who are also deft writers might look into becoming copywriters. Copywriters are the professional writers who create the text for advertising materials, such as billboards, brochures and catalogs. Copywriters may work at an agency, in-house for a company, or freelance. There is no education requirement to become a freelance copywriter, but employment in an agency or at a company will typically require a bachelor’s degree.
Median annual wage: $62,720
Common entry-level degree: Bachelor’s degree
Likelihood that robots will take your job:4%
10 Famous People Who Studied Marketing
- Aziz Ansari, comedian
- Brian A. Bogosian, business executive
- John Calipari, college basketball coach
- Kevin Costner, actor
- Mark D. Kingdon, investor
- Eva Mendes, actor
- Shannon Miller, gymnast
- Kevin Nealon, actor
- Wanda Sykes, comedian
- Jim A. Walton, billionaire
To explore options for other majors, click here.
