Marketing managers develop and execute strategies that promote products and services to customers. You'll lead teams, analyze market trends, and make decisions that drive business growth. The role requires a bachelor's degree and strong communication skills.
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Marketing managers create campaigns and strategies that connect companies with their customers. You communicate with supervisors and team members to align on goals, establish relationships with clients and partners, and use computers to analyze data and organize projects. You gather information about markets and competitors, solve problems when campaigns underperform, and make decisions about where to invest marketing resources. The work blends creativity with analysis, requiring you to read reports, write proposals, and present findings to leadership.
Core work activities
Career video courtesy of CareerOneStop.
Marketing Managers earn a median of $166,790 a year, based on 2025 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and location.
The outlook is strong. Employment is projected to grow 7 percent from 2024 to 2034, faster than average for all occupations, with about 34,300 openings a year.
Top skills
Knowledge areas
You'll need a bachelor's degree to enter this field. Your coursework will cover sales and marketing, business administration, customer service, and communications. During your studies, develop skills in active learning, critical thinking, reading comprehension, and writing. Many people gain entry-level experience in marketing roles before moving into management positions. Look for internships or coordinator positions to build your foundation and demonstrate your ability to manage projects and lead teams.
Most marketing managers come up through marketing coordinator or specialist roles, building expertise before stepping into leadership. If you're deciding whether to pursue this path and want to map out the steps, Pathly can map the marketing manager path that fits you with your counselor to create a plan that fits your timeline.
You do not need a license to work as a marketing manager, but professional certifications can strengthen your resume.
Common certifications
You thrive in leadership roles where you can influence strategy and drive results. You enjoy working with people, building teams, and taking charge of initiatives that matter to the business.
Reading about a career is the easy part. Turning it into a plan is where most students get stuck. Pathly takes you from curious to a clear next step, and gives your counselor the insight to champion you along the way.
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Last updated July 1, 2026.
Data sources. Career details from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under CC BY 4.0. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Salary and outlook figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025 wages; 2024–2034 projections), delivered via the CareerOneStop API. Certification, licensing, wage, and outlook data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by USDOL/ETA and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).