What Can You Do with a Marketing Master’s? 15 Popular Careers in Marketing
Wednesday, May 21, 2025
Pursuing your passion can lead to a fulfilling and practical career. Graduate-level marketing students often find that the intersection of creativity and science within a Master of Marketing program provides them with the knowledge, tools, experience, and confidence needed to enter a variety of careers in the marketing industry.
Why Pursue a Master of Marketing?
Professional advancement requires a combination of talent, experience, and education. A bachelor's degree in marketing can help a professional get their foot in the door with entry-level marketing careers, but securing higher-level positions in marketing might require an advanced graduate degree.
Gain Valuable Skills
Numerous studies confirm the increasing demand for data-driven marketing strategies is an ongoing trend. This approach to marketing relies on integrating technology to facilitate comprehensive data collection and high-level analysis aimed at strengthening marketing and communications while maintaining a competitive edge. Businesses that utilize data-driven marketing strategies reap five to eight times the ROI of those that do not. With 87 percent of marketers reporting an under-reliance on data and 40 percent planning to increase their analytics budgets, this strategic segment of marketers is growing rapidly.
At the Carlson School of Management, the Master of Marketing program offers a comprehensive curriculum addressing these industry demands. With classes such as Marketing Intelligence, Marketing Analytics: Decision-Making, Marketing Analytics: Insights, and more, you can learn how to integrate technology, collect data, analyze the data, and use the information to make informed decisions to strengthen your marketing strategies. Additionally, you may learn invaluable marketing management and leadership skills that uniquely position you to lead a team while developing marketing strategies that align with the larger goals of a business.
Apply for Top-Paying Marketing Positions
Getting a master's degree in marketing can open the door to opportunities in top-paying marketing jobs, such as marketing manager, creative, media, accounts, or design. A marketing master's degree, coupled with proven industry experience, can even help position you to eventually enter the executive suite in your marketing career as a vice president of marketing or a chief marketing officer.
According to data from the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), industry-wide median pay in the United States in marketing careers ranges from $156,580 per year (Advertising, Promotions, and Marketing Managers) to $74,680 per year (Market Research Analysts). In industry-adjacent careers, marketing professionals make a median salary of $84,380 per year as post-secondary marketing teachers and $57,500 per year as marketing news analysts, reporters, and journalists. Aiming high, chief marketing officers make an average annual salary of $316,048 in the U.S.
Graduates of the Carlson School's Master of Marketing program demonstrate strong employment outcomes, with a mean base salary range of $42,000–$85,000 for the Class of 2024. This competitive starting salary reflects the program's effectiveness in preparing graduates for immediate success in the field.
However you end up using a marketing master's degree, you can achieve personal and professional success while enjoying an interesting, exciting, and fulfilling career path.
5 Traditional Careers in Marketing
A master's degree in marketing can prepare you for a variety of established roles within the field. Here are five traditional career paths that marketing graduates commonly pursue.
Brand Manager
Brand managers oversee branding efforts, develop marketing campaigns, and maintain brand consistency. This position requires creativity, good communication, data analysis, and leadership.
Every business (and public figure) has a brand. Industries that frequently hire brand managers include consumer goods, retail, technology, and healthcare.
Marketing Strategist
Marketing strategists develop, implement, and execute marketing strategies based on market trends and consumer insights. They must be able to conduct market research and possess business acumen to support strategic planning and campaign management.
Industries that commonly hire marketing strategists include advertising agencies, start-ups, and large corporations.
Market Research Analyst
Market research analysts analyze data to gain valuable insights into consumer behavior, market trends, and competitors. This position requires skills in statistical analysis, data visualization, and critical thinking.
Industries where market research analysts are most in demand include finance, consulting, technology, and healthcare.
Digital Marketing Manager
Digital marketing managers oversee search engine optimization (SEO), social media, pay‑per‑click (PPC) advertising, and content marketing strategies. They should possess skills in digital analytics, content strategy, and paid media advertising.
Digital marketing managers see the highest demand and job growth in the e‑commerce and tech industries.
Product Marketing Manager
Product marketing managers act as liaisons between product development departments and marketing teams. They focus on the positioning and messaging of new products, competitive analysis, and sales enablement.
Tech firms, SaaS companies, and consumer goods businesses most commonly hire product marketing managers.
5 Emerging and Remote Marketing Careers
The marketing field is constantly evolving, and new opportunities are emerging, particularly in remote work settings. Here are five examples of emerging and remote marketing career paths:
Growth Marketing Manager
Growth marketing managers use data‑driven techniques to improve customer acquisition, conversion, and retention. They must have skills in data analysis, A/B testing, and marketing funnel optimization.
Key industries hiring growth marketing managers include tech start-ups and e‑commerce businesses.
Influencer Marketing Manager
An influencer marketing manager works with social media influencers to promote brands and products. These marketers should have a clear understanding and grasp of the growing importance of content‑driven marketing, social media platforms, and social media audiences. They should also possess skills in relationship management, social media analytics, and content strategy.
Beauty, fashion, health, technology, gaming, and entertainment are the fastest‑growing industries for influencer marketing managers.
Remote Marketing Consultant
Remote marketing consultants provide businesses with expertise in digital marketing strategies. These professionals often work as remote employees for an individual company or as independent contractors with multiple business clients. This position is ideal for individuals who value job flexibility and want freelance opportunities. However, it requires extensive industry experience, a strong network, and expertise in multiple areas of marketing.
These positions can primarily be obtained in industries where businesses will benefit from outsourcing their marketing efforts to a freelance professional. Additionally, international or regional marketing firms might seek a relationship with a marketing consultant who is local to a new market.
AI‑Powered Marketing Analyst
As AI becomes increasingly present in business operations, AI‑powered marketing analysts have positioned themselves ahead of the trend. They use artificial intelligence to analyze customer behavior, optimize ad targeting, and create personalized marketing campaigns.
Industries commonly hiring these professionals include tech firms, digital marketing agencies, and financial services.
User Experience (UX) Researcher
UX researchers focus on the way consumers interact with brands online to help design better digital experiences. They should understand behavioral psychology, data analysis, and technology tools.
UX researchers are in high demand in industries including e‑commerce, SaaS, and mobile application development.
5 Early Careers with a Master’s Degree in Marketing
Earning a Master of Marketing can also open doors to excellent entry-level opportunities. Here are five examples of entry-level marketing career paths that marketing graduates can pursue.
Marketing Coordinator
Marketing coordinators help with planning marketing campaigns, managing social media, and creating content. This position is a good place to gain generalized experience before advancing into a more specialized role.
Just about any industry that utilizes marketing hires marketing coordinators. Industries with the largest demand include hospitality, tech firms, media companies, and healthcare.
Content Marketing Specialist
Content marketing specialists focus on the creation and optimization of content for websites, blogs, and social media. They should possess skills in SEO, content writing, and analytics.
Industries with a high demand for content marketing specialists include real estate, technology, finance, healthcare, e‑commerce, retail, travel and tourism, and business‑professional services.
Paid Media Specialist (PPC Specialist)
Paid media specialists—also called pay‑per‑click specialists—manage paid channels such as Google Ads, Facebook Ads, and other digital campaigns. They should understand data analysis, have deep knowledge of digital advertising, and possess hands‑on experience running these campaigns.
Industries commonly hiring paid media specialists include technology firms, SaaS, e‑commerce, and digital advertising agencies.
Email Marketing Manager
Email marketing managers develop and optimize email campaigns to nurture leads and engage customers. They should understand CRM platforms and marketing automation tools.
Industries that frequently hire these professionals include hospitality, e‑commerce, retail, healthcare, financial services, education, and nonprofit organizations.
Social Media Manager
Social media managers develop and implement strategies across platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok. They engage with audiences, manage brand reputation, and track performance metrics, working either in‑house or as freelancers.
Demand is high across digital agencies, corporations, nonprofits, tech, entertainment, healthcare, education, and government.
How to Choose the Right Marketing Career Path
A master's degree in marketing opens the door to countless opportunities, and this can mean that the biggest challenge at the start of your career will be choosing a path. When deciding on the marketing career that is right for you, ask yourself the following questions:
- What aspects of marketing (creative, analytical, strategic, management) interest you most?
- What are the current industry trends, and how are they impacting the job market?
- Which marketing positions are in high demand?
- What kind of growth opportunities are you looking for, and can the position you're considering help you achieve your professional goals?
In addition to considering what you want to do with your marketing degree, it can also be helpful to think about any experience or connections you might have that could give you the edge in securing a particular position. While you're studying, consider applying for internships, expanding your professional network, and earning certifications that will expand your resume and connect you to potential job opportunities.
At the Carlson School of Management, the Master of Marketing program offers unique opportunities through its renowned Brand Enterprise Program, where students gain real-world experience by working alongside companies for a full semester to consult on marketing challenges. This hands-on problem-solving experience, combined with access to the Carlson Business Career Center and an intimate cohort experience, helps students build the expansive network needed for career success.
Learn More About the Master of Marketing at UMN
If any of these careers with a marketing degree interest and excite you, we recommend learning more about the Master of Marketing graduate program at the University of Minnesota. This 9-month program, ranked #4 in North America by QS World University Business Master's Ranking 2025, can put you on the fast track to career advancement in the marketing industry. The Carlson School's Master of Marketing program equips you with the education, networking, and hands-on experience needed for a long, rewarding career in marketing.
To learn more about the program, we welcome you to request more information or take the next step and start your application today.