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Brand consultant job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected brand consultant job growth rate is 10% from 2018-2028.
About 33,700 new jobs for brand consultants are projected over the next decade.
Brand consultant salaries have increased 8% for brand consultants in the last 5 years.
There are over 25,992 brand consultants currently employed in the United States.
There are 52,875 active brand consultant job openings in the US.
The average brand consultant salary is $68,165.
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 25,992 | 0.01% |
| 2020 | 24,663 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 24,244 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 22,796 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 21,298 | 0.01% |
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $68,165 | $32.77 | +3.9% |
| 2024 | $65,615 | $31.55 | +1.9% |
| 2023 | $64,387 | $30.96 | +1.6% |
| 2022 | $63,400 | $30.48 | +0.8% |
| 2021 | $62,896 | $30.24 | +1.9% |
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 198 | 23% |
| 2 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 261 | 20% |
| 3 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 138 | 20% |
| 4 | Alabama | 4,874,747 | 689 | 14% |
| 5 | Oklahoma | 3,930,864 | 539 | 14% |
| 6 | Mississippi | 2,984,100 | 349 | 12% |
| 7 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 755 | 11% |
| 8 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 140 | 10% |
| 9 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 111 | 10% |
| 10 | Delaware | 961,939 | 101 | 10% |
| 11 | Vermont | 623,657 | 62 | 10% |
| 12 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 768 | 9% |
| 13 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 385 | 9% |
| 14 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 307 | 9% |
| 15 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 978 | 8% |
| 16 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 451 | 8% |
| 17 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 263 | 8% |
| 18 | California | 39,536,653 | 2,819 | 7% |
| 19 | New York | 19,849,399 | 1,412 | 7% |
| 20 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 499 | 7% |
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Moline | 1 | 2% | $66,037 |
| 2 | Pittsburgh | 2 | 1% | $72,506 |
| 3 | Saint Cloud | 1 | 1% | $67,314 |
City University of Seattle
North Dakota State University
Siena College
Siena College
Siena College

Webster University

University of Scranton

University of Houston - Downtown

Towson University
Southeast Missouri State University

Wayland Baptist University, Anchorage

Nichols College
American Public Power Association
Hartwick College
Manhattan College

University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown

State University of New York at Potsdam
Arizona State University
Jennifer D'Angelo PhD: A marketing manager is often responsible for planning and implementing a marketing plan. What this marketing plan encompasses can vary, as marketing involves many different things such as branding, product development, sales, advertising, digital and social media, and retailing.
Jennifer D'Angelo PhD: The ever-changing landscape of consumer trends and technological advancements in how to market to consumers often makes the job exciting and fast-paced. However, with the increased emphasis on results, marketers must be conscious of how to measure and demonstrate the value of their work.
Jennifer D'Angelo PhD: Brands across many product categories are facing an increasing level of competition. Brands may struggle with rising brand parity, where brands and their competitors are seen as similar to one another. Therefore, to stand out from competitors, it has become increasingly important for brands to have marketing managers that create value for consumers and communicate that value to consumers.
Ajay Abraham Ph. D.: Earning a fair salary is important, although what exactly is fair might vary based on individual perceptions. More important, think of a job as offering a combination of financial and other non-monetary benefits such as perks (e.g., work culture, work-life balance, self-fulfillment, good colleagues, networking). Try to optimize your benefits across this multi-dimensional perspective rather than by simply focusing on salary. That stated, some job opportunities have scope for negotiation on salary. First, identify if the job that you are applying for has scope for negotiation, in which case, there's no harm in negotiating if done ethically, professionally, and reasonably. If the job is not one in which there's scope for negotiation, don't worry. Instead, focus on performance and making a case for yourself at the time of annual evaluations and/or salary hikes (which should be done even if there were salary negotiations before joining). Similar suggestions apply if you are thinking of switching roles/organizations.
Ajay Abraham Ph. D.: Everyone is talking about AI these days, so I will start off by joining the bandwagon, but with some nuance. It's important to know how to use artificial intelligence tools in order to be better or more effective at one's job. This doesn't mean that everyone needs to become an AI expert, but that we should be able to harness the power of AI tools to improve the quality and efficiency of our work. This requires being fluent enough with AI tools to understand, discuss, and make decisions involving AI or about AI output (even if we don't actually use those tools in a hands-on manner). This should be done while also being able to bridge the gap for those who are less fluent (perhaps those in more senior-level roles who are even less hands-on with these tools). That apart, as more of the workforce focuses more of their time on technical and similar skills, "softer" skills such as integrity, professionalism, self-awareness, and team-orientation will become even more important as differentiators.
Ajay Abraham Ph. D.: Earning a fair salary is important, although what exactly is fair might vary based on individual perceptions. More important, think of a job as offering a combination of financial and other non-monetary benefits such as perks (e.g., work culture, work-life balance, self-fulfillment, good colleagues, networking). Try to optimize your benefits across this multi-dimensional perspective rather than by simply focusing on salary. That stated, some job opportunities have scope for negotiation on salary. First, identify if the job that you are applying for has scope for negotiation, in which case, there’s no harm in negotiating if done ethically, professionally, and reasonably. If the job is not one in which there’s scope for negotiation, don’t worry. Instead, focus on performance and making a case for yourself at the time of annual evaluations and/or salary hikes (which should be done even if there were salary negotiations before joining). Similar suggestions apply if you are thinking of switching roles/organizations.
Jennifer D'Angelo Ph.D.: Brands across many product categories are facing an increasing level of competition. Brands may struggle with rising brand parity, where brands and their competitors are seen as similar to one another. Therefore, to stand out from competitors, it has become increasingly important for brands to have marketing managers that create value for consumers and communicate that value to consumers.
Jennifer D'Angelo Ph.D.: The ever-changing landscape of consumer trends and technological advancements in how to market to consumers often makes the job exciting and fast-paced. However, with the increased emphasis on results, marketers must be conscious of how to measure and demonstrate the value of their work.
Jennifer D'Angelo Ph.D.: Brands across many product categories are facing an increasing level of competition. Brands may struggle with rising brand parity, where brands and their competitors are seen as similar to one another. Therefore, to stand out from competitors, it has become increasingly important for brands to have marketing managers that create value for consumers and communicate that value to consumers.
North Dakota State University
Marketing
Ahmad Asady: The role of a Marketing professional is as rewarding as it is demanding. On one hand, it offers the chance to unleash creativity, see the direct impact of your work, and enjoy a variety of experiences across different projects and industries. On the other hand, it comes with its fair share of challenges, such as the pressure to perform under tight deadlines and budgets, the constant need to stay ahead in a fast-evolving field, and the stress of quantifying the effectiveness of marketing campaigns. Despite these challenges, the role remains appealing for those drawn to a career that demands both strategic thinking and creative innovation, underscored by the powerful tool of persuasion to shape consumer behavior and drive business success.
Ahmad Asady: Now is an exciting time to enter the field of marketing. The digital age has transformed how brands connect with consumers, opening up a plethora of channels and tools for innovative engagement strategies. This digital expansion, coupled with the shift towards a more consumer-centric marketing approach, has made the role of a Marketing professional more crucial and impactful than ever. Professionals in this field enjoy the privilege of working at the intersection of creativity and analytics, where they can make significant contributions to a brand's growth and adapt to new challenges and technologies, ensuring a career that is both stable and filled with opportunities for continuous learning.
Ahmad Asady: A Marketing professional's day is a blend of art and science, filled with the pursuit of understanding and engaging the target audience. Their daily activities revolve around creating and managing content that resonates with consumers, conducting market research to stay ahead of trends, analyzing data to refine strategies, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure a unified brand message. Persuasion lies at the heart of their role, as they must continuously convince both internal stakeholders and external audiences of the value and relevance of their brand's offerings.
Siena College
Marketing Department
S.Sinem Atakan: The most important skills for marketing graduates, especially given the remote working conditions due to the pandemic, are self-motivation, communication, and digital marketing skills. Creativity and analytical skills are always important in marketing, but pandemic has highlighted the importance of being able to work independently and motivate yourself even when external forces are not directly present. Communication skills are crucial to work remotely and be on the same page with your team members. Digital marketing was big but getting even bigger with this breakthrough changes in consumer behavior. Hence, the rising stars of the marketing job market will be graduates who can combine all these skills seamlessly
Siena College
Marketing Department
Soyoung Joo: Communication and time management skills are valuable skills for marketing managers.
Soyoung Joo: Creativity and intellectual curiosity (willingness to keep learning) can be added to the above soft skills.
Soyoung Joo: Being able to interpret the consumer data and identify the true needs and wants of the consumer is imperative for marketers.
Soyoung Joo: Being able to work well with people from diverse backgrounds can be added to the above skills.
Siena College
Marketing Department
Allison Lauenstein: Project Management and being able to connect the dots around the data and insights are critical. You have to analyze a situation and uncover insights from the customer, the competitors, and the industry.
Allison Lauenstein: Leadership and collaboration will go a long way. The best ideas can come from anywhere, and it's not always about who has the best idea but who can execute the idea the best. Good marketers must understand that if you cannot successfully execute or effectively communicate a great idea, it may not be so great.
Allison Lauenstein: Skills that stand out show that the candidate has had some experience leading projects and project teams. Marketing is a collaborative effort, and it is critically important for upcoming managers to understand how to manage and motivate a team to achieve its objectives.
Allison Lauenstein: Listening and asking questions are some of the most important skills. As Marketers, you not only have to listen to what people say, but you have to try to understand what they are not saying. How do their actions differ from what they are saying?

Webster University
Communications & Journalism
Sung Eun Park: Companies hiring marketing consultants look for someone with strong communication and leadership skills that can translate to great candidates. In addition, a strong background in data analysis will definitely stand out from other candidates. Unlike many beliefs, people who get jobs as marketing consultant comes from various education backgrounds including advertising and English major. It is an indication that companies are open to people with diverse perspectives that can bring fresh eyes to the team. The resumes showcasing a person with various experiences highlighting strong leadership skills (not just strictly marketing) in a team environment will get noticed.

University of Scranton
School of Management
Abhijit Roy: In general, companies will look to see whether or not the candidate can overall market the company's products. Given the depth and breadth of marketing jobs, the specific skill requirements will vary. For example, a sales manager position will require individuals with high interpersonal skills, advertising positions will look for individuals with creativity, while marketing research positions will demand strong analytical skills. Overall, most companies today are looking for individuals with strong digital marketing and social media skills.
Job market candidates must look for the job descriptions in the ads and ensure they have relevant matching skills that they can include in their resumes.
Abhijit Roy: These are very important, yet harder to quantify skills, not only for marketing professionals but for business graduates in general. They include the ability to make sound decisions under pressure, having a high emotional intelligence quotient (EQ) as embodied by having empathy towards coworkers and subordinates, delegating appropriately, mentoring, communicating, time management, maintaining positivity despite setbacks and adapting to unforeseen challenges, being flexible, being persuasive and assertive at appropriate moments, yet being collaborative, seeking feedback, and the ability to negotiate and resolve conflicts when needed, amongst others.
Soft skills are typically more instrumental in enabling candidates to fit into an organization's culture and be strong candidates for promotion. Most marketing jobs involve candidates representing their brand initiatives and building strong client relationships, so interpersonal, and other soft skills are often valued more than hard skills. The strongest case for having excellent soft skills is that they are more easily transferable across various jobs and industries.
Abhijit Roy: The Marketing field has undergone a major paradigmatic shift with the growth of digitization. Hence, hard/technical skills in performing data-driven marketing, social media and data analytics, data visualization, Search Engine Optimization (SEO)/Search Engine Marketing (SEM), content creation and storytelling, and omnichannel communication are critical hard skills that are in great demand today.
Abhijit Roy: The above skills are in high demand and also currently pay the most. Still, I strongly recommend that students focus not on skills that will help them earn the most but on the skill sets that each individual possesses and think of how they can best leverage that in the marketplace to have a long sustained, and enjoyable career.

University of Houston - Downtown
Marilyn Davies College of Business
Dr. Richard Conde Ph.D.: It's a combination of skills, plus the patience to build those skills. Great people and leadership skills always seem to trump most other variables. I would encourage individuals to invest in their leadership skills and consider partnering with a leadership coach.
Dr. Richard Conde Ph.D.: Showcasing the balance between people management and analytical skills. Marketing today relies on a substantial amount of data, which requires marketing managers to possess strong analytical skills. At the same time, leaders have to motivate, inspire, and guide employees. In the last 3-5 years, I have seen a greater emphasis on analytical skills.
Dr. Richard Conde Ph.D.: Leaders need to lead. A leader who is curious, vulnerable, transparent, and inclusive generally has better success. The challenge is to teach leaders to be authentically curious. That is a big challenge in leadership.
Dr. Richard Conde Ph.D.: First, understand A/B experiments. Marketers are consistently comparing different campaigns, and the ability to create thoughtful experiments is critical.
Second, go beyond averages and percentages and learn linear and logistic regression and more advanced analytical tools. The exposure to more complex analytics allows for more thoughtful outcomes and interpretation.
Third, be exposed to a programming language like R or Python. Not that you are going to code, but it allows you to speak the language of data.

Towson University
Marketing Department
Erin Steffes Ph.D.: As a science and an art, marketing utilizes both soft skills and technical skills on a daily basis. While some technologies are industry-specific, having an understanding and basic mastery of data analysis, statistics, data visualization, digital marketing, marketing research, and customer relationship management will position a candidate well.
Southeast Missouri State University
Department of Marketing
Scott Thorne Ph.D.: Team building, leadership, co-operation, salesmanship. I always tell my students to show any leadership positions they had while in school on their resumes as businesses value people who can both take the initiative and work well with others.

Dr. Mary Rydesky: What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact on your job prospects? Emphases on project management and strategic thinking have been joined by certifications in soft skills that support diversity and cultural awareness. Graduates do need technical skills, but with the shift to remote teams and work from home environments pushed the curve. Now, grads need experience in applying their tech skills from a distance.

Nichols College
Department of Communication
Jean Beaupré: Given the current status of remote work, we can expect that hiring agents may cast a wider net when recruiting in the coming years. As a result, new graduates should not limit themselves to their immediate geographic area. Instead, they would be well served to research industries that are predicted to grow, such as healthcare and technology. Flexibility and openness are essential in job hunting as well; often, opportunities can be found in positions, companies, or fields that new graduates overlook, based on preconceived notions.
Jean Beaupré: A generation ago, you could count the methods for communicating at work on one hand. Today, we have email, social media, video conferencing, texting, direct messaging, intranets, and more. These options are likely to expand in the future, as technology companies compete to meet professional, communicative needs. In my view, a significant challenge for those working in communication will be to maintain focus on the basic principles such as understanding your audience and not to assume that new technology will make communication simple. On the flip side, technology has facilitated ample data availability, so the opportunity exists to showcase communication as a vital contributor to business outcomes further and reliably.
Jean Beaupré: If the events of 2020 have taught us anything, it is the importance of resilience and flexibility. New graduates will need to remain alert, curious, and ready for inevitable change. Communication skills like active listening, teamwork, and writing will never go out of style and are consistently valued by organizations of all sizes and industries. In light of increasing globalization and emphasis on gender and racial diversity, successful professionals will have high cultural intelligence (CQ), contributing to strong negotiation and interpersonal skills.
Business communication graduates will need to possess comfort with technology, including the ability to self-teach the new and proprietary applications they will indeed be expected to use. Finally, they should be prepared to support why communication initiatives are vital to business outcomes strategically. Effective communication practices have been connected to organizational innovation, efficiency, and profitability; communication professionals should have the capability to make that case using data and evidence.
American Public Power Association
Media Relations & Communications
Tobias Sellier: There are exciting opportunities to work for community-owned, not-for-profit, hometown public power. From engineers and customer service representatives to lineworkers and administrative professionals, there are many opportunities. And utility employees, being essential workers, even during these challenging times, there are still many jobs that will need to be filled.
Hartwick College
Department of Business Administration and Accounting
Pauline Stamp Ph.D.: Absolutely. Students have learned a variety of new skills and competencies, including adaptation, flexibility, software programs, zoom etiquette, patience, grace, self-reliance, self-care, concentration, and the art of Mindfulness. They have also had to grow up fast and learn some hard lessons without preparation, including lack of resources and money, illness, death, homelessness, food insecurities, depression, anxiety, fear, and isolation.
Pauline Stamp Ph.D.: Yes. Online. "Online" is now a place.
Pauline Stamp Ph.D.: The student/graduate that can seamlessly transition from F2F to C2C to written communication and skillfully be productive, regardless of the modality, will be in very high demand. Students/graduates need to be constantly learning new software and technology, and learning how to use these tools, skillfully, in every situation. Communication has always been the #1 driver of success, that will never change - the way it is conducted will always change.
Arshia Anwer Ph.D.: Public relations, and marketing communication, in general, has been at the forefront of using technology developments - like the use of artificial intelligence and virtual reality, machine learning and use of databases to analyze big data, the addition of digital and social media channels in engaging publics, and leveraging globalization to reach increased audiences all over the world. Public relations practitioners are learning and using all of these new areas and tools in the course of their work. The industry is also evolving, with the emergence of smaller specialist agencies that provide expertise in a single tactical tool or service, like search engine optimization or data analytics.
Arshia Anwer Ph.D.: The coronavirus had a short, negative impact on the public relations industry as a whole, resulting in layoffs in the field and reduced spending on promotional activities by large corporations. However, during the end of summer and now in early fall, markets are looking more optimistic, and the economy is bouncing back, and with it, opportunities in the public relations field are looking brighter. Some of our alumni who lost their jobs in March or April have now found similar positions or have resumed the positions they were in before the pandemic. Similarly, some of the Manhattan College Communication Department's most recent graduates have already found positions in the public relations field.
Arshia Anwer Ph.D.: New York is one of the best places to find work in the public relations industry, as it has main or branch offices of all the major global marketing communications conglomerates, and has a large variety of boutique agencies that cater to almost any niche area in the field. Job searching in New York also provides closer access to the Philadelphia and Trenton, NJ areas, which are two other popular places for finding jobs in the field. Other cities that are in the top places to find jobs are Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle on the west coast, Washington, D. C., and Boston on the east coast, with Austin, Atlanta, and Tennessee in the south emerging as popular areas where agencies are seeking to put their roots down.

University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown
Marketing Department
John McGrath Ph.D.: I believe we are at a significant turning point in the Marketing --and business-- fields. The students who will succeed will have three qualities that make them stand out. First, they will have to be self-starters in learning new skills and certifications and promoting themselves to prospective employers. Second, they will have to be resilient in the face of disrupting technological and social change. Finally, those who exhibit conscientiousness and understanding in their dealings with others will stand out with employers in this time where Zoom has distanced us from everyday human interactions.
John McGrath Ph.D.: I believe new grads may buck the trend toward moving to the major cities for job opportunities for two reasons: fears that large cities' density may contribute to COVID-19 and future pandemics and the new capability to work remotely from anywhere. As a result, young people are actively searching for quality of life in smaller regional cities all over America.
John McGrath Ph.D.: This is the largest disruptive event since the social, technological, and political upheavals of 1968. Technology, particularly the ability to work, learn, and contribute remotely, will change America in ways we may not even imagine right now.

Sergio Lopez Ph.D.: Technology will require the ability to integrate ways of doing things. The key will be to "do it both," such as being able to interact in a face-to-face context as well as in online environments. If there is something that COVID has brought us, and that will surely remain after we go over it, it is the human capacity to adapt in new ways of interaction and communication.
Sergio Lopez Ph.D.: There are some skills that have not changed in the last few years (such as problem-solving, creativity, or analytical thinking), but in addition to that, they will need a great capacity to connect and move into the social networks while dealing with very diverse people. To communicate in a language different than English will be a key skill. This does not necessarily mean to be fluent in another language (Spanish, Chinese..), but to be able to use the technological tools to communicate with others.
Sergio Lopez Ph.D.: More than geographical places, areas of work. Technology, for sure, is going to forget about locations.
Dr. Donald Siegel: States and cities that are growing (e.g., Arizona, Texas, Colorado, and cities, such as Phoenix, San Antonio, Denver, Austin, and Atlanta).
Dr. Donald Siegel: Technology will be used as a substitute for labor (computerization and artificial intelligence) and also enhance service quality and efficiency.
Dr. Donald Siegel: In our field, computer skills and proficiency with technology and data are in great demand (e.g., data analytics and engineering applications)