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Job outlook for market development specialists in the United States
Are market development specialist jobs in demand?
Market development specialist job and salary trends over time
Market development specialist jobs over time
Market development specialist job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 486 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 461 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 453 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 426 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 398 | 0.00% |
Average market development specialist salary over time
Market development specialist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $58,991 | $28.36 | +3.2% |
| 2024 | $57,180 | $27.49 | +1.1% |
| 2023 | $56,580 | $27.20 | --0.2% |
| 2022 | $56,678 | $27.25 | +1.1% |
| 2021 | $56,078 | $26.96 | +0.7% |
Market development specialist jobs by state
Most common states for market development specialists
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 227 | 33% |
| 2 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 303 | 29% |
| 3 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 218 | 29% |
| 4 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,499 | 27% |
| 5 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 232 | 27% |
| 6 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 473 | 25% |
| 7 | Alaska | 739,795 | 166 | 22% |
| 8 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 426 | 20% |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 2,475 | 19% |
| 10 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 1,995 | 19% |
| 11 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 562 | 19% |
| 12 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 1,261 | 18% |
| 13 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 570 | 18% |
| 14 | Arkansas | 3,004,279 | 550 | 18% |
| 15 | Vermont | 623,657 | 111 | 18% |
| 16 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 976 | 17% |
| 17 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,106 | 16% |
| 18 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 1,057 | 16% |
| 19 | Delaware | 961,939 | 152 | 16% |
| 20 | Ohio | 11,658,609 | 1,720 | 15% |
Most common cities for market development specialists
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Moon | 1 | 4% | $59,917 |
| 2 | Sterling | 1 | 4% | $64,589 |
| 3 | Grand Rapids | 1 | 1% | $50,104 |
| 4 | Atlanta | 1 | 0% | $45,113 |
| 5 | Chicago | 1 | 0% | $55,596 |
| 6 | Dallas | 1 | 0% | $51,702 |
| 7 | Fort Worth | 1 | 0% | $51,812 |
| 8 | Miami | 1 | 0% | $47,062 |
| 9 | Newark | 1 | 0% | $68,492 |
| 10 | Philadelphia | 1 | 0% | $63,374 |
| 11 | Washington | 1 | 0% | $64,128 |
Market Development Specialist job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of market development specialist experts
Montana State University - Billings
Stonehill College
Salem State University
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
Donnelly College
Texas A&M University - Central Texas
The University of Alabama
Lehigh University
Indiana University Bloomington
Texas Tech University
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Western Connecticut State University
University of North Georgia
University of Houston - Downtown
Creighton University
The University of Texas at Austin
Bradley University
Biola University
What will help Market Development Specialists increase their earning potential?
Dr. Sarah Keller: Digital strategies of persuasion; finding out what works to build engagement and action online; research evaluating social media strategies.
What general advice would you give to a Market Development Specialist?
Dr. Héctor Lozada Ph.D.: First, define and build your personal brand. Know your strengths and weaknesses and identify opportunities to develop your strengths further and overcome or at least minimize your weaknesses. Answer the question, “What is your unique value proposition?” This means identifying what sets you apart and is based on your analysis of your strengths and weaknesses. Do your analytical skills set you apart? Is it your domain knowledge or your creativity? Make sure that your strengths are stated effectively in your resume and that you can have a conversation that supports them. Establishing a robust online presence is also helpful in solidifying your unique value proposition. Showcase your expertise, projects, and insights on platforms like LinkedIn. Did you work on class projects that demonstrate your expertise? Network with market research professionals and share your passion for market research (or your career of choice). Embrace change and stay curious about emerging trends, technologies, and methodologies. In my experience, adaptability is key.
What will help Market Development Specialists increase their earning potential?
Dr. Héctor Lozada Ph.D.: In my opinion, advancements in technology, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and big data analytics, are shaping the future of market research. These technologies will allow market researchers to analyze and gather large amounts of data more efficiently, leading to more accurate and actionable insights. Also, learn another language if you have not done so already.
What Market Development Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Kristin McGillicuddy: The Marketing Specialist role could be considered a “springboard” position in which people experience a wide range of marketing activities before pursuing a more focused path in their career. The role is typically interesting, encompassing a wide variety of different projects, so the work is not monotonous. There is an opportunity to use both creative and analytical skills and improve time management and organizational skills. Marketing Specialists like the opportunity to learn from more senior members of the marketing team as they grow. People also like the potential that is inherent in the Marketing Specialist role, as there is the opportunity to gain experience and grow in responsibility, enjoying promotions and higher salaries. A Marketing Specialist might be dissatisfied if they are not experiencing strong mentorship and leadership on the marketing team, or if their organization does not promote their employees within a reasonable timeframe. Most Marketing Specialists are looking to advance in their careers, so understanding what this trajectory might look like within a company would be an important question to explore in an interview.
What general advice would you give to a Market Development Specialist?
Jean-Paul James Ph.D.: Starting a career in marketing requires a draw from many different disciplines. Profit and Loss (P&L;) management from accounting is important. Being able to manage marketing efforts is key. I always tell my students that Marketing is part art and part science. In our modern world and moving forward, marketers will have to become more data-driven in their decisions. This requires a skill set in being able to interpret market research data but also extract insights from that data. Marketing is creative in the sense that you must eventually make fact-based informed decisions that sometimes lie in intuition. A skill set that will become more prevalent will be in the coming years will be someone who is “Artificial Intelligence (AI)-literate”. Just as people have to be computer literate to do the jobs of today, marketers will have to understand how to use AI to be more effective in their jobs and decision-making. You will forever need human intuition to optimize marketing decisions.
Dr. Joseph Harasta Jr
Associate ProfessorKutztown University of Pennsylvania
Radio, Television, And Digital Communication
What Market Development Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Joseph Harasta Jr: Because digital media specialists must adhere to the brand and image of an organization, some might feel stifled as far as what they can and cannot do from a creative standpoint. Also, once something is put out in the online world, it’s there forever and of course can be seen by millions of people, so any mistake or misstep is not likely to go away quickly or easily. We all know that the online world, especially social media can be rather toxic and negative in nature, therefore it can take someone with a bit of thick skin to deal with critics or trolls who just wait for any mistake to bounce. Digital media specialists must work in a oftentimes nasty environment that is the internet.
Dhuha Shareef
Donnelly College
Liberal Arts And Sciences, General Studies And Humanities
What Market Development Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dhuha Shareef: 1. Digital Literacy : As technology continues to advance, proficiency in digital tools and platforms will become increasingly important in many liberal arts careers. This includes skills like data analysis, social media management, and digital marketing. 2. Cultural Competence : With globalization and increasing diversity in workplaces, the ability to work effectively with people from different backgrounds and cultures will be highly valued. 3. Creativity and Innovation: Liberal arts graduates often bring a unique perspective and creative thinking to their work. The ability to innovate and adapt to new challenges will be key in the rapidly changing job market.
What Market Development Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Len Hostetter: Proficiency and comfort with business data analytics skills is a must. This is foundational to business and marketing. Marketing has become very data driven. Additionally, understanding Artificial Intelligence (AI), being comfortable using it, and understanding how it will impact your work in the future. Some work will be eliminated, other work transformed. Finally, the ability to communicate, both orally and in writing.
Allen Redmon Ph.D.
Dean, College of Arts and SciencesTexas A&M University - Central Texas
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
What general advice would you give to a Market Development Specialist?
Allen Redmon Ph.D.: Those who want to maximize their earning potential should consider a company’s culture as much as the job they are taking. Every company has its own culture. Those who find the right culture for them and grow into that culture will fare better than those who just accept a job without considering the culture of a company. Those who take a job without considering the culture will almost always experience a mismatch at some point, which will require them to look for a new job sooner than expected.
What general advice would you give to a Market Development Specialist?
Dr Martina Topić: I would say networking and developing a good LinkedIn profile. This is an industry standard and should start whilst they are still students. They should start developing their LinkedIn network by connecting with other students and faculty, following industry groups, engaging with trends and content, and then building their network. These professional networks are relevant not just for obtaining jobs but for future job change and continuous professional development. The latter is something I find very important, and it is an expectation in the industry too.
What general advice would you give to a Market Development Specialist?
Deirdre Malacrea: On the skill set side, we are already seeing that technology is advancing with amazing speed. That means developing a comfort level with and competency in using digital platforms, analytical methods, and of course, experimenting with artificial intelligence tools. As a former student of mine, who is now a successful early-career marketer, said during a campus panel discussion, 'You won't lose your job to AI. But you might lose your job to someone who can use AI effectively.' In my courses and those of my colleagues, we integrate software, tools, and analytical methods into our marketing coursework for just this reason. That said, the so-called 'soft skills' will always be key in the human-centric field of marketing because we reach out to consumers, and the work is accomplished best as a team-based endeavor. So empathy and effective communications will stay central to success as a professional marketer.
Professor Steve Vinson
Director of Undergraduate StudiesIndiana University Bloomington
Middle/Near Eastern And Semitic Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics
What will help Market Development Specialists increase their earning potential?
Professor Steve Vinson: By being flexible, and by standing out. Cultivate multiple skills that complement your area studies/language skills, especially digital skills.
Don Shin
ChairTexas Tech University
Journalism
What Market Development Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Don Shin: The term "digital media" takes different forms (and keeps evolving and migrating) and involves a broad definition. Thus, the jobs related to digital media can be considered generalists rather than specialists. As we embark on an enhanced version of the media strategy program through data analytics, we can train our students as versatile specialists or all-rounders who can flexibly respond to changing ecology and become the digital/AI version of the "all-rounder." In this way, our students can secure quality top jobs in the digital and AI industry.
What general advice would you give to a Market Development Specialist?
Jaunelle Celaire: Never stop learning! This may consist of going back to school, earning new certifications in your field of study, attending conferences and seminars, and making sure that your time management is always at its finest level of excellence.
What Market Development Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Jaunelle Celaire: Leadership - the world needs more of these; the ability to lead, craft and grow. Digital literacy - this world is definitely turning digital and virtual is the new trend. Emotional intelligence - there is a vast number of personalities in our world today; individuals grow and it is our job to stay emotionally connected, so we can operate more effectively.
JC Barone Ph.D.
ProfessorWestern Connecticut State University
Communication And Media Studies
What will help Market Development Specialists increase their earning potential?
JC Barone Ph.D.: Research areas that match your skills and are realistic. Pursue additional training in person and online. Follow and seek advice from pros and continue to network. When meeting new people, have 1-2 sentences summarizing who you are and what interests you. Before contacting professional organizations, learn all you can about them, their mission, goals, reputation, personnel, and products or services. Show prospective employers your potential and value. Embrace feedback and grow from it. Don’t be afraid to be proactive. Remember to balance work, life, and play.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Market Development Specialists?
Mary Norman: -Project management skills
-Knowledge of key marketing tools and analytics:
-Social media tools like Hootsuite, Google analytics, etc.
-Design tools like Canva, Photoshop, Illustrator
-Email and Survey tools like Mailchimp and Survey Monkey
-SEO Tools like Google Ads
-Digital/Social Media Marketing Skills in the following areas:
-Email marketing
-Search Engine Marketing and Search Engine Optimization (SEM/SEO)
-Email marketing
-Content marketing - ability to create content for social media and additional formats like blogs, etc.
-Social Media marketing through top platforms: i.e., Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, etc.
-Data Analysis - mining insights into customer behavior based on website and social media analytics
-Trendwatching / Consumer insights
Dr. Richard Conde Ph.D.
Assistant ProfessorUniversity of Houston - Downtown
Marilyn Davies College of Business
What Market Development Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Richard Conde Ph.D.: Looking ahead to 3-5 years, I foresee an even greater emphasis on data literacy, artificial intelligence, and the ability to translate complex data sets into compelling narratives and actionable insights. A high-ranking executive recently indicated that marketing is a complex math problem. The amount of consumer, secondary, and public data will continue to grow exponentially, so marketing professionals adept at querying databases, visualizing information, and deriving meaningful patterns that can tell succinct, impactful stories will be in high demand. Practice the art of storytelling. Additionally, skills in emerging areas like voice marketing, augmented reality campaigns, and privacy-centered marketing strategies will start separating top candidates.
Natalie Gerhart Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Business Intelligence & AnalyticsCreighton University
Department of Business Intelligence & Analytics
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Market Development Specialists?
Natalie Gerhart Ph.D.: For BIA students, like all students, having the ability to be adaptable and grow your skills is important. Technology is rapidly changing and will continue to change over the course of most student's careers. It is important for students to demonstrate their adaptability through multiple tools, as well as their inquisitive nature that drives life-long learning. A machine learning course is a must as well as exposure to open source tools such as Python or R. Also we are seeing an uptick in demand for visualization skills (i.e. Tableau). While I haven't seen an overwhelming benefit of certifications for our students, there are certainly several available that never hurt. Google and AWS certifications are popular.
Currently, all business students need to have a basic understanding of analytics. That no longer means simply statistics, but how to use statistics to derive understanding and business insights. Further, all business students need to have an understanding of the strategic nature of technology in a business. Simply having technology is not enough.
What general advice would you give to a Market Development Specialist?
Andrew Gershoff Ph.D.: First, graduates may find that they need to do more leg work to find jobs in this environment. Schools with career services often have long-term relationships with the same businesses, who tend to hire multiple students in any given year. If one sector falls apart, there may be fewer jobs available at the career center. But students should take advantage of any services that help them understand the jobs in the marketplace, develop their resumes, and practice interviewing.
Second, students should try to think more broadly about following their interests and still finding employment. So taking some time to learn about career paths that they hadn't considered is worth doing. Many jobs rely on similar skills and may offer similar fulfillment and happiness.
Third, students should be ready to explore possibilities at companies they may not have heard of. Now, is an excellent time to look at companies that may only have a few jobs to offer, but may be doing some of the most exciting things a student can be part of. Finding a good fit is essential to happiness in a career, which may not be at a "name brand" firm.
Finally, students should keep in mind that their journey is their own. It is easy to discourage if you are having a difficult time, and your peers find success. But it can be freeing to focus on developing new knowledge and skills that interest you. Your success will come, and it doesn't have to be defined by someone else.
Will there be an increase or decrease in demand for Market Development Specialists in the next 5 years?
James Foley: I expect an increase because countries continue to navigate international trade and economic integration. Notwithstanding the apparent push-back, as seen in Brexit, states are more robust as they trade more. It's just now we better understand other priorities, such as labor rights and the environment. But these are more political issues. From the perspective of companies and their supply chain, international business is only going to keep growing, especially as emerging markets such as countries in Africa continue to grow.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Market Development Specialists to find work opportunities?
Dr. Michael Longinow: Skills in news reporting, writing, and editing of media are needed in established commercial newspapers in cities of all sizes. The largest cities have the highest competition for jobs, so smaller media markets tend to hire more readily. The rapid growth of digital media enterprises has made telecommuting a means of working in one location while serving audiences in another, perhaps far away.