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Marketing and event planning internship job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected marketing and event planning internship job growth rate is 18% from 2018-2028.
About 22,900 new jobs for marketing and event planning interns are projected over the next decade.
Marketing and event planning internship salaries have increased 9% for marketing and event planning interns in the last 5 years.
There are over 128,487 marketing and event planning interns currently employed in the United States.
There are 131,730 active marketing and event planning internship job openings in the US.
The average marketing and event planning internship salary is $28,412.
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 128,487 | 0.04% |
| 2020 | 123,460 | 0.04% |
| 2019 | 122,270 | 0.04% |
| 2018 | 114,996 | 0.03% |
| 2017 | 107,469 | 0.03% |
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $28,412 | $13.66 | +1.9% |
| 2024 | $27,883 | $13.41 | +2.5% |
| 2023 | $27,205 | $13.08 | +2.2% |
| 2022 | $26,610 | $12.79 | +2.0% |
| 2021 | $26,092 | $12.54 | +1.1% |
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vermont | 623,657 | 295 | 47% |
| 2 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 274 | 47% |
| 3 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 342 | 39% |
| 4 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 294 | 39% |
| 5 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 495 | 37% |
| 6 | Delaware | 961,939 | 348 | 36% |
| 7 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 452 | 34% |
| 8 | Alaska | 739,795 | 239 | 32% |
| 9 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 224 | 32% |
| 10 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 545 | 28% |
| 11 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 299 | 28% |
| 12 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 280 | 27% |
| 13 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 451 | 26% |
| 14 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,367 | 25% |
| 15 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 914 | 25% |
| 16 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,855 | 22% |
| 17 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 1,212 | 22% |
| 18 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 1,279 | 21% |
| 19 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 611 | 21% |
| 20 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 635 | 20% |
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago | 3 | 0% | $28,461 |
| 2 | New York | 1 | 0% | $37,757 |
University of Akron
Saint Xavier University
Eastern University
Lehigh University
Southern University and A & M College
Pace University
University of Scranton
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Saint Peter's University
University of North Georgia

Seattle University
Duke University
University of Redlands
University of Central Oklahoma
Southeast Missouri State University
Amy Mehaffey: People like being a Marketing Specialist because it offers creativity, strategic thinking, and the opportunity to see tangible results from their efforts. It can be fulfilling to help a business grow. However, individuals in this field may dislike the fast-paced environment, tight deadlines, and the constant need to stay updated with rapidly changing marketing trends and technologies. It requires risk-taking, trusting instincts, and a commitment to lifelong learning to succeed in the marketing field.
Dr. Gulay Guzel PhD: Maximizing salary potential at the outset of one's marketing career requires strategic considerations. Marketing is inherently interdisciplinary, drawing from fields such as psychology, sociology, anthropology, and data science. Graduates should first identify their specialization within the marketing realm, whether it's in market research, product design, pricing strategy, or another area. Next, they should articulate what sets them apart from other candidates and highlight additional value they bring to the table. Realism is key when setting salary expectations; candidates should conduct thorough industry research to inform negotiations. Additionally, leveraging diverse experiences gained from internships and coursework to bolster their applications can significantly enhance their bargaining power.
Len Hostetter: Work hard and do your defined job well. Seek opportunities that take you outside your defined job, so that you can demonstrate to others that you are capable of more. Additionally, seek out a mentor as you start your career. Someone who is experienced and is not in your chain of command at work. Someone who will be honest with you and support your career advancement through providing feedback - both positive and negative. Finally, build you network, including building and maintaining professional relationships. This opens doors to your future success.
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.
Sydney Chinchanachokchai: Marketing is a field that is always evolving. Your learning does not stop after you graduate from college. Most employers do not expect you to know everything, but they expect you to be willing to learn new tools, systems, and technologies. More importantly, they expect you to be coachable. So, stay hungry and curious.
Saint Xavier University
English Language And Literature/Letters
Gina Rossetti PhD: For students with majors in English, I would encourage them to focus on pathways to careers long before graduation. First, what are the students passionate about, and how might these passions lead to internships? How might the students also enroll in courses that stretch the English major, such as courses in marketing, allowing them to transfer their abilities to write persuasively and do so by focusing on a professional audience.
Gina Rossetti PhD: An English major can maximize salary potential by first securing experience in prior professional internships. Additionally, the English major should also become adept with the Microsoft Office Suite, as well as gain expertise in the role of social media for corporate branding and expansion of such brands.
Jeff James: There are many types of Marketing Specialists who focus on various aspects of marketing, of course--social media, search engine optimization, event marketing, etc.--so their daily tasks will look different based on those roles. A social media manager may start the morning checking the engagement of activity of their latest posts and plan for next month's content calendar, while an event marketer may check the latest registrations for a Zoom event or in-person conference and hold a meeting with speakers to make sure they are prepared. Most marketing specialists have things in common on their typical days that revolve around constant coordination and optimization of their marketing investments so they can report return on investment (ROI) to their managers.
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.
Deirdre Malacrea: In my role, I mentor numerous marketing students as they seek professional roles and prepare to enter the workforce. I advise them to approach their career by cultivating a mindset that prioritizes flexibility and learning. The field of marketing always embraces and fosters creativity and change in the form of new cultural trends, emerging techniques, and technology innovation. So, view the inevitable twists and turns ahead as part of a 'career adventure' that will stretch and grow one's capabilities. This process definitely will not be boring! The other mindset dimension that is related: be curious and ask questions. Do the research, talk to the customer, run the numbers. Don't make the easy assumptions. The winning ideas in marketing are creative concepts based on a foundation of truth.
Deirdre Malacrea: I would say to stretch as much as possible in those early roles. Raise a hand to do the hard thing, go to the conference out of town, call up a colleague to brainstorm on a project, agree to present to another department. By building a network and a varied base of experiences, entry-level employees demonstrate their desire to add value. On a practical level, I recommend young marketers getting some experience with selling and/or working with a sales team. In my time at Pepsi, I did a stint in the National Accounts department. Having the ability to see and influence how revenue is generated opened my eyes to being more effective in later marketing roles. Realistically, if that first employer does not invest in developing the person's skills after doing all that, feel comfortable to tap into one's personal network to explore next steps and bring skills to the next setting.
Southern University and A & M College
Agriculture
Vanessa Ferchaud Ph.D.: One can Maximize their salary potential when staring a new career by:
Acquire Leadership Skills and Developmental Skills along your Journey working for
Company
Learn to accept Constructive Criticism so you can increase Trust, Motivation and Engagement
as a New Team Player
- Be Dependable
- Become a Fast Learner
- Make sure your work is done Professionally and Complete
- Acquire Advance Degrees
Vanessa Ferchaud Ph.D.: General advice that I would give is:
- Research the job before you start
Always be punctual for work
Develop Good Work Ethics
Be a good Team Player
Be Approachable
Learn something New daily
Accept Constructive Criticism
Join Social Media Groups at work
Keep your promises (what you say you would do)
Mario Schulzke: Marketing is about people. There is no formula for being great at marketing, but there is a formula for coding, being an accountant, and preparing a P&L. In the mid-to-long term, AI can handle all those formula-based tasks. Marketing will be the last to go when it comes to being replaced by a machine. Also, it's actually a fun field.
Pace University
Data Processing
Prof. Dennis Sandler: Whatever career path a person chooses, it should be one that excites that person, and one for which he or she has a passion. That passion will jump-start a path to success in marketing. Marketing is an exciting career choice, with business and non-business organizations realizing the need for those with marketing skills. Technology is constantly developing, creating the need for those able to integrate traditional areas with new technologies. Sustainability, AI, DEI...all of these are increasingly important areas in marketing. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, "overall employment of advertising, promotions, and marketing managers is projected to grow 6 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations."
Prof. Dennis Sandler: An individual should have a degree of self-awareness when choosing a career path. Personalities differ, and different marketing areas are more "in-tune" with different personality types. Marketing is more of a "people-oriented" career, although some areas, such as research, require more quantitative analysis. Preparing for a Marketing Specialist career, individuals should have both the content skills and the social skills necessary to relate their expertise to interested parties. Specializing in one area of marketing, while developing a unique expertise, may nevertheless limit a person. The "specialist" interested in advancing to upper management should understand areas of the organization outside their expertise. Advanced degrees, such as an MBA, would give the person a broader base of knowledge.
While in university, students should develop their content skills through coursework as well as through outside activities such as student clubs, internships, international field trips or overseas semesters. These outside activities will also help develop the social skills needed to advance within organizations. The American Marketing Association has student chapters in over 300 colleges in the U.S., including one at Pace University, providing an excellent opportunity for students to gain marketing knowledge an
Dr. Robin Murphy: Critical thinking and communication skills, both verbal and written, will always set you apart from others in any field. Making sure you can incorporate your skillset into social media trends and AI will be critical in the next 3 years.
Dr. Peter Andersen: My main advice is to get ready to market yourself. As a graduate of higher education, you have
already gained a vast amount of knowledge and skills that will be utilized during your future
careers. However, recruiters should pick the best possible candidates for their jobs. So, you must
convince them that you are the one whom they are looking for. First, you should show them you
are well-educated and well-prepared. Do some research and preparation about interview skills
and challenges and how to impress the interviewers. Second, review some keywords and main
concepts in your field to use them during the interview. Third, be patient and have a long-term
plan. The job market is tough and somewhat unfair. Do not expect to get hired immediately.
Instead, be ready for multiple interviews. Fourth, gain advice from your parents, advisors, and
professors who can help you make an appropriate choice.
Dr. Peter Andersen: As we are facing rapid changes in technology and lifestyle, there is no static job market.
Concepts such as artificial intelligence, digital marketing, search engine optimization, streaming
platforms, climate and sustainability management, and the Internet of things are prevalent in the
industry. A well-prepared candidate must be familiar with the recent trends and keep being
updated over time. Even after getting the first job, there is always a chance for improvement and
finding a better position. Ongoing training and obtaining certificates will enhance your resume.
Another threat in the market is economic instability and the possibility of future recessions, thus,
try to stabilize your jobs, strengthen your resume with productive experiences, and create a
supportive network with professionals in your field.
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Marketing
Purvi Shah: With technology advancements and the fast growth of AI applications in marketing, content
strategy, marketing and data analytics, metaverse community management, storytelling,
customer relationship management, influencer marketing, performance marketing, growth
marketing, and continuous learning are going to be sought after skills for different marketing
roles in the future.
Having said that, a marketer's core competencies are here to stay even in the future. These
include knowledge of marketing concepts/frameworks, market research, communication skills,
presentation skills, creativity, and strategic, lateral and analytical thinking.
Then, there are a set of skills specific to the marketing role an individual chooses as a career
option. These will also be in-demand specific to the role. For e.g., Digital and social media
marketers must be proficient in at least one or few of the following skills: content marketing,
email marketing, search engine optimization and management, video marketing, data-driven
decision making, social media marketing, storytelling, influencer marketing, ability to self-learn
and adapt, web designing, user experience, branding, and ethics. They should also be tech
savvy and persuasive.
Purvi Shah: With technology advancements and the fast growth of AI applications in marketing, content
strategy, marketing and data analytics, metaverse community management, storytelling,
customer relationship management, influencer marketing, performance marketing, growth
marketing, and continuous learning are going to be sought after skills for different marketing
roles in the future.
Having said that, a marketer's core competencies are here to stay even in the future. These
include knowledge of marketing concepts/frameworks, market research, communication skills,
presentation skills, creativity, and strategic, lateral and analytical thinking.
Then, there are a set of skills specific to the marketing role an individual chooses as a career
option. These will also be in-demand specific to the role. For e.g., Digital and social media
marketers must be proficient in at least one or few of the following skills: content marketing,
email marketing, search engine optimization and management, video marketing, data-driven
decision making, social media marketing, storytelling, influencer marketing, ability to self-learn
and adapt, web designing, user experience, branding, and ethics. They should also be tech
savvy and persuasive.
Saint Peter's University
Business/Corporate Communications
Barna Donovan: Overall, it is a combination of all of the previous points. People are told that they need to know their worth and seek to be paid their worth, so they need to offer clear, objective proof of their worth to employers. Young professionals should demonstrate that they will always be focused on and driven to grow, improve, and keep developing. They should look for opportunities for the kinds of continued specialization their companies and industries demand. They should consider graduate programs and certificate programs employers are willing to pay for. Communication technology upon which the success of all organizations hinges on are radically changing virtually every year and they impact how consumers buy, how they interact with each other, how they form relationships, and how they see the world. Keeping up with the pace of these technologies, understanding their impact on culture, and harnessing the technologies will be the ticket to lucrative careers.
Mary Norman: As a Marketing Assistant often provides important support to the broader marketing department staff, the following skills and competencies are desired and often prioritized in the hiring process:
-Strong communication skills - written and verbal
-Strong time management and organization skills to meet deadlines
-Attention to detail
-Multi-tasking
-Problem solving and strong motivation to drive positive results
-Being comfortable in an ever-changing environment/adaptable and flexible
-Understanding of key marketing concepts
-Customer-centric attitude (internal and external)
-Social Media content development and analysis
-Listening
Mary Norman: -Communication - written and verbal
-Teamwork
-Problem solving
-Adaptability
-Creativity
-Positive attitude
-Motivation / Assertiveness
-Honesty
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
Mary Norman: While knowledge of the "hard skills" is very important in getting hired and excelling in a marketing career, soft skills (people skills) often support career progression the most. The following skills are important for career success today:
-Decision making
-Communication
-Adaptablility / Time management
-Teamwork
-Project management / Attention to Detail
-Problem Solving
-Analytical Thinking
-Creativity
-Confidence
-Customer knowledge

Seattle University
Communication Department
Jim Clune: When reviewing resumes with students, I always emphasize that they go beyond output to outcome. They should definitely share what they have done and are capable of doing, but it is far more important to explain their impact, the direct employer benefit. What really stands out is when someone can quantify their accomplishments.
The other thing I share with students is to frame their non-career work experience as relevant skill building. A budding PR professional can learn a lot as a barista at Starbucks: customer relations, marketing, problem resolution, organizational representation, etc.
Jim Clune: Virtual work is certainly here to stay. Interest in remote work has skyrocketed. This is good news as geography is less restrictive than it used to be, particularly in the information industry. LinkedIn reports that members are more likely to connect with others outside of the area where they live. One positive aspect of remote work is that it can shift the focus from how employees present themselves - for example, what they are wearing - to how employees demonstrate their expertise through what they say and what they can do.
Jim Clune: Beyond technical skills, another key skill continues to be an ability to work in teams, particularly with people who are different than yourself. This requires even more skill in how you communicate. How you communicate defines who you are in the eyes of your coworkers, and this is just as important, if not more important, when working virtually. This means not just an ability to clearly and concisely express your ideas but also your ability to project confidence and competence.
Duke University
Department of Political Science
Michael Munger: Anyone serious about getting a job, almost any kind of job, should have had at least one class in computer science, and be reasonably literate in either PYTHON or HTML programming. Whatever the job, adding those skills make a person much more flexible, and much more useful. Another skill is video production and editing.
Notice that all these are on TOP of substance area skills. You can't just know stuff, you have to be able to share it and influence others.
University of Redlands
School of Business
Xin Zhao Ph.D.: The most common responsibilities of a marketing coordinator include the following: conducting research of the industry, competitors, and customers in preparation of marketing campaigns, working with other departments to produce marketing collaterals, tracking campaign and sales data as well as helping with sales forecast. As a result, strong research, analytical, and communication skills would stand out on the resume.
Xin Zhao Ph.D.: As mentioned above, a marketing coordinator needs to organize efforts among different departments to successfully design and launch campaigns. Therefore, collaborative, organizational (especially time management) and communication skills are most important for this position to keep things on track.
Xin Zhao Ph.D.: Skills in gathering information and generating reports to facilitate decision-making are most important. In addition, employers are looking for experienced people in project management to make sure the marketing plan is executed effectively. Familiarity with data analytics tools, such as Google Analytics, could also help track a campaign's performance. Secondary skills in CRM tools, such as HubSpot, and Content Management Systems, such as WordPress, would be welcome, too, especially for small businesses where marketing coordinators need to wear multiple hats.
Xin Zhao Ph.D.: Ever since marketing became a profession, creativity has been considered one of the most important skills for marketing professionals. Being creative used to have a narrow definition and only apply to design work to make your brand unique and stand out in the market. With AI and automation becoming more prevalent in the marketing field, creativity has a broader meaning. Specifically, AI and automation help businesses streamline data collection and analysis, identify patterns, and highlight insights, which could eliminate some traditional marketing coordinator jobs. However, marketers who can think outside the box would apply their business instinct to make meaningful connections between data and action. They can understand analytics and make a decision that transcends machine intelligence. Therefore, in the long run, creative skills would help you stay in demand for your work and earn the most.
University of Central Oklahoma
Department of Marketing
Stacia Wert-Gray Ph.D.: Employers are looking for people who are analytical. Much of marketing involved understanding target audiences and marketing. If an applicant can analyze and interpret data, they add value to the employer.
Stacia Wert-Gray Ph.D.: Communication is important in any job but especially in marketing. These professionals must be able to communicate with customers/clients about product/service benefits and must be able to listen and represent the needs of customers/clients to their own company.
Stacia Wert-Gray Ph.D.: Data analysis is important. Understanding metrics adds value to your employer as you are able to design attractive marketing campaigns
Stacia Wert-Gray Ph.D.: Currently, employers are looking for candidates who understand social media and search engine optimization. These forms of marketing communication are red hot in today's world because they are relatively inexpensive when compared to traditional media, and they are easier to measure outcomes. Companies are emphasizing return on marketing investment, and traditional media expenditures are not easy to quantify benefits.
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.