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Marketing program manager job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected marketing program manager job growth rate is 10% from 2018-2028.
About 33,700 new jobs for marketing program managers are projected over the next decade.
Marketing program manager salaries have increased 8% for marketing program managers in the last 5 years.
There are over 73,775 marketing program managers currently employed in the United States.
There are 173,228 active marketing program manager job openings in the US.
The average marketing program manager salary is $86,807.
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 73,775 | 0.02% |
| 2020 | 71,455 | 0.02% |
| 2019 | 69,755 | 0.02% |
| 2018 | 63,700 | 0.02% |
| 2017 | 58,084 | 0.02% |
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $86,807 | $41.73 | +3.9% |
| 2024 | $83,558 | $40.17 | +1.9% |
| 2023 | $81,995 | $39.42 | +1.6% |
| 2022 | $80,737 | $38.82 | +0.8% |
| 2021 | $80,096 | $38.51 | +1.9% |
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 705 | 102% |
| 2 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 3,777 | 51% |
| 3 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 305 | 40% |
| 4 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 517 | 39% |
| 5 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 370 | 35% |
| 6 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 2,241 | 33% |
| 7 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 1,353 | 33% |
| 8 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 2,678 | 32% |
| 9 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,812 | 32% |
| 10 | Delaware | 961,939 | 306 | 32% |
| 11 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 942 | 30% |
| 12 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 1,611 | 29% |
| 13 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 1,047 | 29% |
| 14 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 531 | 28% |
| 15 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 295 | 28% |
| 16 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 245 | 28% |
| 17 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 331 | 25% |
| 18 | California | 39,536,653 | 9,301 | 24% |
| 19 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 1,479 | 24% |
| 20 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 2,970 | 23% |
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mountain View | 5 | 6% | $121,691 |
| 2 | Eagle | 1 | 4% | $74,021 |
| 3 | Framingham | 2 | 3% | $89,105 |
| 4 | Englewood | 1 | 3% | $73,259 |
| 5 | Cupertino | 1 | 2% | $121,528 |
| 6 | Midland | 1 | 2% | $84,910 |
| 7 | Irvine | 2 | 1% | $105,383 |
| 8 | Bloomington | 1 | 1% | $78,915 |
| 9 | Cambridge | 1 | 1% | $88,986 |
| 10 | Lowell | 1 | 1% | $88,796 |
| 11 | Denver | 3 | 0% | $73,296 |
| 12 | Los Angeles | 2 | 0% | $107,847 |
| 13 | Tucson | 2 | 0% | $78,365 |
| 14 | Atlanta | 1 | 0% | $77,590 |
| 15 | Boston | 1 | 0% | $89,007 |
| 16 | Chicago | 1 | 0% | $82,322 |
| 17 | Houston | 1 | 0% | $77,333 |
University of Louisiana at Monroe
University of South Florida
City University of Seattle
Xavier University
North Dakota State University
Siena College
Siena College
Siena College
North Carolina A&T State University
North Carolina A&T State University

The University of Tampa

Idaho State University

Webster University
Rich Johnson: Digital media covers a lot of mediums and requires many skill sets (print, static online, animation, interactive). The print arm is a lesser component although still valuable in the scope of marketing. Smartphones, tablets and gaming have moved a lot of digital into a customer expectation of interactive and customizable content. The present model of career specialization in a certain aspect of this spectrum of skills is changing. The age of the generalist is becoming more of a reality as design tools are becoming more accessible and A.I. is assisting in the more complex tasks. I would say that someone working in digital media will need to focus more on the big picture of design, predicting trends and developing solutions from a point of view with perspective. It will be even more important to understand the needs of a system from the top down and provide solutions that enhance that system. This might be through partnering with marketing and sales to conceptualize solutions, pitching product ideas and other functions related to creative and art direction. And be curious, all of the time. Keep up to date with everything that is happening. Take classes, watch tutorials, read articles and be obsessed with the breakneck rate of change. Digital media is constantly changing and possibilities are always expanding. It can be near impossible to be a master of all of these trajectories, but you can understand them well enough to bring in a specialist when the challenge requires it. This is where I predict that A.I. will be a major paradigm shift. There will be a time when you will ask the system to solve a problem, and you can choose what parts of the process that you want to control. So to boil it down... Develop a well rounded set of skills Further develop specialist level skills where you excel Keep on top of change and keep a thirst for learning Strengthen your connection to problem solving and creative innovation Keep an eye on the future predicting what might be around the bend
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.
Zachary Moore Ph.D., M.B.A.: Marketing is a dynamic, rapidly evolving field. It always has been, and it always will be. Marketing tactics are driven by the popular culture of the societies companies serve. This said, aspiring marketers must realize that as things change, they must be willing to adapt their tactics to meet the consumer where they are. However, just as things change, there are enduring truths that shape marketing practice. Consumers want to be valued and heard. By keeping these touchstones in mind and staying up to date with modern trends, marketers can develop long-lasting careers and maintain relevancy as society evolves. My biggest advice is to be a successful marketer, you must do three things: 1. Keep your customers at the heart of what you do. 2. Meet your customers where they are. 3. Create value for your customers, company, and self. If a marketer can accomplish these three things, they can develop a career that will withstand the forces of change.
Dr. Travis Simkins: There are a lot of great reasons to enter the field of marketing now. The demand for digital marketing skills is high, marketing blends creativity and strategy, marketing is about building relationships and understanding consumers, marketing is dynamic and constantly evolving.
University of South Florida
Business/Commerce
Jay Civitillo: I mentioned this to the department chair. He asked me to develop responses, which he will review with other marketing professors. I can have formal answers back to you by the end of the week. Will this work?
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.
Dr. Stefanie Boyer: To maximize your salary potential, first choose a company that offers opportunities for advancement. Understand what it takes to make more money and talk to your boss early about company priorities and how you can take on more responsibilities if you do your job well. Keep an eye on the company's long-term goals and learn skills that will help you become the perfect candidate for those key positions. Be a self-directed learner who uses a variety of resources to continue learning and developing new skills while establishing strategic relationships within the organization. But don't get too caught up in the future; you must take the necessary steps and perform your duties well. There are no shortcuts to hard work and effort, which develop your character and experience on the job.
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.
Xavier University
Marketing
KATHERINE (KATE) Katherine Loveland Ph.D.: I would probably give this advice to any graduate, but it is particularly important in marketing: work on building your personal connections. By this, I don't just mean building your online professional network, although this is important, I mean put in the actual face time. Pick up the phone, walk down the hall, go into the office, schedule the lunch (or coffee or drink), attend the networking event and then follow-up. We are social beings and I hear from managers all the time that the new hires who stand out are those who take the time to build relationships. Also, marketing is fundamentally about building connections between customer needs and organizational offerings. The best way to spot opportunities is to be actively engaged with a broad spectrum of people both within and outside the organization.
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?
North Carolina A&T State University
Department of Marketing and Supply Chain Management
Kimberly McNeil Ph.D.: Senior marketing specialists should possess strong communication and interpersonal skills and analytical/critical thinking skills. The mix of these skills provides the balance needed when working in teams in sometimes high-pressure situations.
Kimberly McNeil Ph.D.: If asked this question 15 years ago, my response would still have been the same. Good communication and interpersonal skills are imperative. The ability to communicate clearly (verbally or written) with customers, clients, and colleagues is required for success. Knowing how to adapt and adjust communication tactics and styles appropriately to address different audiences is extremely helpful as well.
Kimberly McNeil Ph.D.: Understanding data analytics is paramount. Many companies will have departments that will provide the numbers, but marketers must have the ability to process the data and communicate it in plain terms to their internal and external clients. Essentially, they have to interpret the data and make recommendations using verbiage that their team and clients understand.
Kimberly McNeil Ph.D.: Critical thinking skills and interpersonal skills layered with staying current are critically important. Having the skills to assess, critically analyze, and offer solutions are essential. Equally important is communicating effectively (in person and virtually) and collaborating with others in various settings and situations. Staying current is understanding the different tools and tactics used in the industry and having a presence on LinkedIn. Having the initiative to stay current and present will have companies seeking you for positions instead of searching for the next career advancement opportunity.
North Carolina A&T State University
Department of Marketing and Supply Chain Management
Roland Leak Ph.D.: It depends on the company. Some want their marketing specialists to be very analytical and work with numbers that build pricing. Others want strong brand management skills which can be more qualitative. If I had to give you a middle-of-the-road answer, a good senior marketing specialist would have the flexibility to vacillate between the quantitative and qualitative.
Roland Leak Ph.D.: By far, the ability to communicate is the most important soft skill. This goes from communicating recommendations to communicating with customers to understand their desires. Also, this communication has to be layered on top of code-switching - speaking in the tone and tenor your audience understands.
Roland Leak Ph.D.: I am a proponent of truly being able to be analytical and dig into numbers. Quantitative reasoning is vital to understanding the status of the business. Marketers need to speak the language of accountants, financiers, and operations managers to understand where there are red flags if any.
Roland Leak Ph.D.: The communication thing is vital here as well in a very specific sense. Marketers need to communicate to their bosses how they are strategically vital to an organization. Marketers (any employee really) are an asset, and a company needs to see a positive ROA. Marketers need to be able to communicate how they are enhancing their "personal ROA."

The University of Tampa
Marketing Department
Jennifer Burton Ph.D.: Of course, employers are always looking for the essential soft skills such as communication, teamwork, and leadership and the essential hard skills such as being able to execute a marketing strategy. But when I am looking at resumes, I am much more focused on the experiences candidates bring to the table and the outcomes they have previously achieved. Managers are looking for proven track records of success with strategies revolving around the 4 Ps of marketing - product, price, place, and promotion.
Jennifer Burton Ph.D.: The soft skills that are most important are the same as in any business profession - communication, teamwork, and leadership. In a job like marketing, communication is probably the number one thing as you are often in charge of communicating to colleagues and large numbers of customers. Creativity is also especially important in marketing because there are a lot of people who have the technical skills, but those that are able to implement them with a flare of creativity will be the most successful.
Jennifer Burton Ph.D.: The hard skills required for a successful career as a marketing specialist are those involved with building a marketing plan. A candidate needs to be able to: 1) use marketing segmentation to select the target audience, 2) develop a strong positioning strategy and execute it, 3) establish good objectives that align with business goals, 4) execute strategies regarding products, channels, pricing, and promotion. To do these things, you need to have a good understanding of marketing research and be able to use the results to identify the right business strategies to move the company ahead.
Jennifer Burton Ph.D.: Being able to bring quantitative marketing skills to the table along with the traditional set of marketing skills is an advantage that will help you command a higher salary in the field. This includes a more advanced understanding of things like marketing research and marketing analytics. Along with this, a strong understanding of financial management will help you communicate better with your finance department and hopefully garner you a bigger marketing budget with which to achieve better marketing outcomes!

Idaho State University
College of Business
John Ney: Internships or class project experience that show the student has helped develop a marketing strategy for a company is probably the most important but also marketing research skills.
John Ney: -With so many businesses advertising online, students that have experience with one or more of the following (video, blogging, graphic design, photography & websites) easily find jobs! This is the most requested skill set when employers are looking to hire interns.
-Writing skills - businesses need help writing everything from email responses to customers to a short job advertisement & or a marketing strategy.
John Ney: -A positive "can-do" attitude. I'm often told by employers that "we can teach skills, but we can't teach attitude."
-Teamwork - the ability to work with others is more important now than ever.
-Communication skills, both oral and written.
John Ney: -Sales skills - Most sales jobs are commission-based, and they are not capped.
-Everybody sells! Sales are really about building relationships, so having people and communication skills can really pay off!

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.