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What is a marketing & public relations manager and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted experts
Joseph Shields,
Jody McBrien

A marketing & public relations manager works to improve the image of an organization and to increase the brand's presence. He/she plans and directs the creation of marketing materials that will enhance the public image of the company and increase sales at the same time. They lead a team of marketers and public relations personnel in sponsoring corporate events, reviewing press releases, organizing press conferences and marketing campaigns.

A marketing & public relations manager works closely with professionals in the finance, procurement, sales, and customer service departments. Externally, they work with the media, vendors, contractors, and advertising agencies so as to increase their brand's reach. In order to succeed in their role, they should have creativity, confidence, leadership skills, networking skills, communication skills, and should be up-to-date with the current marketing trends.

Marketing & public relations managers work 40 hours a week Monday to Friday from 9 to 5. They generally have a flexible work schedule, as the role involves a bit of traveling to pitch stories to the media and hold client meetings.

What general advice would you give to a marketing & public relations manager?

Joseph Shields

Assistant Professor of Management and Marketing, Carthage College

Consider taking an entry-level sales role. Many marketing majors never consider an entry-level position in sales (especially Business-to-Business Sales), and this can be a big missed opportunity for several reasons. First, many companies require sales experience for their marketing positions, especially for mid/senior management positions. Second, sales experience will make you a better marketer, since you have intimate knowledge of the customer. Finally, who knows, you might love sales, and you will have the potential to make considerably more money than a career in marketing. Through the years, I have had dozens of my students take an entry-level sales position to leverage their experience to get a traditional marketing job, only to discover they loved sales and never pursued a career in marketing.
ScoreMarketing & Public Relations ManagerUS Average
Salary
6.5

Avg. Salary $83,461

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
8.7

Growth rate 8%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
4.5
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.42%

Asian 5.08%

Black or African American 5.82%

Hispanic or Latino 8.99%

Unknown 4.66%

White 75.03%

Gender

female 70.63%

male 29.37%

Age - 41
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 41
Stress level
8.7

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
9.4

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance
3.8

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Marketing & public relations manager career paths

Key steps to become a marketing & public relations manager

  1. Explore marketing & public relations manager education requirements

    Most common marketing & public relations manager degrees

    Bachelor's

    79.1 %

    Master's

    11.9 %

    Associate

    5.6 %
  2. Start to develop specific marketing & public relations manager skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Digital Marketing12.66%
    Press Releases11.08%
    Marketing Campaigns10.45%
    Brand Marketing6.73%
    ROI5.93%
  3. Complete relevant marketing & public relations manager training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New marketing & public relations managers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a marketing & public relations manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real marketing & public relations manager resumes.
  4. Research marketing & public relations manager duties and responsibilities

    • Manage improvements to company website including new content management system and SEO to increase functionality and improve organic search rankings.
    • Maintain strong working relationships across all departments to manage successful on-site opportunities, content and multimedia asset development and spokesperson requests.
    • Implement social media strategy creating and maintaining presence on LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube.
    • Plan, prepare, and implement all marketing strategies and provide ROI on performance programs along with recommendations to senior/executive staff.
  5. Prepare your marketing & public relations manager resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your marketing & public relations manager resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a marketing & public relations manager resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable marketing & public relations manager resume templates

    Build a professional marketing & public relations manager resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your marketing & public relations manager resume.
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    Marketing & Public Relations Manager Resume
  6. Apply for marketing & public relations manager jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a marketing & public relations manager job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first marketing & public relations manager job

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Average marketing & public relations manager salary

The average marketing & public relations manager salary in the United States is $83,461 per year or $40 per hour. Marketing & public relations manager salaries range between $60,000 and $114,000 per year.

Average marketing & public relations manager salary
$83,461 Yearly
$40.13 hourly

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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