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Job outlook for marketing/sales people in the United States
Marketing/sales person job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected marketing/sales person job growth rate is 4% from 2018-2028.
About 63,300 new jobs for marketing/sales people are projected over the next decade.
Marketing/sales person salaries have increased 10% for marketing/sales people in the last 5 years.
There are over 16,385 marketing/sales people currently employed in the United States.
There are 120,224 active marketing/sales person job openings in the US.
The average marketing/sales person salary is $115,043.
Are marketing/sales person jobs in demand?
Marketing/sales person job and salary trends over time
Marketing/sales person jobs over time
Marketing/sales person job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 16,385 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 16,972 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 17,877 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 17,988 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 18,573 | 0.01% |
Average marketing/sales person salary over time
Marketing/sales person salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $115,043 | $55.31 | +6.9% |
| 2024 | $107,568 | $51.72 | +1.7% |
| 2023 | $105,789 | $50.86 | +1.1% |
| 2022 | $104,660 | $50.32 | --0.2% |
| 2021 | $104,859 | $50.41 | +3.7% |
Marketing/sales person jobs by state
Most common states for marketing/sales people
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 379 | 28% |
| 2 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 749 | 21% |
| 3 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 122 | 21% |
| 4 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,097 | 20% |
| 5 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 272 | 20% |
| 6 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 1,940 | 19% |
| 7 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,589 | 19% |
| 8 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 359 | 19% |
| 9 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 166 | 19% |
| 10 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 147 | 19% |
| 11 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 1,825 | 17% |
| 12 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 953 | 17% |
| 13 | Alaska | 739,795 | 129 | 17% |
| 14 | Tennessee | 6,715,984 | 1,045 | 16% |
| 15 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 997 | 16% |
| 16 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 471 | 16% |
| 17 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 1,958 | 15% |
| 18 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 866 | 15% |
| 19 | Vermont | 623,657 | 93 | 15% |
| 20 | West Virginia | 1,815,857 | 247 | 14% |
Marketing/Sales Person job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of marketing/sales person experts
Weber State University
University of Maryland - College Park
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
University of North Georgia
Clarion University of Pennsylvania
St. John Fisher College
Penn State Erie, The Behrend College
SUNY New Paltz
Florida International University
Montclair State University
Oklahoma Baptist University
Southwestern University
Albion College
Webber International University
The University of Texas at Austin
Ryan McKeehan
Weber State University
General Sales, Merchandising And Related Marketing Operations
What Marketing/Sales Person skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Ryan McKeehan: At the start of one’s career, there are numerous ways to maximize one’s salary potential. One way is to change jobs every few years. The traditional stigma around job hopping has diminished, and each job change can bring new opportunities for salary upgrades and skill acquisition. By demonstrating a willingness to work hard and continuously upgrade skills, one can develop rare and valuable expertise that will be in high demand, opening doors to better opportunities and higher earnings.
What will help Marketing/Sales People increase their earning potential?
Ryan McKeehan: With the rapid advancement of AI and other technologies, the role of salespeople is evolving. In this changing landscape, superior soft skills will be in high demand. The ability to communicate effectively, provide exceptional customer service, and sell ethically will be more crucial than ever. By honing these skills, one can stay ahead in the job market.
What Marketing/Sales Person skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Kathleen Kelly: Maximizing your salary potential requires research, flexibility, and being your best advocate.
E. Duff Wrobbel Ph.D.
ChairSouthern Illinois University Edwardsville
Communication And Media Studies
What Marketing/Sales Person skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
E. Duff Wrobbel Ph.D.: All things social media are important, and so writing skills still matter.
What will help Marketing/Sales People increase their earning potential?
E. Duff Wrobbel Ph.D.: With this major, probably the best salaries are from sales jobs, which many people shy away from because they think only of hustling used cars, but sales can be very good work.
What soft skills should all Marketing/Sales People possess?
Mary Norman: -Communication - written and verbal
-Teamwork
-Problem solving
-Adaptability
-Creativity
-Positive attitude
-Motivation / Assertiveness
-Honesty
What hard/technical skills are most important for Marketing/Sales People?
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
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Marketing/Sales Person job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Miguel Olivas-Luján Ph.D.: As the economy "reopens" (thanks to appeased fears of contagion driven by vaccination, herd immunity, people worn out by the lockdowns, warmer weather, etc.), we should see workforce adjustments across industries and occupations. Already in March, unemployment was returning to 6% (from a high of 14.8% in April 2020, but after a low of 3.5 in February 2020; https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/LNS14000000). Barring unexpected resistance in the virus variants or other influences, the summer and fall months should give us better job market numbers, but this recovery seems to be benefitting some population segments more than others. The unemployed rate for teenagers was at 13%, followed by Blacks (9.6%), Hispanics (7.9%), Asians (6%), adult men (5.8%), and adult women (5.7%; more detail is available at https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm).
What's a good job out of college for Marketing/Sales People?
Clair Smith Ph.D.: I don't think there is a simple answer to this. What constitutes a good job out of college varies widely. Ultimately I hope every graduate lands in a place where they can use their interests, skills, and passion to do something they find meaningful and for which they are fairly compensated. While some people may find that immediately upon graduation, others may have to gain additional experience and credibility to get there.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Marketing/Sales People?
Lisa Elliott Ph.D.: Yes, the virus has stalled many projects and created a pent-up demand for hiring. We expect that as the pandemic lifts, projects will be back on track and hiring will pick up. In general, psychologists with a background in human factors are highly sought after as we work in nearly every industry and in government. We expect that students will find a robust job market in the years ahead in human factors/user experience design.
Felicia Hodges
InstructorSUNY New Paltz
Deptment of Digital Media and Journalism
What's a day at work look like for a Marketing/Sales Person?
Felicia Hodges: A day at work for new graduates probably won't include being surrounded by co-workers in a newsroom/editorial space. It might lean more toward a lot of marketing/lobbying for a freelance gig from a home office instead. As journalists are often encouraged to hone their skills at smaller outlets (community newspapers, small radio/broadcast stations or boutique firms for instance), it could be devastating to those new to the job market to realize that many of those spaces no longer exist or aren't able to hire anything other than freelancers due to financial fallout from the pandemic as well as the nature of newspaper restructuring, buyouts and mergers.
What's a day at work look like for a Marketing/Sales Person?
John Tobon: In the near term the work day will look a lot like online learning. Everything, starting with onboarding of employees has transitioned online. Newly hired employees may not meet their supervisors and co-workers in person for several months, if ever. There will be more real time online collaboration and greater need for proficiency in the use of communication software. Graduates may not necessarily live in the city where their employer is located, this will provide greater freedom to employees but it will also increase the level of competition for some positions. In the long term, workplace will look different. As a cost savings measure, companies will maximize the amount of offsite work that can be performed by implementing hybrid models that incorporate maximum telework arrangements.
How have salaries changed over time for Marketing/Sales People?
Jeffrey Gonzalez: My field is academia, and salaries have stayed fairly consistent if you get a tenure-line job. I'm part of a collective bargaining unit, which means I have a much better chance at a decent wage and decent benefits. Adjuncts do the bulk of teaching at American universities, and they don't have nearly the benefits or pay that professors get. English primary and secondary school teachers's pay has also remained consistent or declined, and teachers, like most public-college professors, have to rely on negotiations with the state for raises. We train a lot of teachers, and luckily, none of them is in it for the money.
For the students we have who go into the information or knowledge sector, they start underemployed and move up, as I said. The most recent research I've seen (and again, I'm not an economist) said that Humanities majors eventually make as much as business or more career-specific majors (public relations, etc.).
Dr. Daryl Green
Associate Professor of BusinessOklahoma Baptist University
College of Business
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Marketing/Sales Person job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Daryl Green: Today's students need to embrace emerging market trends. For marketing students, the marketing concept means intimately understanding your customers and satisfying their immediate needs. The lingering pandemic from 2020 will make the job hunt more difficult this year. From my research, here are 2021 employment trends to consider:
Marketing strategy still matters. Today's businesses are using ineffective marketing strategies despite using digital tactics like social media platforms. According to HubSpot, only 61% of marketers believe their marketing strategy is effective. Yet, they are still pouring massive amounts of dollars into digital advertising. Understanding the basic marketing strategies will equip college grads for the challenges ahead.
Artificial intelligence and automation rise in 2021. Marketing professionals will need to be more tech-savvy. AI will make analyzing and implementing decisions more efficient. According to a McKinsey study, Netflix saved $1 billion in lost revenue in 2017 by using machine learning to make personalized recommendations. Other businesses, like Amazon, are doing the same.
Data analytics continue to emerge as a critical ingredient for market decision making. About 82% of marketers plan to increase their usage of first-party data (Source: Signal). Taking a marketing analytics course will be helpful to graduates.
Digital platforms will continue to dominate the economy. Thus, an online presence is essential. According to a Bright Edge study, digital ad spending will reach $389 billion in 2021. Thus, students need good digital literacy to succeed.
Mobile platforms like smartphones are the future. As for May of 2020, Google was responsible for 67% of all smartphone search traffic.
What type of skills will young Marketing/Sales People need?
Valerie Renegar Ph.D.: The number one skill we hear from employers that our graduates need to have in the workforce is strong written and oral communication skills. It doesn't matter what field our graduates enter; every workplace needs employees who can communicate their thoughts. Communication courses that help students develop their public speaking, argumentation, persuasion, and interpersonal communication skills are an invaluable resource. Leadership depends on strong communication skills as well, so the need to communicate does not dissipate after a new employee becomes more established.
What experience really stands out on Marketing/Sales Person resumes?
Valerie Renegar Ph.D.: Internships are probably the single best educational experience for new graduates, since they demonstrate to employers that they have already developed some expertise applying their education to workplace contexts. Another highlight for employers is study abroad, especially in fields that value or are seeking to increase diversity.
Students with experience interacting with different cultures, especially those who can explain why this kind of interaction makes them better qualified than others, can set themselves apart. In some fields, intensive student-faculty research might be valued or community-based learning opportunities. All of these high impact practices have in common that they only occur for students who push themselves to enhance their own educational experience, beyond the classroom.
Graduates who have consistently sought to augment their college experience are attractive candidates because they have already demonstrated that they seek out and embrace new challenges. One of the reasons Southwestern is such an outstanding choice for students is that we offer all of these experiences. The vast majority of our students graduate having engaged in at least one of these kinds of programs, and many of them have had more than one.
What experience really stands out on Marketing/Sales Person resumes?
Vicki Baker Ph.D.: I like to see a diversity of experiences that span academic, curricular, co-curricular, and experiential. I look for a common thread - is there an evident passion, and has that passion been pursued through a portfolio of complementary engagements. It helps employers and those reviewing resumes get an idea for who they are, what they are passionate about, and how they pursued that passion (and the associated perseverance). If there is no clear direction that aligns all areas, it's harder to get an idea of how a given person can fit in an organization.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Marketing/Sales Person job market given the pandemic?
Ronald A. Weber: Students entering the workforce these days need to be prepared to work remotely and be able to communicate with team members through electronic means.
To reduce costs and prepare for unforeseen variables, like the recent COV-19 situation, companies are preferring to hire people short term. They may only need tasks completed for six weeks or only two days per week. Therefore, new entrants to the workforce need to accept that they may have 4-6 clients at a time, juggling their time and energy between them all.
What general advice would you give to a Marketing/Sales Person?
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.