Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Job outlook for strategists in the United States
Are strategist jobs in demand?
Strategist job and salary trends over time
Strategist jobs over time
Strategist job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,077 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 2,983 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 2,911 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 2,654 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 2,417 | 0.00% |
Average strategist salary over time
Strategist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $104,881 | $50.42 | +3.9% |
| 2024 | $100,956 | $48.54 | +1.9% |
| 2023 | $99,068 | $47.63 | +1.6% |
| 2022 | $97,548 | $46.90 | +0.8% |
| 2021 | $96,773 | $46.53 | +1.9% |
Strategist jobs by state
Most common states for strategists
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 281 | 40% |
| 2 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 918 | 13% |
| 3 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 1,207 | 9% |
| 4 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 375 | 9% |
| 5 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 93 | 9% |
| 6 | California | 39,536,653 | 3,273 | 8% |
| 7 | New York | 19,849,399 | 1,597 | 8% |
| 8 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 605 | 8% |
| 9 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 434 | 8% |
| 10 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 246 | 8% |
| 11 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 615 | 7% |
| 12 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 365 | 7% |
| 13 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 234 | 7% |
| 14 | Delaware | 961,939 | 67 | 7% |
| 15 | Vermont | 623,657 | 45 | 7% |
| 16 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 634 | 6% |
| 17 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 543 | 6% |
| 18 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 81 | 6% |
| 19 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 633 | 5% |
| 20 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 48 | 5% |
Most common cities for strategists
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Frankfort | 3 | 11% | $86,537 |
| 2 | Juneau | 3 | 9% | $73,950 |
| 3 | Annapolis | 3 | 8% | $92,272 |
| 4 | Dover | 3 | 8% | $113,454 |
| 5 | Atlanta | 17 | 4% | $78,948 |
| 6 | Hartford | 5 | 4% | $135,862 |
| 7 | Washington | 15 | 2% | $100,998 |
| 8 | Boston | 14 | 2% | $115,588 |
| 9 | Baton Rouge | 4 | 2% | $74,405 |
| 10 | Tallahassee | 4 | 2% | $73,263 |
| 11 | Chicago | 17 | 1% | $77,600 |
| 12 | Phoenix | 11 | 1% | $79,436 |
| 13 | Denver | 5 | 1% | $73,044 |
| 14 | Des Moines | 3 | 1% | $69,402 |
| 15 | New York | 24 | 0% | $122,739 |
| 16 | Los Angeles | 8 | 0% | $102,563 |
| 17 | San Francisco | 4 | 0% | $114,576 |
| 18 | Indianapolis | 3 | 0% | $85,730 |
Strategist job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of strategist experts
University of Cincinnati
North Dakota State University
Idaho State University
University of Houston - Downtown
Berea College
The College of St. Scholastica
What will help Strategists increase their earning potential?
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
What general advice would you give to a Strategist?
Chris Carter: I would recommend playing up their value as critical analysts and researchers who can synthesize information in accessible ways. I would tell them to be open to all kinds of writing opportunities, whether technical, journalistic, or editorial, watching for possibilities in online and print venues alike. English majors' detective skills suit them well to museums and libraries, but also to private and governmental organizations that need shrewd investigators. Turning interpretive savvy into pithy prose and presentations can be great for public relations, and a penchant for lucid communication can set graduates up for podcasting and social media management. Some people might turn those talents toward careers in law or marketing. Others might continue their paths as creative writers and cultural critics, though it's worth noting that full-time, tenure-track jobs in English Departments are hard to come by.
What Strategist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Chris Carter: With the rise of ChatGPT and large language models, English majors will need to clarify how human writers, editors, and analysts can enrich machine-generated content. They do well to practice prompt engineering and gradual conditioning of machine responses, but they also need to be diligent readers who can spot bad AI syntheses. This means correcting faulty information stemming from data aggregation, for sure, but also spotting cultural biases that machines replicate when drawing on preexisting texts. Those texts carry with them the values and assumptions of the people who initially produced them, with ChatGPT reflecting and potentially amplifying the inequities that plague human cultures. The need for ethical intervention is quite urgent, then, and that's where English majors tend to excel. Such intervention will concern not only the accuracy and political tilt of information, but the question of whose language and style count as standard. Writing technologies have always been bound up with power relations. DEI-oriented humanists and English majors will have plenty of opportunities to address those problems as AI becomes more embedded in workplaces and public institutions.
Ahmad Asady
Assistant Professor of Management Faculty Scholar, Challey Institute for Global Innovation and GrowthNorth Dakota State University
Marketing
What general advice would you give to a Strategist?
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.
John Ney
Assistant Marketing Professor, Director of Professional Development & Sales ExcellenceIdaho State University
College of Business
What skills stand out on Strategist resumes?
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.
What soft skills should all Strategists possess?
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.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Strategists?
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.
What skills will help Strategists earn the most?
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!
Dr. Richard Conde Ph.D.
Assistant ProfessorUniversity of Houston - Downtown
Marilyn Davies College of Business
What soft skills should all Strategists possess?
Dr. Richard Conde Ph.D.: The need for soft skills are consistent through time. With our societal focus on social media, texting, emojis, etc. It appears to me companies are looking for the following:
- Active listening skills
- Willingness to be self-reflective and accept feedback
- Accept different perspectives. The collision of ideas creates knowledge
- Communicate to the listener (at their level). Flex communicators
- Cultural intelligence. Demographics changes will require better understanding of team member's, boss', customer's, etc. cultural context
J. Ian Norris Ph.D.
Professor of Marketing and Fellow, American Council on EducationBerea College
Economics and Business Department
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Strategists?
J. Ian Norris Ph.D.: Digital marketing skills are essential for any area of marketing. Luckily there are many online certifications available for this purpose. On the research side, Google Analytics offers a certification. It will also be valuable to know the analytics platforms on social media sites such as facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Conversely, all of these sites also offer training on digital advertising and promotion, such as Google AdWords. Any coursework in digital marketing that provides instruction in Search Engine Marketing (SEM) will also be highly valuable. Finally, digital video and editing skills are also quite valuable, as all kinds of companies and organizations are using the short video format for storytelling and brand advertising.
Dr. Melissa Goodson Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Marketing & ManagementThe College of St. Scholastica
Management and Business Studies
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Strategists?
Dr. Melissa Goodson Ph.D.: There is no doubt that the Class of 2020 and 2021 will enter a completely different world than they had imagined upon graduation. I have witnessed a lag-time between graduation and alumni finding jobs. However, having a Bachelor's degree sets the students apart during the search for most of the opportunities in Business or Marketing.
I also see a trend in students navigating through the freelance market. Many recent grads are finding gigs or starting small businesses in an area in which they are passionate.
What type of skills will young Strategists need?
Dr. Melissa Goodson Ph.D.: We embrace a holistic approach to building skills in our graduates. Broadly, the college focuses on five core college learning objectives that we hope graduates will be exposed to in coursework to develop employment-ready skills during their time at The College of St. Scholastica. The five objectives are Inquire Deeply, Solve Complex Problems, Develop Cultural Fluency, Communicate Clearly and Persuasively, and Serve and Lead through Benedictine Values. St. Scholastica degree programs and course objectives map to these overarching objectives.
The Business Management and Marketing degree program courses emphasize skills in managing people, creatively marketing products and services, solving problems, analyzing information using technology, and ethically communicating company change and news internally and externally.
What experience really stands out on Strategist resumes?
Dr. Melissa Goodson Ph.D.: At The College of St. Scholastica, we encourage our Business students to find internships prior to graduation. Additionally, students have a unique option to complete a dual degree in Marketing and Management within four years. Faculty members work hard to teach marketable skills for students completing the Marketing and Business Management degrees through experiential learning and real-world examples. Marketing students will leave the program with critical skills including email marketing, website design, strategic planning, social media, and content creation.
Our Career Services team partners with students at any stage in the degree to discuss skills, strengths, and ideas for future employment. Resume review is part of the services offered by this department to help students set themselves up with the best chance of the resume and application materials being seen by the prospective employer.