The Highest-Paying Marketing Jobs and How to Land Them

By Jennifer Verta, Monster Contributor

What are the highest-paying marketing jobs and what does it take to get them? A degree in marketing or communication is a great starting point, sure. But some professionals advance in the field with degrees in other disciplines or no degree at all. So, what's the secret to reaching the top?

In marketing, you must know how to tie audience, culture, and media strategies together. And knowing your way around the newest channels is essential. Luckily, in this fast-changing industry, you can learn as you go and ascend to higher roles through these three approaches:

  1. building hands-on experience
  2. investing your time and efforts in the right skills
  3. being strategic with your career choices

In this article, you’ll learn not only which marketing roles have lucrative financial rewards, but also how to progress to the top marketing salary jobs. Read on to find out how to turn your aspirations into tangible career opportunities.

The Highest-Paying Jobs in Marketing

Curious about which marketing job pays the most? Check out this list and discover the most lucrative options in the field.

Chief Marketing Officer

Companies pay chief marketing officers top dollar to plan and direct international marketing strategies that capture audience attention across cultures, markets, and channels. To land one of these highest-paying marketing jobs at a Fortune 500 firm, you’ll need an MBA from a top-tier program and years of experience in the industry.

Chief marketing officer salary range: $110,693 - $238,207 per year.

Find CMO jobs on Monster.

Vice President of Marketing

The best of the best marketing executives quickly adapt their company’s strategies and philosophies across a wide variety of ever-changing channels. Want to end up in a VP of marketing job someday? Focus on digital projects. Write the projects into your resume as business cases, highlighting your role in their success and the bottom-line results.

Vice president of marketing salary range: $110,450 - $236,482 per year.

Find VP marketing jobs on Monster.

Market Research Analyst

Web analytics and market researchers drive investments, as companies try to pinpoint changing customer preferences and locate the right audience for their products. Market research analyst roles are not only among the highest-paying marketing jobs but they’re also projected to keep growing at a strong 13% over the next few years. If that sounds interesting, check out how to become one.

Market research analyst salary range: $46,779 - $134,790 per year.

Find market research analyst jobs.

Database Marketing Manager

Database marketing managers leverage customer data to create targeted marketing campaigns. They are crucial to maximizing marketing efforts. Data analysis is a marketing niche where there are more jobs than candidates. So, you’ll have great potential for locking one of these highest-paying marketing jobs outside the C-suite.

Database marketing manager salary range: $56,623 - $176,248 per year.

Find database marketing manager jobs on Monster.

Marketing Director

In companies that don’t have much of a marketing department, the marketing director handles everything, from crafting strategies to ensuring marketing goals align with business objectives. While every position is different, you’ll often need industry experience, along with managerial experience to land marketing director positions.

Marketing director salary range: $84,423 - $179,729 per year.

Find marketing director jobs on Monster.

Product Marketing Director

Product marketing directors focus on the promotion and positioning of specific products within a company’s portfolio. In this role, not only you’d play a pivotal role in driving product success, but you’d also command a competitive salary.

Product marketing director salary range: $76,824 - $163,811 per year.

Find product marketing director jobs on Monster.

Marketing Digital Strategist

Digital strategists are more crucial than ever, so it’s not surprising that they are among the highest-paying marketing jobs. They enhance brand visibility and drive business goals by formulating and executing online marketing strategies.

Marketing digital strategist salary range: $60,726 - $129,296 per year.

Find marketing strategist jobs on Monster.

Brand Manager

Want to play a pivotal role in shaping how a company is perceived by its audience? Create and maintain a company’s identity as a brand manager. You’ll be well compensated and have over 34,000 openings to choose from each year.

Brand manager salary range: $63,694 - $144,400 per year.

Find brand manager jobs on Monster.

Communications Director

Communications directors oversee a company’s communications strategies, both internally and externally. This is one of the highest-paying jobs with a communications degree, so get ready to jump in, if that’s your specialization.

Communications director salary range: $55,901 - $142,834 per year

Find communications director jobs on Monster.

Public Relations Director

Public relations director roles are some of most lucrative marketing opportunities because of the responsibility they hold. In this role, you are the architect of a company’s public image. PR directors handle PR crises and help a company stay trending for the right reasons. They manage communications with the media, stakeholders, and the public.

Public relations director salary range: $57,901 - $146,326 per year.

Find public relations director jobs on Monster.

Creative Director

As their name suggests, creative directors lead the artistic direction of marketing and advertising campaigns. They shape the visual identity of a brand to captivate, resonate and linger in the minds of their audience.

Creative director salary range: $55,299 - $144,463 per year.

Find creative director jobs on Monster.

Fundraising Manager

Fundraising managers oversee the strategy and execution of fundraising campaigns for non-profit organizations, but also for small businesses, startups, or even political campaigns. Your mission would be to secure the financial backing needed for projects, product launches, or a company’s expansion.

Fundraising manager salary range: $56,997 - $116,233 per year.

Find fundraising manager jobs on Monster.

Digital Content Manager

In the fast-paced world of digital content, becoming a digital content manager means holding one of the highest-paying marketing jobs. Every successful business needs to plan and create content for online platforms, such as websites and social media. That’s where you come in, being a strategic mastermind of every type of content.

Digital content manager salary range: $54,708 - $158,296 per year.

Find digital content manager jobs on Monster.

Inbound Marketing Manager

As an inbound marketing manager, you focus on attracting and engaging customers through content and online strategies. You ensure a seamless customer journey from awareness to conversion. To excel in this position, you need a deep knowledge of content creation, SEO principles, and social media dynamics.

Inbound marketing manager salary range: $66,090 - $187,200 per year.

Find inbound marketing manager jobs on Monster.

Copywriter

Love to craft compelling and persuasive content? Do it for marketing materials as a copywriter. You’ll be a key player in capturing audiences’ attention and driving a company’s success. Plus, this is one of the highest-paying communication jobs that doesn't require managerial experience and can also be done on a freelance basis, often with remote and flexible working opportunities.

Copywriter salary range: $56,086 - $96,169 per year.

Find copywriter jobs on Monster.

Skills You Need to Secure the Highest-Paying Jobs in Marketing

Possessing the right skills and qualities in marketing helps you set yourself apart from the competition. Your skillset is crucial to moving into different roles and eventually landing one of the highest-paying marketing jobs. So, what are these “right” skills?

Creativity

Creativity is the heartbeat of marketing. It’s about thinking outside of the box, finding unique solutions, and crafting compelling content that captures attention. You might use it in designing eye-catching visuals or brainstorming innovative campaign ideas. A creative mindset is invaluable in any high-earning marketing role.

Management

Proper management of projects, teams, and resources is essential in marketing. Mastering this skill involves setting priorities, allocating resources, delegating tasks, and meeting deadlines. Strong management skills show your ability to handle the complexities of marketing campaigns and initiatives.

Data Analysis

The ability to track, interpret, and leverage data is a game-changer in marketing. Analyzing metrics and deriving insights allows you to make informed decisions, optimize campaigns, and prove the impact of your work.

Communication

Clear, effective communication is the imperative to successful marketing. You need it to craft compelling copy, deliver presentations, and coordinate with team members.

Being able to convey ideas and messages effectively is non-negotiable in this field. Mastering strong written and verbal communication skills is crucial if you’re trying to land one of the highest-paying marketing jobs.

Strategic Thinking

Having strategic thinking abilities means being able to see the bigger picture. Then, align marketing efforts with broader business objectives. It’s about understanding target audiences, market trends, and the competitive landscape to yield results.

Leadership

If you’re eyeing executive-level positions, leadership is a fundamental skill to master. Inspiring and guiding a team toward a common goal, providing mentorship, and making critical decisions are all parts of the leadership package. Demonstrating leadership potential is vital in the highest-paying jobs in marketing.

Research

Research is the backbone of successful marketing. Research helps you understand customer behavior and competitor’s strategies to identify opportunities and trends to help you stay ahead. Right out of college and aspiring to high-paying jobs with a marketing degree? his is a skill to get working on early in your career.

Strategies to Help You Advance in the Marketing Field

Scoring an entry-level role in marketing is often a relatively simple process. But with the top-paying marketing jobs, you’ll need a clear strategy as well as a can-do attitude. Get ready to with these effective approaches:

Dive into New Challenges

Don’t be afraid to try. Think of it like this: the bigger the projects, the more you showcase your skills. Grab opportunities that push your limits. It’s your chance to shine and prove you’re ready for one of those high-paying jobs requiring a marketing degree.

Learn to Write a Standout Resume

To secure high-paying marketing gigs, building experience is just part of it. You must also be able to present yourself effectively on a resume. Showcasing your skills and the impact of your work in a tangible way is fundamental to catching recruiters’ attention.

Network Your Way Up

Maybe you think that your abilities speak for themselves and doors will automatically open for you to the highest-paying marketing jobs. While that can happen, often, it’s also about knowing the right people. Start building relationships through networking. Attend industry events, join groups online and in person, and engage with other professionals in your field.

Learn from the Pros

Find a mentor, preferably – someone who is already in the role you hope to achieve. It’s one of the easiest ways to learn what you need to succeed in less time.

Seek their advice and guidance. A mentor relationship can really turbocharge your career. Look for someone within your organization, at networking events, or online on professional social media platforms.

Never Stop Learning

In marketing, you must stay updated to stay relevant. Avoid falling behind and upskill frequently. Attend workshops, get new certifications, and stay on top of new industry trends. The more you know, the more value you bring to companies.

Start Your Quest for the Highest-Paying Marketing Jobs Today

Many high-paying jobs with a marketing degree are waiting for you on Monster. Don’t let them pass by you. Create a free candidate account, upload your resume and start applying. Select the roles you’re interested in, and we’ll save you time scrolling through job listings. You’ll get customized alerts with new opportunities matching your profile as soon as they’re available.