Making a Mark with Your Marketing Degree

Marketing professionals are responsible for shaping the way consumers view the world. They promote products and services and manage the reputations of corporations and community and government entities. Marketing pros also determine the way a company or product looks and sounds to the public, from packaging design to promotional messaging.

Job Descriptions

The field of marketing requires talented, artistic individuals with a keen eye for design and a finger on the pulse of consumer thinking. This highly influential professional field is anticipated to grow significantly over the next decade in large part due to the need of corporations to differentiate themselves from their competition to remain competitive. While a bachelor’s degree is typically all that’s required for an entry-level position, once you develop a sizable portfolio of excellent work, advancement in pay and position are likely.

Sales and advertising:

Many marketing professionals work in sales and marketing capacities. The two areas often overlap, with marketing determining messaging and approach, and sales pros making pitches, closing deals and servicing clients. Sales associates often work on a commission structure, keeping a percentage of what they generate, while marketing staff typically work on a salary or hourly basis.

• Education: Bachelor’s degree
• Median income: $50,380 

Graphic design:

Graphic designers must be familiar with software design programs and be able to work in collaboration with copywriters, marketing staff and other designers. Graphic designers help create branding concepts, develop logos, print advertisements, packaging and promotional materials. They also work with website designers to create a unique look and feel for a company’s products and services.

• Education: Bachelor’s degree
• Median income: $47,640 

Fundraising and public relations:

Fundraising and public relations are branches of marketing that help non-profit and community groups raise awareness of their organizations. Fundraising campaigns promote an organization’s cause or mission and help attract donations, raise awareness and prompt people to take action. These marketing pros may plan and host events, assist in development outreach and educational campaigns and in some cases, write grant proposals.

• Education: Bachelor’s degree
• Median income: $107,320

Market research:

Market researchers are critical thinkers who help companies determine appropriate paths forward for their products and services. These professionals conduct research via survey, focus groups and polls, and identify consumer habits and market trends. They then make recommendations for action based on their findings, and they may be responsible for generating detailed analysis and reports for top executives.

• Education: Bachelor’s degree
• Median income: $62,560 

Art director:

Art directors help shape their client’s image, working with graphic designers, photographers and videographers to shape the visual images of a marketing or advertising campaign. An art director often leads in a supervisory role, overseeing numerous campaigns simultaneously. This role requires the ability to work collaboratively across all other marketing departments to ensure continuity in branding and messaging development.

• Education: Bachelor’s degree
• Median income: $89,820

Many large companies, government agencies and community organizations have in-house marketing teams; other marketing degree-holders find work in marketing, advertising and public relations firms. Marketing jobs can frequently be conducted on a freelance or consulting basis, which makes this an attractive profession for many working mothers. Advanced degrees in art design, creative copywriting, consumer science or business can provide in-depth perspective into this growing field and open the door to higher pay and evolving roles with increasing degrees of compensation and responsibility.