Business and finance
Marketing specialist
Research conditions in local, regional, national, or online markets. Gather information to determine potential sales of a product or service, or plan a marketing or advertising campaign. May gather information on competitors, prices, sales, and methods of marketing and distribution. May employ search marketing tactics, analyze web metrics, and develop recommendations to increase search engine ranking and visibility to target markets.
Median pay
$78,760
Growth to 2035
+7%
faster than average
Openings a year
82,000
Time to qualify*
9 months
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Marketing specialist
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- On-the-job training
- None
- Prior experience
- None
- Required
- No license; portfolio and analytics skills matter
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Marketing specialist: 32% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- Prepare reports of findings, illustrating data graphically and translating complex findings into written text.
- Seek and provide information to help companies determine their position in the marketplace.
- Conduct research on consumer opinions and marketing strategies, collaborating with marketing professionals, statisticians, pollsters, and other professionals.
- Collect and analyze data on customer demographics, preferences, needs, and buying habits to identify potential markets and factors affecting product demand.
- Devise and evaluate methods and procedures for collecting data, such as surveys, opinion polls, or questionnaires, or arrange to obtain existing data.
- Gather data on competitors and analyze their prices, sales, and method of marketing and distribution.
- Measure and assess customer and employee satisfaction.
- Monitor industry statistics and follow trends in trade literature.
Also called: Business Development Specialist · Communications Consultant · Communications Specialist · Content Strategist · Market Analyst · Market Research Analyst · Market Research Consultant · Market Research Specialist
Outlook and AI
Marketing specialists held 952,700 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 1,019,000 by 2035 (+7%, faster than average; all jobs: +3.5%).
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