18 Careers in Marketing Communications (With Duties and Salaries)

When considering a career in marketing communications, it's important that you explore all the options available to you. Marketing communications include a wide variety of jobs in areas like marketing, events and promotion. By researching different marketing communications jobs, their qualifications and salary expectations, you can determine one or more jobs to focus your career on. In this article, we define what we mean by marketing communications careers and review 18 marketing communications jobs.

Related: Basics of Integrated Marketing Communication

What are marketing communications careers?

Marketing communications careers encompass a vast range of jobs in the marketing, advertising, social media, sales, event planning, market research and web content creation fields. These careers aid marketing communication efforts for businesses. Marketing communications is the process by which businesses use different communication channels and strategies to market products, services or ideas to consumers.

Related: Marketing's Promotional Mix: Definition and How to Use It

18 marketing communications career jobs

Here are 18 examples of marketing communications career jobs, including their specific job duties, education requirements and average salary expectations:

1. Marketing communication specialist

National average salary: $27,929 per year

Primary duties: Marketing communication specialists complete market research and use their knowledge of company products, services and brand imaging to create promotional content for product launches and marketing campaigns. To become a marketing communication specialist, candidates need to earn a bachelor's degree in an area like communications, public relations or marketing.

2. Brand ambassador

National average salary: $39,804 per year

Primary duties: Brand ambassadors work with companies to represent their products and services. They create content, take part in promotional events, and provide marketing professionals with insights into the company's target audiences. Brand ambassadors typically have at least a high school diploma. However, companies also employ brand ambassadors who have an associate level or bachelor's level degree.

Related: Learn About Being a Brand Ambassador

3. Social media manager

National average salary: $44,643 per year

Primary duties: Social media managers oversee all social media accounts for a business. They respond to comments, develop post schedules and coordinate partnerships with influencers. To become a social media manager, individuals should earn a bachelor's degree in marketing, communication, social media or public relations.

Related: Learn About Being a Social Media Manager

4. Promotions coordinator

National average salary: $45,404 per year

Primary duties: Promotions coordinators work closely with marketing and advertising professionals within a corporation to develop promotional materials and event ideas that help sell company products. Promotions coordinators earn a bachelor's degree in either advertising or marketing. However, they can also earn a psychology degree.

5. Marketing communications associate

National average salary: $45,511 per year

Primary duties: A marketing communications associate handles a range of marketing and promotional tasks including content creation, marketing campaign development and event promotion. They also work closely with the advertising and marketing departments to determine the best communication channels for product promotions. To become a marketing communications associate, individuals typically need to hold a bachelor's degree in public relations, marketing or communications, followed by a few years of professional marketing experience.

6. Public relations assistant

National average salary: $47,374 per year

Primary duties: Public relations assistants work for PR firms to complete administrative and marketing tasks for clients. They communicate with senior PR professionals to determine a client's needs and create content like press releases, memos or infographics that help promote their client's business or product line. Public relations assistants hold bachelor's degrees in public relations, communication or marketing to qualify for their roles.

7. Advertising specialist

National average salary: $47,911 per year

Primary duties: An advertising specialists collaborate with marketing professionals and content creators to develop unique advertising or marketing campaigns. They may also be responsible for hiring and training advertising professionals at their workplace. To become an advertising specialist, individuals should have a bachelor's degree in marketing, advertising or public relations in combination with a few years of work experience in advertising.

8. Event planner

National average salary: $50,744 per year

Primary duties: Event planners work for corporations, event venues or event planning companies to help clients achieve their event needs. They meet with clients, direct event staff and select decor that matches the client's theme and budget. In marketing communications, event planners focus on organizing product launches and other promotional events. Event planners can earn their qualifications with an associate's degree, but they typically earn a bachelor's degree in an area like event planning, hospitality or communications.

Related: Learn About Being an Event Planner

9. Marketing communications coordinator

National average salary: $51,648 per year

Primary duties: A marketing communications coordinator uses their knowledge of communication channels and content creation to contribute to their employer's promotional efforts. They communicate between the marketing and advertising departments and external media sources to decide which platforms work best for their audience. To become a marketing communications coordinator, candidates need to earn a bachelor's degree in an area like communications, public relations or marketing, followed by a few years of professional experience.

10. Market research analyst

National average salary: $56,083 per year

Primary duties: A market research analyst reviews industry trends, customer reviews and other important data to make comprehensive statements about a company's brand awareness or target audiences. Their research helps marketing communication professionals determine which communication channels work best for promoting their products. Market research analysts hold bachelor's degrees in areas like statistics, data analytics or marketing.

11. Social media strategist

National average salary: $56,959 per year

Primary duties: Social media strategists develop social media strategies for businesses that align with their marketing and promotion goals. They work closely with social media marketing professionals to establish post schedules, profile aesthetics and promotional activities that could enhance product sales. To become a social media strategist, candidates should earn a bachelor's degree in communication or marketing, followed by a few years of experience in social media marketing. Candidates may also earn a master's degree in communication or social media to qualify.

12. Brand marketing specialist

National average salary: $57,137 per year

Primary duties: A brand marketing specialist helps corporations to develop marketing campaigns and materials that align with company brand identities. They also oversee marketing and social media professionals and provide guidance on how to ensure their marketing and promotional efforts uphold their company's brand. Brand marketing specialists typically hold bachelor's degrees in communication or marketing and have a few years of experience working in brand management.

13. Advertising consultant

National average salary: $59,765 per year

Primary duties: An advertising consultant uses their experience in the advertising industry to help businesses establish unique promotional materials and determine the right channels to distribute them. To work as an advertising consultant, individuals usually earn a bachelor's degree in advertising, marketing or communication. They also have a few years of experience working in advertising that helps them to consult other professionals.

14. Marketing campaign manager

National average salary: $62,596 per year

Primary duties: Marketing campaign managers oversee a variety of different campaigns including email marketing campaigns, inbound marketing campaigns, brand development campaigns and product promotion campaigns. Marketing campaign managers earn bachelor's degrees in marketing or communication and have a few years of experience working in a marketing role.

15. Marketing communications manager

National average salary: $63,048 per year

Primary duties: Marketing communication managers oversee all marketing communication efforts for a business. They work closely with the marketing, sales and advertising departments to determine which communication channels provide the most benefit for marketing efforts. To become a marketing communications manager, individuals should earn a bachelor's degree in public relations, marketing or communication. They also need to complete professional work experience in marketing communications that qualify them for a leadership position.

16. Media buyer

National average salary: $71,855 per year

Primary duties: Media buyers work for advertising or PR firms to help clients buy advertisement slots on TV and radio programs. They also help clients purchase billboard rights and media spotlights to showcase their brand. Media buyers hold bachelor's degrees in either advertising, public relations, marketing or journalism.

17. Web developer

National average salary: $77,157 per year

Primary duties: Web developers use their knowledge of programming languages and coding practices to develop websites and mobile applications for businesses. In marketing communications, web developers help clients expand the way they communicate with target audiences through the creation of up-to-date websites and mobile services. To become a web developer, individuals can earn a bachelor's degree in web development or computer programming.

Related: Learn About Being a Web Developer

18. SEO manager

National average salary: $80,178 per year

Primary duties: SEO managers optimize web materials and use their expertise in search engine optimization to enhance engagement with company websites. They work closely with the marketing team and SEO professionals to conduct research and ensure digital marketing campaigns receive maximum engagement from web-users. SEO managers usually hold a bachelor's degree in marketing and have a few years of work experience in an SEO-focused job.