An MBA in Marketing is one of the most versatile degrees you can get; with this degree in hand, you can work in almost any industry. Virtually all products and services, from consumer goods and construction materials to healthcare, regularly use marketing. You can choose from a wide range of industries and positions that suit you best.
Your MBA qualifies you not only to work in marketing, but also to provide business insight and oversight. You may even end up managing others and creating strategies and solutions.
Many of these career paths are lucrative. From a marketing manager to a CMO, you have plenty of room for advancement and specialization with this degree.
Eight Careers to Consider with a Marketing MBA
Eight of the most popular options for marketing MBAs are detailed below, but this versatile degree should allow you to find a position in almost any industry that uses marketing to promote products and services.
Marketing Manager
Average Salary: $132,000
The first stop for many new MBA graduates is the role of marketing manager. In this job, you’ll lead a team that includes both creatives and technical staff. You’ll also need to interface with key company stakeholders, to provide insight and advice for your brand’s marketing strategy, and to evaluate different opportunities and modes.
You’ll be responsible for showcasing your brand’s products, correctly targeting an audience, and making the most of your budget. The way that you allocate your funds will have a huge impact on your ROI and success. You’ll also need to be a savvy manager of people, as finding, training, and retaining talent for your brand.
Public Relations Director
Average Salary: $114,000
Sometimes a part of marketing, the public relations department works independently to place promotional and newsworthy information in the regular press. Mentions in newspapers, in magazines, on television broadcasts, and online are the ultimate goal for this position.
If you love working with people and enjoy networking, then this position is likely right for you. Cultivating a network of journalists, hosting press conferences and events, and plotting out campaigns are all part of this job. Expect to work with writing and copy professionals, as well as to interact regularly with reporters. In many cases, you will become the face of and spokesperson for your brand.
Market Research Director
Average Salary: $132,000
Instead of directly marketing a product or service, this manager works to discover the primary candidates for a product and their thoughts about a specific brand, product, or service. Market research includes gathering and analyzing data, interfacing with study groups, and learning about niche areas of interest.
Expect to engage with prospective customers to gather insight into their particular preferences and to gauge their interests in a particular vertical. This is one of the more analytical roles in marketing, and it is ideal for those who have a strong interest in the field but are more introverted. Less networking is required, but more detailed work is the key to success in this field.
Most large brands have marketing research teams on board; there is also the potential to work for a market research company that serves other businesses.
Fundraising and Development Manager
Average Salary: Variable
Nonprofits of all sizes, from museums to assistance organizations, require help raising funds. In this role, you will cultivate relationships with donors, create new ways to raise funds, and work with other businesses to gain sponsorships and support. This role requires a thorough understanding of the potential ROI of different efforts and the ability to network well.
In development, you’ll cultivate relationships with wealthy individuals, create events that showcase your organization’s work, and come up with ideas that can be implemented through specific fundraising efforts. From your local art museum and hospice to your local food bank, you’ll put your degree to work for a good cause when you focus on fundraising for a nonprofit.
Marketing Consultant
Average Salary: $123,000
If you have an entrepreneurial spirit and enjoy helping others succeed, you can put your marketing MBA to work as a consultant. You’ll work with companies to create marketing plans and strategies designed to boost revenues and increase success. Many mid-sized brands that are experiencing growth are in dire need of experienced marketing help, but they lack the budget to afford a full-time CMO. Marketing consultants can fill this gap and provide insight and advice as needed.
This is an ideal position for someone who loves to travel and learn about new brands; it is also ideal if you work well independently and want to manage your own schedule.
Grant Team Leader
Average Salary: $114,000
Government and business grants are used by schools, charities, and other nonprofits for both operating costs and one-time projects. Grant writers need to have excellent communication skills and the ability to follow complex requirements. Since grant writing takes up a lot of time, a manager in this field needs to be able to assess which programs offer the best potential for a specific brand and which opportunities are most worth pursuing.
Grants may come from the Federal or state government, from big brands like Microsoft and Walmart, from smaller community foundations, and even from individuals. Monitoring the status of each grant, tracking applications and results, and interfacing with both financial and creative professionals is a must in this fast-paced, detail-driven position.
Social Media Director
Average Salary: $130,000
Using your MBA for a directorship-level position with a large brand allows you to fully explore all of the benefits of social media, from enhanced brand awareness and emerging platforms to technology.
Expect to engage with influencers, to study and evaluate different platforms, and to manage other marketing specialists and creatives. This is an emerging field that offers plenty of opportunity, particularly since it is currently underserved.
Product Marketing Manager
Average Salary: Variable
Often found in big brands that own multiple product lines, such as automobile manufacturers and consumer goods brands, a product marketing manager will work with one product or line to develop strategies and solutions. From ensuring ideal placement on store shelves and supervising PR to being available as a brand spokesperson, this manager takes ownership of a specific part of a company and leads it to success.
Expect to work with a variety of departments within your organization to account for costs, to deploy a budget, and to work with both creative and technical people to successfully showcase your product. Some product marketing jobs begin at the designer level, before the item is even brought to market; others work with existing products and brand names to ensure continued success.
A marketing MBA is incredibly versatile and offers many avenues to success. Its high earning potential, coupled with its higher than average growth potential, ensures that this field is accessible and welcoming to those with an MBA.