Marketing manager
Marketing managers plan and lead the work that makes people aware of a product, service or organisation and persuades them to choose it.
What can you do with a marketing degree?
Also called: Marketing management · Digital marketing · Marketing and communications · Business with marketing
Updated How we use data
Quick answer
A marketing degree teaches how organisations understand customers, develop products and brands, and promote them through advertising, digital channels, sales and public relations. It combines business studies with psychology, data analysis and creative work. Graduates often become digital marketers, marketing managers, public relations officers or event managers, and work in almost every industry.
Careers with a marketing degree
Marketing graduates work in consumer brands, retail, technology, finance, healthcare, charities, government and marketing agencies. Many start as digital marketers or marketing assistants, handling social media, content, search and email campaigns, and later become marketing managers. Others move into public relations, event management, market research, brand management, sales or product management. Graduates with creative skills sometimes move into graphic design after extra training or building a portfolio. Data skills are increasingly important in all these roles.
-
-
Digital marketer
Digital marketers promote products, services and organisations online through search engines, social media, email, websites and online advertising.
-
Public relations officer
Public relations (PR) officers manage how an organisation communicates with the public, the media and other groups.
-
Event manager
Event managers plan and run events such as conferences, exhibitions, festivals, weddings, product launches and sports events.
-
Graphic designer
Graphic designers create visual content that communicates ideas, such as logos, brand identities, packaging, posters, publications, websites and social media graphics.
Other roles graduates go into: Brand manager · Market research analyst · Social media manager · Account manager · Product marketing manager · SEO specialist
What you study and the skills you gain
Typical topics
- Principles of marketing
- Consumer behaviour and psychology
- Market research and data analysis
- Digital and social media marketing
- Brand management and advertising
- Marketing strategy and planning
- Marketing communications and public relations
- International and sustainable marketing
Skills you gain
- Understanding customer needs and behaviour
- Planning and running marketing campaigns
- Analysing market research and campaign data
- Writing persuasive content for different channels
- Using digital tools for social media, search and email
- Presenting ideas and working with creative teams
How the degree differs around the world
Marketing is studied as a specialist degree or as a major within a business or commerce degree. In the UK and much of Europe, a bachelor's usually takes three years, and many UK programmes offer an optional placement year. In the United States, Canada and many Asian countries it is usually a four-year business degree with a marketing major, and in Australia a three-year commerce or business degree is common. Entry requirements are usually moderate, and mathematics helps with data modules. Some business schools hold international accreditation, and professional marketing bodies in several countries offer their own qualifications.
How do marketing graduates do?
Earnings and employment by country
The OECD compares graduates by field of study. This subject falls under “Business and administration”. The first column compares the median earnings of tertiary-educated adults in this field with all tertiary-educated adults (100 = average).
| Country | Earnings index (all graduates = 100) | Employment rate, this field | Employment rate, all graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denmark | 119 (2023) | 90.2% (2021) | 87.8% |
| Sweden | 117 (2023) | 89.2% (2024) | 89.6% |
| Austria | 111 (2023) | 84.0% (2024) | 86.4% |
| Norway | 110 (2023) | 90.1% (2024) | 89.3% |
| Latvia | 110 (2023) | 87.7% (2024) | 87.7% |
| Canada | 110 (2020) | 80.6% (2021) | 80.4% |
| Portugal | 108 (2020) | 89.7% (2024) | 90.7% |
| Switzerland | 108 (2023) | 88.2% (2024) | 89.5% |
| United Kingdom | 108 (2020) | 84.4% (2021) | 84.6% |
| Mexico | 108 (2023) | 80.8% (2024) | 81.5% |
| South Korea | 108 (2023) | — | — |
| United States | 107 (2023) | 85.5% (2017) | 84.3% |
| Germany | 105 (2020) | 88.3% (2024) | 88.7% |
| Australia | 105 (2020) | 88.0% (2024) | 88.4% |
| Chile | 103 (2023) | 83.7% (2022) | 85.7% |
| Luxembourg | 102 (2023) | 87.8% (2024) | 85.7% |
| Finland | 100 (2022) | 89.4% (2024) | 88.8% |
| Slovenia | 97 (2020) | 91.2% (2024) | 90.8% |
| Romania | 97 (2023) | 91.0% (2024) | 91.5% |
| Estonia | 95 (2023) | 87.3% (2024) | 89.2% |
| Costa Rica | 91 (2023) | 54.5% (2024) | 79.2% |
| Iceland | — | 95.2% (2016) | 93.6% |
| Netherlands | — | 92.2% (2024) | 90.6% |
| Poland | — | 91.7% (2024) | 91.6% |
| Lithuania | — | 90.2% (2024) | 90.4% |
| Croatia | — | 90.0% (2024) | 89.7% |
| Slovakia | — | 89.7% (2024) | 90.5% |
| Czechia | — | 88.6% (2024) | 88.4% |
| Ireland | — | 88.6% (2021) | 86.9% |
| Belgium | — | 87.0% (2024) | 88.5% |
| Greece | — | 86.7% (2024) | 82.3% |
| France | — | 86.5% (2024) | 87.3% |
| Hungary | — | 85.8% (2024) | 76.2% |
| Italy | — | 85.5% (2024) | 84.7% |
| Spain | — | 83.9% (2024) | 83.9% |
| Peru | — | 79.7% (2024) | 81.7% |
| Türkiye | — | 72.9% (2016) | 72.9% |
Source: OECD, Education at a Glance. Adults aged 25–64 with tertiary education; latest year available, full-time earners where published. Values are for the whole field of study, not this subject alone. Where a country publishes only broad fields, we use “Business, administration and law”.
Graduate earnings in the UK
The UK government links tax records to university records to measure what graduates earn. These figures are for “Marketing” first-degree graduates who were employed in the 2023–24 tax year.
| Time since graduating | Median | Lower quartile | Upper quartile | In work or study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| After 1 year | £24,900 | £21,200 | £29,300 | 85.5% |
| After 3 years | £29,600 | £24,900 | £36,200 | 86.8% |
| After 5 years | £34,800 | £27,400 | £44,700 | 86.8% |
| After 10 years | £42,100 | £29,300 | £59,700 | 84.7% |
Source: UK Department for Education, Graduate labour market outcomes (LEO), tax year 2023–24. Earnings are annual and include only graduates in sustained employment. More UK detail on CourseToJob.co.uk
Is a marketing degree right for you?
It may suit you if
- You are interested in why people choose one product or brand over another.
- You enjoy mixing creative ideas with data and business thinking.
- You like communicating and working in teams on fast-moving projects.
Think twice if
- You want a specialist degree that employers require, as many marketing jobs are open to graduates of any subject.
- You dislike working with numbers, as modern marketing relies heavily on data.
- You want steady routines, as campaigns bring changing priorities and tight deadlines.
Further study
Many graduates go straight into work, as practical experience matters a lot in marketing. A master's in marketing or digital marketing is popular with graduates of other subjects and with international students, and an MBA can help with senior roles later. Professional qualifications from national marketing bodies, and certificates in digital advertising and analytics tools, are common alongside work.
Questions about studying marketing
What jobs can you get with a marketing degree?
Common jobs include digital marketer, marketing manager, public relations officer, event manager, brand manager, market research analyst, social media manager and agency account manager. Graduates also work in sales, product management, online retail and communications in almost every industry, as well as in charities and government.
Is a marketing degree worth it?
It can be, especially if you combine it with practical experience. The degree gives you a useful mix of business, psychology and data skills, but many marketing jobs are also open to graduates of other subjects. Internships, a portfolio of campaigns and digital skills often make the difference. The official UK data on this page gives one example of graduate outcomes.
Do you need a marketing degree to work in marketing?
No. Many marketers studied business, English, psychology, media or other subjects, and some started without a degree. Employers mainly want evidence that you can communicate, understand customers and use digital tools and data. A marketing degree gives you a strong base and can make it easier to join graduate programmes.
What is the difference between marketing and business management?
Business management covers all parts of running an organisation, including finance, operations, human resources and strategy. Marketing focuses on customers: research, branding, communication, pricing and sales. Many business degrees include marketing modules, and many marketing degrees include core business subjects, so the choice depends on how much you want to specialise.
Related subjects
-
Business management
A business management degree teaches how organisations are run, including strategy, marketing, finance, people management and operations.
-
Journalism and media studies
A journalism and media studies degree teaches how news and media content is researched, produced and shared, and how media shapes society.
-
Psychology
A psychology degree is the scientific study of the mind and behaviour: how people think, feel, learn, develop and relate to each other.
Sources
- OECD — Education at a Glance, labour-market outcomes — Earnings and employment by field of study, adults 25–64
- UK Department for Education — Graduate labour market outcomes (LEO) — CAH CAH17-01-03 — Marketing
- UNESCO — ISCED-F 2013 — ISCED-F 0414
How to cite this page: CourseToJob (2026). What can you do with a marketing degree? Jobs and salaries. https://coursetojob.com/subjects/marketing/ (accessed September 26, 2026)