What Can I Do With a Masters in Marketing?

Some of the jobs you can do as a marketing Masters graduate are advertising executive, public relations officer, social media executive, paid search specialist, brand manager and market researcher. Graduates earn a median salary of £50,400 per annum five years after completing their degree.

Let’s be real, not every marketer works in New York City and falls in love with a rival coworker despite what the romance films tell us! However, it is true that the skills you’ll learn whilst studying a Masters in Marketing can be used across a diverse range of sectors and jobs.

So, what is out there for marketing graduates? I’ll take you through some jobs you can do with a Masters in Marketing and the kinds of salaries you can expect for different roles. I’ll also highlight the skills you’ll gain which set you apart in a competitive job market. If you’re still just thinking ‘marketing executive’, this guide will hopefully broaden your horizons and give you some new avenues to explore.

Global brand director

Average salary: £108,000 per year

Responsibilities: Developing a global brand strategy, overseeing campaigns, monitoring performance, managing stakeholders, managing crises and reputation and owning brand guidelines.

Chief Marketing Officer

Average salary: £98,000 per year

Responsibilities: Developing a marketing strategy, market research and analysis, managing a campaign and leading a team.

Market research analyst

Average salary: £41,000 per year

Responsibilities: Collecting marketing and consumer insights, conducting competitor analysis, designing and conducting surveys, forecasting and modelling.

Digital marketer

Average salary: £37,000 per year

Responsibilities: Developing digital marketing strategies, email marketing and analysing and reporting outcomes.

Public relations officer

Average salary: £37,000 per year

Responsibilities: Managing media relations, managing brand reputation, internal and external communications and developing a PR strategy.

Advertising account executive

Average salary: £34,000 per year

Responsibilities: Planning and coordinating campaigns, creating and communicating briefs, managing campaign budgets and managing client relations.

Paid search specialist

Average salary: £34,000 per year

Responsibilities: Strategy and planning, setting up and managing paid ads, creating copy, testing, monitoring and reporting.

Marketing executive

Average salary: £30,000 per year

Responsibilities: Executing campaigns, research and analysis, creating content, promoting events and tracking performance.

Social media executive

Average salary: £25,000 per year

Responsibilities: Content planning and scheduling, creating content, managing different social media platforms, executing social media campaigns and managing collaborations with influencers.

Jobs you can do where a Masters in Marketing would be useful

The jobs I’ve mentioned above often require graduates to have a marketing degree. However, there are a number of other jobs which aren’t directly related to marketing, that you can still do as a recent graduate.

Product manager

Average salary: £56,000 per year

Responsibilities: Conducting customer and market research, defining the product vision and identifying market opportunities.

Web content manager

Average salary: £41,000 per year

Responsibilities: Planning content and strategy, editing and creating content, overseeing content management systems, assuring quality of content and leading a content team.

Event manager

Average salary: £34,000 per year

Responsibilities: Planning and creating a strategy for an event, coordinating with venues and vendors, managing budgets, managing logistics and promoting the event.

Copywriter

Average salary: £30,000 per year

Responsibilities: Creating content, consistently maintaining brand voice, writing content, optimising content, editing and proofreading.

What skills will I gain from a Masters in Marketing?

You’ll learn fundamental marketing principles such as consumer behaviour, strategic marketing, communications and research methods. You’ll likely also have the option to specialise in areas that most closely align with your personal interests and career aspirations, such as:

• Digital marketing
• International marketing
• Business-to-business (B2B) marketing

Some topics you might study on your course include:

• Forecasting and analytics
• Advertising theory and practice
• Employment law
• Product development
• Corporate responsibility
• Financial management
• Ethnography
• Pricing strategy

You might be taught through a variety of methods including interactive lectures, case studies, seminars and group work.

Some universities offer a ‘Practice Track’ route, where you’ll work alongside an industry partner on a real-world business challenge. This means you’ll gain practical experience of applying your skills and knowledge to live marketing scenarios.

Tips from the author

#1 Your first test is ‘marketing’ yourself

Really! One part of the job application process is being able to ‘sell’ yourself. Having the qualifications may get your foot in the door but you’ll still need to put in the effort to showcase your past experience and skills to employers. With the skills you’ve honed during your Masters in Marketing, the interview stage is your chance to shine.

#2 Make the most of the varied jobs available

As I’ve mentioned earlier, one of the biggest perks of a marketing degree is the wide range of sectors and industries you can explore. So, use that flexibility to your advantage. You might already have a specific industry in mind, and that’s perfectly fine. But if you find something in a different field that sparks your interest, go for it! Be confident that you have the skills to ace it.

#3 Ask yourself: Masters degree or practical experience?

Time for some honest reflection. Sometimes, a Masters degree might not be what you really need. Yes, I said it! Many marketing roles don’t require a postgraduate degree and can be accessed through apprenticeships, internships, or hands-on experience. However, a Masters does offer unique benefits: the chance to specialise, develop a deeper academic understanding of marketing, and even pave the way toward a PhD if that’s your goal.

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