Management
Marketing Managers
Also called: BD Director (Business Development Director), BD Manager (Business Development Manager), Brand Manager, Market Development Executive
US median pay
$166,790
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+6.9%
faster than average
Openings a year (US)
34,000
421,600 employed
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree
Preparation 4/5 · Considerable preparation
What this job is
Plan, direct, or coordinate marketing policies and programs, such as determining the demand for products and services offered by a firm and its competitors, and identify potential customers. Develop pricing strategies with the goal of maximizing the firm's profits or share of the market while ensuring the firm's customers are satisfied. Oversee product development or monitor trends that indicate the need for new products and services.
What they do day to day
- Formulate, direct, or coordinate marketing activities or policies to promote products or services, working with advertising or promotion managers.
- Use sales forecasting or strategic planning to ensure the sale and profitability of products, lines, or services, analyzing business developments and monitoring market trends.
- Identify, develop, or evaluate marketing strategy, based on knowledge of establishment objectives, market characteristics, and cost and markup factors.
- Direct the hiring, training, or performance evaluations of marketing or sales staff and oversee their daily activities.
- Evaluate the financial aspects of product development, such as budgets, expenditures, research and development appropriations, or return-on-investment and profit-loss projections.
- Develop pricing strategies, balancing firm objectives and customer satisfaction.
- Initiate market research studies, or analyze their findings.
- Compile lists describing product or service offerings.
- Consult with product development personnel on product specifications, such as design, color, or packaging.
- Recommend modifications to products, packaging, production processes, or other characteristics to improve the environmental soundness or sustainability of products.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Systems Evaluation3.9/5
- Persuasion3.9/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.9/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.9/5
- Time Management3.8/5
- Social Perceptiveness3.8/5
- Negotiation3.8/5
- Coordination3.8/5
Knowledge
- Sales and Marketing4.7/5
- English Language4.5/5
- Customer and Personal Service4.3/5
- Communications and Media4.1/5
- Administration and Management4.0/5
- Education and Training3.2/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 4 of 5 — Considerable preparation. Usually a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience.
Typical entry education (BLS): Bachelor's degree, plus 5 years or more of related work experience.
Who this job suits
Mostly Enterprising
Leading, persuading and starting things
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.