Top Digital Marketing
Careers: 2021 List
Digital marketing involves promoting brand products and services using digital platforms. As online platforms take center stage, the demand for people with these skills is increasing. This means the job outlook is bright and stable for digital marketing specialists. You can also become an SEO manager, UX designer, or content strategist.
If you are looking to build a career in the field, you are in the right place. In this guide, we’ll cover the best digital marketing careers in 2021. We’ll look at the job responsibilities, education requirements, and average salaries.
Why Pursue a Digital Marketing Career?
You should consider a digital marketing career because the salaries and job growth rates are higher than average. For example, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that marketing managers earn an impressive salary of $142,170. This is almost triple the average salary for all occupations.
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Digital marketing is a growing industry with a lot of potential. With organizations increasingly relying on digital marketing techniques, the future is bright for specialists with these skills. The BLS predicts a six percent employment increase for marketing professionals between 2019 and 2029.
A career in marketing can offer a high level of versatility and work satisfaction. Organizations have a variety of marketing needs, which means you can use your experience and creativity in a wide range of roles, depending on your interests.
What Industries Are Hiring Digital Marketing Professionals?
The industries hiring digital marketing professionals include retail, automobile, fashion, food, legal, entertainment, and real estate industries. Almost all industries need to market themselves digitally in 2021. Even healthcare and government agencies rely on digital strategies to promote their services and messages.
You can choose to work with an in-house team or an agency. Many work as freelance consultants. You could even set up your own independent marketing agency.
Highest-Paying Digital Marketing Careers at a Glance
Working in the field of marketing can come with an attractive salary. Below, you will find a list of the highest-paying digital marketing careers as of 2021. The job growth estimate refers to growth between 2019 to 2029 and is sourced from the BLS. The annual salary figures have been sourced from the BLS and PayScale.
| Job Title | Education Requirement | Projected Job Growth | Median Pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| UX Designer | Bachelor’s Degree | 8% | $77,200 |
| Digital Marketing Manager | Bachelor’s Degree | 6%* | $67,961 |
| Digital Project Manager | Bachelor’s Degree | 6%* | $67,174 |
| Digital Producer | Bachelor’s Degree | 6%* | $63,896 |
| Market Research Analyst | Bachelor’s Degree | 18% | $65,810 |
| Digital Content Editor | Bachelor’s Degree | -7% | $63,400 |
| Social Media Specialist | Bachelor’s Degree | 7% | $62,810 |
| Content Strategist | Bachelor’s Degree | 6%* | $62,334 |
| Email Marketing Specialist | Bachelor’s Degree | 6%* | $50,431 |
| SEO Specialist | Bachelor’s Degree | 6%* | $46,803 |
*These careers fall under the advertising, promotions, and marketing managers job category for BLS.
The Best Digital Marketing Careers in 2021
Many careers fall under the digital marketing umbrella. However, the salary and job descriptions can vary between them. Below is a comprehensive list of the best career paths in digital marketing. We’ve based this on the job description, the education required for the role, and the average salary.
UX Designer
A UX (user experience) designer is in charge of streamlining customer experiences of a brand or product. Good user experience is an essential marketing tool in today’s digital world. UX designers work closely with web developers and software programmers to ensure the user has a positive experience with a digital product or platform.
Most UX designer jobs prefer a bachelor’s degree. The role requires specific skills in user research, UX writing, testing, and coding. Therefore, it’s also useful to have some experience in the field or take an online course to develop these skills.
UX Designer Responsibilities
- Creates prototypes and wireframes
- Conducts usability tests
- Analyzes customer feedback
- Interprets data
- Writes and creates copy
Digital Marketing Manager
A digital marketing manager is responsible for overseeing a brand’s marketing strategy. They’ll lead a marketing team in developing marketing content across digital channels. They’ll use analytics tools to monitor and optimize websites and digital campaigns.
The most common route to this role is a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing or a similar field. Some may also have a Master’s Degree in Marketing or a digital specialization. Along with the right educational training, you’ll need excellent skills in leadership, communication, and problem-solving.
Digital Marketing Manager Responsibilities
- Hires qualified candidates for the marketing team
- Plans digital marketing campaigns
- Oversees social media platforms
- Monitors and tests campaign performance
- Uses analytics tools to monitor online traffic
Digital Project Manager
The project manager supports the marketing manager. Your primary role is to oversee specific projects to market a brand or product digitally. You’ll manage project teams to ensure deadlines are met and have responsibility for the project from start to finish.
Digital project managers need an eye for detail and excellent problem-solving skills. You’ll also need to be extremely organized to meet deadlines. You’ll usually need a bachelor’s degree and a few years of experience of working on and leading digital projects.
Digital Project Manager Responsibilities
- Works closely with the marketing manager to set objectives
- Creates budgets for digital projects
- Coordinates with different members of the project team
- Creates project plans and managing deadlines
- Analyzes the success of the project
Digital Producer
A digital producer working in a marketing team produces digital assets to help promote the brand. This could be video content, graphics, or web design. They’ll need a strong mix of creative and technical skills. A big part of the job is being able to receive feedback and communicate with the wider team or client.
To get a job as a digital producer, you’ll typically need a bachelor’s degree. It also helps to have experience producing digital assets, either paid or unpaid. Having worked in a marketing-focused role will increase your chances.
Digital Producer Responsibilities
- Creates digital assets such as graphics
- Works with the marketing team to agree on the brief
- Comes up with creative ideas
- Incorporates feedback into digital assets
Market Research Analyst
Working in market research, you will spend your days collecting and analyzing data to help inform marketing strategies. This could involve finding insights on what customers think of a certain product or looking at general market figures to predict future trends. You could work for an agency or in-house for a specific client as part of their marketing team.
The predicted job growth for market research analysts is 18 percent between 2019 and 2029, so it’s a fast-growing field. To succeed, you’ll need excellent math and analytical skills, as the role focuses heavily on data. You should also have a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Analytics, Marketing, or Data Science.
Market Research Analyst Responsibilities
- Monitors and analyzes market trends
- Presents research reports to the marketing team
- Conducts research and engages directly with customers
- Evaluates ways to gather credible data
Digital Content Editor
Content marketing is becoming an increasingly popular tool to promote brands. Through digital content such as blogs, webinars, videos, and interviews, companies can increase their brand awareness and reputation without specifically marketing themselves.
The digital content editor’s role is to plan, produce, and publish content to develop a brand’s voice. To thrive as an editor, you need to be organized and creative and have excellent language and storytelling skills.
Digital Content Editor Responsibilities
- Plans multimedia content such as blogs and videos
- Commissions and writes content
- Proofreads and approves text for publishing
- Manages a team of writers and creatives
- Reports on the success of content marketing campaigns
Social Media Specialist
Social media is the heart of online marketing. Social platforms experience heavy traffic daily, making them one of the best spaces for content marketing. Social media specialists create content and engage with their audience through social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook.
To enter the field of social media marketing, you don’t necessarily need formal education or training. The only requirement is that you are creative, analytical, and comfortable using different social media platforms and tools.
Social Media Specialist Responsibilities
- Creates and publishes content on platforms
- Responds to customer queries
- Engages with their customers and wider network
- Monitors social media analytics
- Updates clients on their social media performance
Content Strategist
Digital content strategists look for the best tactics to execute a marketing campaign. They are responsible for looking at marketing output across all digital channels to make sure it forms one cohesive strategy.
You’ll need to be able to analyze audience data. The job also requires a high level of organization and leadership skills. Most digital marketing strategists have a bachelor’s degree, and some also have a master’s.
Content Strategist Responsibilities
- Creates digital marketing strategies across channels
- Researches the latest marketing strategies
- Analyzes audience data to understand their preferences
- Chooses the best platforms for marketing content
- Works closely with other marketing, digital, and sales colleagues
Email Marketing Specialist
Email marketing is a growing marketing tool. It allows companies to showcase their brand and market their services directly to their target audience. As an email marketing specialist, you’ll develop email marketing campaigns and newsletters. You’ll be responsible for monitoring subscriber reach and engagement.
You need skills in marketing automation, content writing and editing, analytics, and HTML. You should also be familiar with other forms of marketing like social media marketing and digital content. People in this profession typically have degrees in marketing or communications.
Email Marketing Specialist Responsibilities
- Creates email marketing campaigns
- Builds and manages email lists
- Monitors email campaign performance
- Proofreads campaign and newsletter content
- Works with designers to create rich email content
SEO Specialist
SEO specialists are responsible for making sure digital content is optimized so it ranks higher on Google search. The aim is to make a brand’s digital content reach more of the target audience. They analyze, edit, and test content using different SEO techniques.
These experts are in high demand. You’ll typically need a college degree. However, as SEO trends change so frequently, most training is done either through online courses or on the job.
SEO Specialist Responsibilities
- Monitors search algorithms and analytics
- Researches relevant keywords
- Creates links for outbound and inbound marketing
- Integrates content marketing strategies
- Optimizes content to increase traffic and conversions
What Role Does Location Play in Digital Marketing Careers?
Digital marketing salaries differ depending on the location. Companies located in urban areas with a higher cost of living generally pay more than companies in more remote locations.
For example, a digital marketing manager in New York earns $71,831 per year, according to PayScale. PayScale also reports a digital marketing manager in Baton Rouge, Louisiana earns $47,000 per year. You should do research on salaries in your area to make sure you are earning as high as you can.
Common Entry-Level Jobs In Digital Marketing
Entry-level jobs in digital marketing are available to recent graduates and associate degree holders. In these roles, your main job responsibility is usually to provide support to department heads, carry out research, and perform other administrative duties.
Below is a list of the most popular entry-level jobs in digital marketing. We’ve also included the average annual entry-level salary predictions according to PayScale.
What Education Is Required for a Career in Digital Marketing?
Most digital marketing careers require at least a bachelor’s degree in a related field. However, if you have an associate degree, you can apply for entry-level positions. Entry-level positions offer a learning opportunity for fresh graduates. You can also choose to work and pursue an online bachelor’s degree at the same time.
For higher-level roles, employers usually require a bachelor’s degree. You may also be expected to have a master’s degree for senior or specialist roles, which you can also pursue online.
Can I Study Digital Marketing Online?
Yes, you can pursue online degree courses for all digital marketing careers. Online learning offers convenience as it cuts out commuting, saves money on school accommodation, and allows you to learn at your own pace. You also collaborate with students worldwide, acquiring new skill sets and perspectives.
An online Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing is a great entry route to many digital marketing careers. Online coding bootcamps are a great way to gain skills such as programming. For example, if you’re looking to pursue careers that involve knowledge of coding or UX design, bootcamps are a great way to gain these industry-specific skills in less time.
Common Personality Traits in Digital Marketing Professionals
To work in digital marketing, you’ll need a blend of creative, organizational, and analytical skills. Digital marketing professionals love to challenge themselves. For each project, you’ll need to set clear goals and use your creativity and planning skills to meet your goals before the deadline.
A passion for learning and using new market trends is also a key trait for most digital marketing professionals. Whether they’re working on online content, social media, or email marketing, they’re always curious to learn new marketing techniques.
Is a Digital Marketing Job Good for Me?
Yes, a digital marketing job is good for you. There’s a digital marketing role to suit everyone. For example, if you enjoy data analysis, you can become a market research specialist. If you’re more creative, you can become a digital content editor or producer. The opportunities to specialize in a specific area are endless.
Professionals with these skills are in high demand across all industries. Businesses are investing more and more in digital marketing, as consumers increasingly engage online. So, if you are interested in marketing and want a career that uses both your creative and analytical skills, digital marketing is a great choice for you.
