Career Options

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS), marketing professionals "plan and direct advertising policies and programs or produce collateral materials, such as posters, contests, coupons, or give-aways, to create extra interest in the purchase of a product or service for a department, an entire organization, or on an account basis."

Although the BLS did not have a specific definition for a person working in direct marketing, the above description fits the profession well.

Salary and Job Outlook
The average salary nationwide for a person employed as an advertising and promotions manager is $62,260. In Minnesota, the highest level of employment and salaries are paid in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, and the average hourly wage is $36.43. The industries that pay the best wages in the metro area are engineering, accounting, research, management, and related services.

Marketing managers in the Twin Cities area enjoy an average hourly wage of $41.80, which adds up to an annual salary of $86,944. The industry that pays marketing managers the best wages in the Twin Cities area is the business services industry.As you think about entering a certificate program and are interested in how it will fit with your career plans, please check the career planning resources to assist you in your career path.   Information interviews with people in the field are an excellent way to learn about more career opportunities and potential employment . 

Industry Information
Compared with other industries, a relatively high proportion of marketing professionals are highly educated. Around 40 percent of those in management and public relations services have a bachelor's degree. Nationwide, 25 percent of workers employed in this field have a master's degree or higher and some jobs have strict entry requirements.

Today's managers deal with rapid technological innovations, such as the impact of electronic business ("e-business"). This is not any different in the field of direct marketing. Experts in the field suggest that new employees entering the field understand how to generate positive results legally and ethically.

Online Resources for Employment and Salary Outlook

The University Libraries Careers and Jobs Web site is a comprehensive site for many aspects of your career exploration and has information on careers in direct marketing.  The Midwest Direct Marketing Association has information on jobs and information related to the field of direct marketing.

CCE’s online career planning resources Web site

General employment resources:   http://www.cce.umn.edu/career/tools/resources.html

Labor statistics: Bureau of Labor Statistics  http://www.bls.gov/

State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates for Minnesota: http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_mn.htm

 

Sources: U.S. Department of Labor and Statistics, April 2002,  U.S. Department of Labor, and the Minnesota Department of Economic Security, April 2002.