Jobs Similar to Marketing Managers
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to marketing managers, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Sales Managers, Advertising and Promotions Managers and Public Relations Managers.
Marketing Managers: $166,790 median pay · usual preparation: Bachelor's degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Marketing Managers) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sales ManagersSame group | 84% | $148,270−11% | Bachelor's degree |
| 2 | Advertising and Promotions ManagersSame group | 84% | $133,660−20% | Bachelor's degree |
| 3 | Public Relations ManagersSame group | 83% | $146,910−12% | Bachelor's degree |
| 4 | Fundraising ManagersSame group | 82% | $125,470−25% | Bachelor's degree |
| 5 | Fundraisers | 82% | $72,550−57% | Bachelor's degree |
| 6 | Chief Executives | 82% | $213,990+28% | Graduate degree |
| 7 | Advertising Sales Agents | 81% | $64,820−61% | Training or associate |
| 8 | Public Relations Specialists | 81% | $74,750−55% | Bachelor's degree |
| 9 | Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents | 81% | $78,660−53% | Bachelor's degree |
| 10 | Project Management Specialists | 80% | $102,320−39% | Bachelor's degree |
| 11 | First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers | 80% | $87,520−48% | Bachelor's degree |
| 12 | Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists | 80% | $78,760−53% | Bachelor's degree |
| 13 | Information Technology Project Managers | 80% | $116,580Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 14 | Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel | 80% | $69,990−58% | High school |
| 15 | Financial Managers | 80% | $166,5700% | Bachelor's degree |
| 16 | Compensation and Benefits Managers | 80% | $149,230−11% | Bachelor's degree |
| 17 | Media Programming Directors | 80% | $90,360Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 18 | Search Marketing Strategists | 80% | $78,760Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 19 | Management Analysts | 79% | $101,860−39% | Bachelor's degree |
| 20 | General and Operations Managers | 79% | $105,770−37% | Bachelor's degree |
- 1Sales Managers
84% similar · $148,270 (−11%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 2Advertising and Promotions Managers
84% similar · $133,660 (−20%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 3Public Relations Managers
83% similar · $146,910 (−12%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 4Fundraising Managers
82% similar · $125,470 (−25%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 5Fundraisers
82% similar · $72,550 (−57%) · Bachelor's degree
- 6Chief Executives
82% similar · $213,990 (+28%) · Graduate degree
- 7Advertising Sales Agents
81% similar · $64,820 (−61%) · Training or associate
- 8Public Relations Specialists
81% similar · $74,750 (−55%) · Bachelor's degree
- 9Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents
81% similar · $78,660 (−53%) · Bachelor's degree
- 10Project Management Specialists
80% similar · $102,320 (−39%) · Bachelor's degree
- 11First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers
80% similar · $87,520 (−48%) · Bachelor's degree
- 12Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists
80% similar · $78,760 (−53%) · Bachelor's degree
- 13Information Technology Project Managers
80% similar · $116,580 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 14Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel
80% similar · $69,990 (−58%) · High school
- 15Financial Managers
80% similar · $166,570 (0%) · Bachelor's degree
- 16Compensation and Benefits Managers
80% similar · $149,230 (−11%) · Bachelor's degree
- 17Media Programming Directors
80% similar · $90,360 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 18Search Marketing Strategists
80% similar · $78,760 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 19Management Analysts
79% similar · $101,860 (−39%) · Bachelor's degree
- 20General and Operations Managers
79% similar · $105,770 (−37%) · Bachelor's degree
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that need less preparation
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for marketing managers also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where marketing managers is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Public Relations Specialists (91)
- Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists (90)
- Search Marketing Strategists (90)
- Fundraisers (89)
- Online Merchants (88)
- Advertising Sales Agents (86)
- Purchasing Managers (86)
- Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes (85)
- Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents (81)
- Business Intelligence Analysts (80)
Questions about jobs like marketing managers
What jobs are most similar to marketing managers?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Sales Managers (84% similar), Advertising and Promotions Managers (84% similar), Public Relations Managers (83% similar), Fundraising Managers (82% similar) and Fundraisers (82% similar).
Which jobs like marketing managers pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Chief Executives ($213,990, +28%; usually a graduate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with marketing managers ($166,790).
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.