Sales & Marketing

How to become a Marketing Manager

From marketing specialist: every step, how long it takes, and the credential it earns.

Time to get there

4–7 years

Typical pay

$82k–$118k

Starting from

Marketing specialist

Pay is an estimate of typical US entry-level pay for this role and varies by state, employer and shift. The timeline assumes you are starting from marketing specialist and includes any licence or programme legally required, not just course length.

The route

1. 1

   2–4 years

   Build depth in one channel first

   Managers who came from nowhere in particular struggle to lead specialists.

   Course that covers thisDIGITAL MARKETING: Complete Digital Marketing CourseUdemy · around $19.99 →
2. 2

   Learn budgeting and attribution

   Defending spend is most of the role.

   Course that covers thisUltimate Microsoft Excel Bundle from Beginner to AdvancedUdemy · around $19.99 →
3. 3

   1–2 years

   Own a campaign end to end

   Strategy, brief, execution and the post-mortem.

   Course that covers thisSEO for Absolute Beginners - Learn SEO Basics QuicklyUdemy · around $19.99 →
4. 4

   1–2 years

   Manage people

   The step that makes it a management job rather than a senior specialist one.

5. ✓

   Destination

   Marketing Manager

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