3 High-Paying Marketing Jobs That Do Not Require A Degree In 2024

“Marketing services are a billion-dollar industry. In the United States alone, marketing spending increased by more than nine percent to nearly 481 billion U.S. dollars in 2022,” says market research authority Statista.

The skyrocketing demand for marketing services over the years presents avid marketing professionals and would-be marketers with an enormous opportunity to make a decent living within this industry.

AI (artificial intelligence) supercharged the marketing industry by providing marketing professionals with analytical tools, content optimization, creation, and writing tools, and a range of other helpful software that marketers are already integrating into their everyday work.

One interesting fact that Statista pointed out from their research is that TikTok, YouTube, and Google were projected to witness a significant uptake in marketing spend, as of last year. These three platforms appear to be the favorite of marketing professionals as they are realizing its vast potential, hence the allocations within their marketing budget.

But is it possible to cash in on the marketing euphoria?

Indeed it is. There are loads of career opportunities within the marketing industry, and what’s more, new job titles are also being created.

But what if you have no degree…Can you still land a high-paying job within this booming industry?

The good news is that although many roles require you to have a degree within marketing or similar specialism, employers are becoming much more open these days to hiring those who have the skills, technical knowhow, and willingness to adapt and learn. Even better, if you can demonstrate that you have a portfolio (which you can gain through internships, freelancing, or volunteering) you will be more likely to land a high-paying job within marketing.

Additionally, there are plenty of helpful online courses which you can enrol on—many of them being free of charge or having free trial or freemium options. Some of these sites include Coursera, Google Career Certificates, HubSpot, and LinkedIn Learning.

Forbes5 Free Digital Marketing Courses To Study In 2024By Rachel Wells

Now that you know that it is possible to work in marketing without needing to undergo a four-year undergraduate course, check out these three marketing jobs below that do not require a degree:

1. Social Media Manager

Social media managers are some of the most well-paid professionals within the marketing industry, taking an average pay of $115,000. Some of the daily responsibilities of the role include planning the content strategy for social media platforms, and researching and creating content. However, it’s worth noting that to begin with, personal projects and volunteering should be given first attention, so you have something with which to fill your resume.

Skills You Need

• Community management and engagement
• Communication skills
• Analytical skills
• Creativity
• Writing
• Adaptability
• Marketing-specific software

Average pay range: $101,340 to $128,550

2. Marketing Consultant

A marketing consultant advises businesses of various industries and sizes on how to develop their marketing strategy, marketing campaigns, and increase overall engagement, leading to more sales for the business. When you don’t have a degree, it’s best to consider bootcamps and professional marketing certifications such as those offered by Google. Sharing your expertise via online platforms such as on your LinkedIn profile, can help you secure a job as a marketing consultant, or even obtain freelance consulting gigs.

Skills You Need

• Problem-solving
• Data analysis
• Communication skills
• Project management
• Relationship-building

Average pay range: $68,131 and $91,214

3. Influencer

Remember it was noted earlier that social media platforms such as TikTok and YouTube occupy a major portion of the marketing budget? If you don’t wish to work directly within marketing per se, you could afford to work on the other side in collaboration with marketing professionals, as an influencer. Influencer marketing is an industry worth more than 20 billion globally, so there is much potential here for you to collaborate with brands as an influencer.

Skills You Need

• Visual appeal
• Creativity
• Passion for quality and unique content
• Communication
• Research
• Collaboration
• Analytical skills

Average pay range: $55,726 to $77,903 (though some influencers report six-figure incomes or more)

As you can see from these three jobs, having a degree might be helpful, but is not nearly as important as essential skills that are integral to your career success within your marketing job, such as analytical skills, communication, and innovation and creativity. If you work on refining these skills, and combine this effort with undergoing an online certificate or bootcamp, you will be able to work your way up in the marketing industry and multiply your income potential—even without a degree.