Mid-Level

Marketing Consultant

The marketing advisor — providing expertise and recommendations to improve clients' marketing performance.

Career Level
Junior
Mid
Senior
Director
VP
Executive
Work Personality
E
C
I
A
S
R
Enterprisingleading, persuading
Conventionalorganizing, detail-oriented
Based on Holland Code framework
Industries that often hire Marketing Consultants
Professional Services · 28%Technology & Information · 10%Financial Services · 10%Wholesale & Distribution · 8%Manufacturing · 6%Healthcare · 5%
Job markets for Marketing Consultants
Employment concentration · ~400 areas
Based on employment in related occupations
Mapped SOC categories:
Marketing
BLS Occupational Employment Statistics
Jump to:What it's likeCareer pathsBy the numbers
What it's like

What it's like to be a Marketing Consultant

As a Marketing Consultant, you advise organizations on marketing strategy and execution. You're analyzing marketing performance, identifying opportunities, developing recommendations, and often helping implement improvements. This role requires both marketing expertise and consulting skills.

Your day involves client work and analysis. You might conduct marketing audits, analyze campaign performance, develop strategic recommendations, present to client leadership, and support implementation of marketing initiatives. You need marketing knowledge plus the ability to communicate and influence effectively.

The challenge is providing valuable advice without owning execution. Consultants recommend; clients implement. Success requires developing insights good enough that clients act on them and building relationships where your advice is valued.

What people in this role value
AchievementAbove avg
Working ConditionsModerate
SupportModerate
IndependenceModerate
RecognitionLower
RelationshipsLower
O*NET Work Values survey
Role Profile
StrategyExecution
StructuredAdaptable
ManagingContributing
CollaborativeIndependent
Things that vary from job to job as a Marketing Consultant
Specialty areaClient typeFirm typeProject lengthImplementation involvement
Marketing consulting varies by specialty and firm type. Large consultancies do broad strategy; boutiques may specialize in specific areas. Some engagements are pure advice; others include implementation support. B2B and B2C clients have different marketing challenges.
✦ Editorial — written by Truest from industry research and career patterns
Career Paths

Where this role sits in the broader career landscape — and where it can take you.

Earning potential across this track
$239K$179K$119K$60K$0KLower paying387 metro areas, sorted by salary level
All experience levels1
This level's estimated range
INDUSTRIES PAYING ABOVE AVERAGE
Technology & Information$93K+13%
Professional Services$89K+8%
Energy & Utilities$86K+4%
Financial Services$80K-3%
Wholesale & Distribution$76K-8%
Compared to Marketing average across all industries
1 BLS OEWS May 2024 covers all Marketing Consultants (SOC 13-1161.00, 13-1161.01), not just this title · BEA RPP 2023
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.
Career Growth OptionsMarketing track →
Marketing ConsultantAthlete Marketing AgentPromotional Marketing AgentEvent Brand AmbassadorMarketing Brand AmbassadorRetail Brand AmbassadorBrand AmbassadorSales Brand AmbassadorTelemarketing Representative (Telemarketing Rep)Marketing ProcessorTelemarketing Sales Representative (Telemarketing Sales Rep)Advertising Associate+107 more
Exploring the Marketing Consultant career path? Truest helps you figure out if it's the right fit — and plan your path forward.
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What it takes to advance
1
Business development
Senior consultants sell as well as deliver
2
Executive presence
Advising leaders requires credibility and communication skills
3
Practice building
Partners develop and own service offerings
Lateral Moves
Marketing Director (Client Side) →
If you want to own marketing rather than advise on it
Strategy Consultant →
If you want broader business strategy beyond marketing
Questions you might ask when interviewing
What marketing areas does the practice focus on?
What types of clients and engagements are typical?
How much strategic advice versus implementation support?
What does career development look like here?
How is new business developed — what's expected of consultants?
✦ Editorial — career progression and interview guidance based on industry patterns
The Broader Landscape

Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape — helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.

$42K–$145K
Salary Range
10th – 90th percentile
1.7M
U.S. Employment
+6.7%
10yr Growth
174K
Annual Openings

How this category is changing

$76K$72K$68K$65K$61K201920202021202220232024$61K$76K
BLS OEWS May 2024 · BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034

Skills & Requirements

Complex Problem SolvingReading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingActive ListeningActive LearningJudgment and Decision MakingSpeakingWritingSystems AnalysisMonitoring
O*NET OnLine · Bureau of Labor Statistics
Mapped SOC Codes
13-1161.0013-1161.01

Explore related roles

Other roles in the Marketing career track

directorFundraising and Marketing Director$123KjuniorJunior Promotional Marketing Agent$96KmidAthlete Marketing Agent$96KjuniorJunior Athlete Marketing Agent$96KmidPromotional Marketing Agent$96KmidEvent Brand Ambassador$38K
View all Marketing roles →

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Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) · BLS Employment Projections · O*NET OnLine
Truest editorial: Fit check, role profile, things that vary, advancement analysis, lateral moves, interview questions.