We all want to be paid well for what we do. And the upwardly mobile among us certainly like living in the cities that offer the best career options. So, we thought we’d show you where your best bets for both might be. For starters, we pulled cultural data and employment information to sort out which cities to spotlight. We then used the Sysomos MAP listening tool to review online conversations related to career opportunities and satisfaction in several of the cities. We tended to go with those that also offer plenty of cultural and entertainment options. After all, a healthy work-life balance keeps us inspired and energized, right? Worth noting is that the broader field of Marketing can encompass many disciplines and job titles—ranging from Search Engine Optimization (SEO), to Market Research Analyst, to Social Media Manager and beyond. We would even argue that due to increased integration in Marketing Communications, it can often include touch points in Public Relations and even Advertising. No matter how you slice the sector, it’s an exciting and rewarding field in which to work—especially if you work in one of these ten cities.

2. SHOW ME THE MONEY!
10 Leading Cities for Marketing
Salaries
We all want to be paid well for what we do. And the upwardly mobile among us certainly
like living in the cities that offer the best career options. So, we thought we’d show you
where your best bets for both might be. For starters, we pulled cultural data and
employment information to sort out which cities to spotlight. We then used the Sysomos
MAP listening tool to review online conversations related to career opportunities and
satisfaction in several of the cities. We tended to go with those that also offer plenty of
cultural and entertainment options. After all, a healthy work-life balance keeps us
inspired and energized, right?
Worth noting is that the broader field of Marketing can encompass many disciplines and
job titles—ranging from Search Engine Optimization (SEO), to Market Research
Analyst, to Social Media Manager and beyond. We would even argue that due to
increased integration in Marketing Communications, it can often include touch points in
Public Relations and even Advertising. No matter how you slice the sector, it’s an
exciting and rewarding field in which to work—especially if you work in one of these ten
cities.

3. 1. New York City
Searching Out Your Options in SEO
We find it hard to deny the richness of
the Big Apple. We’ve featured it before in
other Pulses, and with good reason. It
has a lot to offer. In this particular case,
NYC ranks highest across the board for
Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
positions, with an SEO Director pulling in
$84-128K annually.
The Big Apple has the highest number of
jobs, several different position types in
demand, and the highest salaries. It is
also home to some of the best places to
take your clients for a deal-closing
cocktail and some of the best pizza in
the world. If you can make it here, you
can make it anywhere!
SHOW ME THE MONEY!
10 Leading Cities for Marketing Salaries

4. 2. Chicago
Analyze This!
Chicago comes in as one of the best
cities for being a Market Research
Analyst, second only to NYC in number
of positions available. According to
Indeed.com, the average Market
Research Analyst brings in $80K and
there is a large concentration of jobs
available here.
Chicago comes up on so many lists that
it’s hard to keep track of all it has to offer.
It also ranked high on Indeed’s SEO,
Marketing Executive, and Mobile
Marketing listings. No matter how you
analyze it, Chicago is a city worth
building a career around. Some would
even argue it gives New York City a run
for its money in the world-class pizza
category, too. You’ll have to decide.
SHOW ME THE MONEY!
10 Leading Cities for Marketing Salaries

5. 3. Seattle
Top Guns, Top Salaries
According to Salary.com, Seattle sits
among the Top 10 for executive salaries
in Marketing, with a median annual salary
of $220K, and some positions even
ranging up to $324K. Executive positions
include Vice President and Chief
Marketing Officer (CMO) level positions
and generally require an MBA and over a
decade of related experience.
Seattle is also well known for plenty of fun
attractions, as well. It’s a hub of
technology development, it’s got music
and entertainment galore, and it’s the
home of some of the best coffee around.
For a busy executive, Seattle is a good
place to not only find a good salary—but
to find true work-life balance, too.
SHOW ME THE MONEY!
10 Leading Cities for Marketing Salaries

6. 4. Boston
Marketing on the Go
Focused on Mobile Marketing? If you
are, NYC isn’t your best bet—due to the
high concentration of competition there.
Instead, we offer Boston, one of the top
10 cities for getting a job in the booming
discipline of Mobile Marketing.
Considering the low jobs-to-population
ratios in obvious metro hotspots like
New York City or Los Angeles, a city
like Boston actually provides you more
opportunities. We have highlighted
Boston before in our other Pulses, so
by now it should be clear there is no
lack of history, nightlife, and social
interaction here! If you like experiencing
today’s mobile lifestyle in a culturally
rich location, this is the city to choose.
SHOW ME THE MONEY!
10 Leading Cities for Marketing Salaries

7. 5. San Francisco
Women Marketing Themselves
Marketing careers aren’t always about
working for a major corporation.
According to a recent Forbes survey,
more female-led entrepreneur startups
are successfully financed and launched
in San Francisco than anywhere else
besides New York City.
Per Forbes, the supportive energy of the
Silicon Valley startup community has
fueled this boom. Per Rachel Balik, a
communications writer at Achievers,
“Despite being the tech capital of the
world, there is still a leftover hippie vibe,
where everyone genuinely wants to
support each other. For women, there’s
none of that breaking the glass ceiling or
trying to get into the old boys club. The
playing field is level.” We say, “Go girl!”
SHOW ME THE MONEY!
10 Leading Cities for Marketing Salaries

8. 6. Washington, D.C.
New Grads Most Likely to Be Hired
Landing a great job in Marketing
sometimes just boils down to job
availability. According to Monster.com, a
move to Washington, D.C. will greatly
increase your chances at scoring a job.
It is listed as the overall best city to get
hired. New graduates in Marketing would
be smart to head to the nation’s capital
to be exposed to the widest number of
opportunities.
D.C. has been on several of our top lists
before. We’ve featured it as a top place
for great paying PR jobs and as one of
the most socially networked metro
areas. If you want to practice Marketing
while tapping into the pulse of the nation,
this certainly is the place to take your
career to the next level.
SHOW ME THE MONEY!
10 Leading Cities for Marketing Salaries

9. 7. Minneapolis
Digital Ad Agencies with Small-Town Charm
Advertising is one of the top performing
industries overall for 2011. That’s great
news for big city dwellers where most of
the largest advertising agencies are
headquartered. But not everybody wants
to work in the typical hotspots like New
York and Chicago. Fortunately, gems like
Minneapolis offer wonderful options for
those who want to venture off the typical
metropolitan career path.
Minneapolis has ranked on Money-
CNN’s list for best small towns to live in
for years. Minneapolis also ranks higher
than the national average for Marketing
Director salaries. For smaller-city living
with big-city bucks, consider giving this
quiet and surprising option a look.
SHOW ME THE MONEY!
10 Leading Cities for Marketing Salaries

10. 8. London
Perfect for Promotions
Not only was London listed as a top
social media mecca in a recent Pulse,
but it has also experienced double-digit
salary growth for PR pros and some of
the world’s largest global agencies have
offices here.
Even better news is that the pay is great
here once you get into management. The
bad news? Entry level marketers in
Central London aren’t paid as highly as
those in outlying areas, according to an
EMR recruiting survey. An influx of
graduates wanting to work there is
causing wages to be slightly depressed.
That said, promotions are fast and pay
escalates rapidly once you’re promoted.
So, get to work and get promoted, OK?
SHOW ME THE MONEY!
10 Leading Cities for Marketing Salaries

11. 9. Los Angeles
Social Media Jobs Surging 75%
Payscale.com lists the U.S. national
average salary for a Social Media
Manager at between $25K and $71K.
LA comes in way above the average at
between $26K and $98K. Not bad work
if you can get it. And the odds are that
you will get it in LA.
Kathy O'Reilly, director of social media
relations for Monster.com, says “The
number of social media-related jobs (in
LA) has surged 75% over the last year.
About 155 positions are available a
month, up from an average of 88 a
month a year ago.” Social media jobs
continue to rise here, so why not go
soak up the California sun while you’re
living the good life?
SHOW ME THE MONEY!
10 Leading Cities for Marketing Salaries

12. 10. Sydney
Outback Adventures for Specialized Pros
We like to go global when we can, and
Australia offers several promising
salary options. We selected Sydney,
but you’d be happy about the prospects
in Newcastle and Melbourne, too. The
outlook for Sales, Communications,
and Marketing jobs has increased by
36% this year with more employers
seeking to add permanent head count.
Employers expect that the wages will
continue to rise this year. Marketing
professionals with global experience
who specialize in digital and interactive
are in the highest demand. If you have
these skills, consider packing your
bags and heading for Australia. If you
hear the digital call of the wild, Australia
wants you!
SHOW ME THE MONEY!
10 Leading Cities for Marketing Salaries

13. SHOW ME THE MONEY!
10 Leading Cities for Marketing
Salaries
Salary + Benefits = Whole Happiness Package
The places we’ve featured deliver on salary. They also offer great lifestyle benefits.
Whether you love the nightlife, like the beach, want to travel the world, or prefer a
quaint small town pace, there is a hotspot on this list that is just right for you.
We listed some of our favorites, but we know you have your own. Where is your top
spot for earning a great living? We’d love to hear your point of view. Weigh in via the
comments field below or on Twitter (our handles are on the next slide). Maybe we’ll
join you in packing our bags for one of these great cities!

14. SHOW ME THE MONEY!
10 Leading Cities for Marketing
Salaries
Next on “The Pulse”:
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10 Favorite Digital Tools for Marketing and PR Professionals
THE PULSE:
Delivering shareable and shareworthy content with a twist
so integrated marketing and communications professionals can work smarter, succeed and enjoy.
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