U.S. Marketing Salary and Satisfaction Study Results

The American Marketing Association and Aquent recently released the results of a salary and job satisfaction survey of marketing professionals (AMA members) across the US. In addition to the salary information, the study included psychographic and workplace dynamic related questions. Some of the findings:

• More than 80% of marketers surveyed regarded marketing ROI and new technology initiatives as very important.
• 60% believe understaffing is a severe problem at their origination. These marketers feel overextended.
• More than half feel firefighting and time management are problematic.
• 87% work more than 40 hours.
• 80% of marketers from smaller companies rated the caliber of their work as exceptional. The percentage rating their work exceptional decreased dramatically as company size increased.
• Middle managers are more inclined to feel their projects are rushed.
• Job satisfaction means much more than a paycheck; work/life balance, the level he or she is trusted, corporate culture, the fit between job responsibilities and skills and business ethics are all important components.

One question/response I found particularly interesting was a correlation between companies marketers see as socially responsible or ethical and increased business. Marketing ROI continues to be the subject of a lot of talk and little action. Most studies indicate marketers are not even systematically using marketing performance measures, so serious marketing ROI processes are far beyond the reach of most.

The AMA and Aquent have created a website with a salary comparison tool and the research study in a downloadable PDF at no charge. There is a link to the site from the story at Marketing Today.