With a projected job growth of 11.8 per cent predicted for 2023–2028, marketing is an appealing career choice in Australia right now.
An MBA can help you establish a strong foundation in essential business principles and acquire vital skills and knowledge to navigate the complexities of the dynamic marketing field. From honing leadership capabilities to gaining strategic insights, this article explores the typical marketing career pathway and how an MBA can fast-track your marketing career path in Australia. We look at how to grow your marketing salary with an MBA and offer valuable insights into how it can help you achieve your professional goals.
Typical marketing career path
There are a number of paths you can take in your marketing career depending on your experience and your interests. Let’s take a look at what a typical marketing career path might look like in Australia.
Marketing coordinator
A marketing coordinator serves as a vital link between various teams, helping to execute marketing strategies and campaigns. According to SEEK, this role receives an average annual salary of $75,000 in Australia. This entry-level position often requires a bachelor’s degree in marketing or a related field. Some hands-on experience in the form of internships or assistant roles can provide a competitive edge in securing this role.
Marketing manager
Moving up the marketing ladder, the role of a marketing manager may involve supervising campaigns, analysing market trends and overseeing a team. In Australia, marketing managers can expect to earn up to $110,000 a year, as reported by SEEK. This mid-level position generally requires you to have a bachelor’s degree alongside several years of experience in marketing or a related field.
Marketing director
Stepping into more strategic responsibilities, a marketing director is tasked with developing comprehensive marketing strategies aligned with business objectives. In this position, you could earn an average salary of $180,000 in Australia, according to SEEK. This position typically requires a bachelor’s degree and substantial industry experience. Some organisations might also prefer candidates with postgraduate qualifications such as an MBA due to the leadership and strategic skills required for this role.
Chief marketing officer (CMO)
Sometimes known as the head of marketing, the CMO sits at the apex of the marketing hierarchy and plays a pivotal role in shaping an organisation’s overarching marketing vision. SEEK reported that the average salary for CMOs in Australia is $155,000, which is reflective of their responsibility and influence within the business. Aspiring CMOs often hold advanced degrees such as an MBA, which equips them with the business knowledge needed to drive innovation, manage teams and navigate complex market landscapes.
Experience career growth in marketing with an MBA
An MBA is particularly well-suited for marketers aspiring to leadership and managerial positions. It covers various core disciplines such as finance, strategy, operations and management while providing a broader view of business, polishing your leadership skills, encouraging innovative thinking and preparing you for a changing global landscape.
While the average marketer salary in Australia is $90,000 per year, according to SEEK, that figure covers a range of different careers in marketing – from social media coordinators and sales and marketing assistants to e-commerce managers and SEO experts.
With an MBA added to the mix, things can look very different. As you gain the tools and knowledge to confidently lead a team and align marketing strategies with an organisation’s overall goals, you can position yourself for a more senior and managerial position such as a marketing director or even as the head of marketing.
Explore MBA options with marketing units
Today’s MBAs are designed to create strong leaders who are in demand in ever-changing global markets. Many MBAs offer distinct marketing core units and electives as part of their programs. These subjects can help you build your marketing knowledge and skills as well as support your career progression in marketing. You can learn how to plan and deliver effective marketing campaigns by gaining an understanding of essential marketing topics such as customer behaviour, market research, brand development and more.
Other learning outcomes may include:
- developing proficiency in using data analytical tools for marketing purposes
- exploring modern marketing practices that focus on creating value for both customers and the company
- gaining insights into the strategies and methods marketers use in today’s fast-paced environment
- learning practical marketing techniques, including segmentation, targeting and positioning
Many MBAs offer distinct marketing core units and electives as part of their programs. These subjects can help you build your marketing knowledge and skills as well as support your career progression in marketing.
The University of Sydney’s MBA includes the Innovation in Strategic Marketing unit, where students learn how marketing relates to other functions within a business. The unit also introduces various forms of technology that can be used to develop strategic marketing plans.
The Master of Business Administration (Marketing) program from Flinders University offers the Marketing in a Digital Age unit, which focuses on the tools and theories involved in marketing management. Some topics that are covered in this unit are market segmentation, marketing mix and branding.
The following MBA courses include one or more marketing units.
The part-time Master of Business Administration (MBA) is purpose-built to unlock your personal and professional ambitions and refine your leadership skills.
This postgraduate coursework degree will develop your leadership, communication and critical thinking skills, and prepare you for applying these skills in the complex global business environment.
The Master of Business Administration (Marketing) provides a comprehensive foundation in core business principles, with a specialisation in marketing. With sustainability built-in to every topic, industries 4.0 and 5.0 will come to life beyond the concepts. You will deepen your knowledge of marketing principles and how to use them to drive business results.
The MBA (Marketing) is designed for the future, with sustainability built in. You will learn how to take advantage of technology in order to test and understand customer motivations, track the path to purchase, shape emerging market niches and improve the organisation’s brand.
The course is designed to provide a strong foundation of business knowledge, skills and attitudes to support ethical, global business management of organisations including private sector business organisations, not-for-profit organisations and public organisations. Through experiential learning techniques, students will develop knowledge and skills to conduct independent research, carry out industry and discipline-related projects, and relate their learning to their individual business experience.
While completing an MBA at Griffith University, students study courses in sustainability, accounting and reporting, finance, people management, strategy and innovation and managing change through responsible leadership. Through study, you will be equipped with an understanding of the key functional areas within a business and the challenges facing businesses.
As part of your studies, you will gain real-world insights through access to academic and industry experts, benefit from a curriculum informed by world-class research and further your professional practice to maximise your career progression. You will have the opportunity to engage with a diverse cohort of highly experienced peers from a wide range of industry backgrounds in an engaging learning environment.
Benefit from an evidence-based approach to marketing and gain access to the latest in practical industry-informed research. You will gain advanced marketing knowledge across a range of areas, including advanced marketing analytics, advertising theory and practice, brand management, buyer behaviour insights, and marketing strategy and planning.
Increase and deepen your range of management skills. This program covers the latest trends and influences in business and builds on your skills in critical thinking and analysis.
You will complete six courses in the fundamentals of accounting, economics, corporate finance, strategic management and marketing. Then choose six interest topics, including international trade and finance, entrepreneurship, global business management and research.
Is marketing a good career in Australia?
Marketing is a dynamic and evolving field that constantly presents new challenges and opportunities. With an MBA, you can acquire the essential skills for a successful marketing career path, gaining the essential business knowledge to become a valuable asset within any leadership team.
An MBA program will give you a deep understanding of market trends, consumer behaviour and emerging technologies. It can also empower you to make informed decisions and drive organisational growth. An MBA equips you with the ability to stay ahead of the curve, anticipate industry changes and devise effective strategies to overcome these obstacles – emerging as a successful leader.
Ashok Alexander, Director at Operacy Staffing, says, “One of the main skills I found my MBA gave me was the ability to have an overview of the business. Rather than a single focus in, say, engineering, we were able to look at case studies to get a better understanding of functions across a business.”
Alexander also suggests that an MBA gives marketers a broader perspective and a deeper understanding of what’s happening in the market. As he puts it, “Doing an MBA can provide many perspectives, allowing for a more holistic understanding of the marketing industry such as how it is connected with other departments of business, like finance, operations or HR.”
He goes on to emphasise the importance of combining industry experience with the knowledge gained through an MBA. “I believe students who already have some industry experience will benefit the most from doing an MBA.” The fusion of practical expertise and academic insights creates a powerful skill set that enables marketers to thrive in the Australian market.
Explore where an MBA could take you on your marketing career path
Take the next step towards a thriving marketing career by exploring courses offered by leading institutions in Australia that include marketing core and elective units.