The marketing sector is lagging behind national salary increases, with just 3% growth compared to the national average of 6%, according to research conducted by recruitment company, Reed.

Reed analysed more than 21 million job advertisements and asked 5,000 UK workers across sectors questions on their salary and benefits, with the research revealing some salaries have increased by up to 15%, while others have dropped by 11%.

Within marketing, communications managers (15%) and SEO/PPC executives (9%) have seen the most substantial pay increases, while others such as telesales managers (-11%) and ecommerce managers (-8%) have seen declines.

However, salaries in the marketing sector are still more than the national average, with marketing roles paying an average of £50,800 compared to the UK-wide equivalent of £38,900.

Despite this, marketers are still unhappy with their salaries. When asked why, 64% said they feel their salary hasn’t risen in line with the cost of living, while 57% said they feel they could be paid more elsewhere.

As a result, nearly two-thirds (71%) of marketers are open to new job opportunities.

Marketers forced to take on more responsibility without an uplift in pay, survey finds

Bianca Halliburton, marketing expert at Reed, suggests the sector needs to look at how best to incentivise and reward its workers, with the survey showing staff would feel more valued if employers offered additional benefits (44%), clearer career progression (36%), more recognition for their achievements (33%) and better leadership communication (27%).

“Salaries remain important, but professionals now look beyond just pay, seeking comprehensive packages that include strong benefits, flexible working, and an engaging company culture,” she says.

“Many professionals are willing to take a pay cut for the right hybrid work arrangement, a manageable commute, and a positive office environment.”

Marketing Week’s 2024 Career & Salary Survey revealed 40.1% of marketers had been asked to take on more responsibility without seeing a sufficient increase in remuneration.

Early findings from the 2025 study, which launched this week, show 58% of the more than 3,500 marketers surveyed feel overwhelmed, 56.1% feel undervalued and 50.8% are emotionally exhausted.

Marketing Week will be revealing more exclusive findings from the 2025 Career & Salary Survey, including salary benchmarking data, in the coming weeks.