Marketing Managers in California. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
What the numbers say
The median Marketing Manager in California earned $178,160 in 2024, about 15% above the national median of $154,215. The mean wage was higher still at $206,150, which tells us a smaller group of senior or specialized managers pull the average up considerably.
The data gives us a partial picture of the spread. The 10th percentile sat at $97,890 and the 25th at $131,140, so the bottom quarter of the field earned under $131,000. We do not have the 75th and 90th percentile figures for California in this release, but the $28,000 gap between the 10th percentile and the median alone points to real variation by experience and specialization.
California's cost-of-living index sits at 114.8, about 15% above the national baseline. That nearly cancels the nominal wage premium. In purchasing-power terms, the state median is closer to what $155,000 buys in an average-cost state. Californians in this role are earning more on paper than their peers elsewhere, but the day-to-day spending advantage is narrow.
BLS projects employment for Marketing Managers to grow 6.6% between 2024 and 2034, which it classifies as faster than average. California employs 56,300 Marketing Managers, the largest concentration of any state in the country, so that growth rate translates to a meaningful number of additional positions over the decade.
Salary distribution
Where California marketing managers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $139,950 and $271,360, with a median of $193,620.
Marketing Managers in California: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 974 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $199,865. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 201 | $133,682 |
| Level II — qualified | 267 | $190,500 |
| Level III — experienced | 174 | $227,760 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 167 | $280,987 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Marketing Managers in California. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| ByteDance Inc. | Product Manager | 41 | $240,000 |
| TT Commerce & Global Services LLC | Product Manager | 40 | $236,268 |
| TikTok Inc. | Marketing Manager | 30 | $235,726 |
| Meta Platforms, Inc | Product Manager | 26 | $267,650 |
| Google LLC | Marketing Manager | 21 | $231,000 |
| Adobe Inc. | Product Manager | 16 | $210,410 |
| Intuit Inc. | Manager, Corporate Strategy | 16 | $196,651 |
| Amazon.com Services LLC | Principal Product Management | 14 | $192,519 |
| Apple Inc. | Content Production Manager | 14 | $189,323 |
| NVIDIA Corporation | Marketing Manager | 11 | $211,477 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Technology Strategy Manager at Intel Corporation$227,291Santa ClaraDecided —I-200-26084-727775
- Marketing Manager at Google LLC$243,000San FranciscoDecided —I-200-26084-728550
- Product Marketing Manager - Software at Corsair Memory, Inc.$130,000MilpitasDecided —I-203-26084-729328
- Senior Director, Global eCommerce at Harman International Industries, inc.$254,500NorthridgeWage Level IVDecided —I-200-26085-730874
- Google Cloud, Channel Sales Senior Account Manager at Google LLC$246,000SunnyvaleDecided —I-200-26084-730090
- Digital Product Manager at SquareTrade, Inc.$155,000BrisbaneWage Level IDecided Mar 31, 2026I-200-26083-726794
- AI Strategic Development Lead at Cantina Inc.$200,000San FranciscoWage Level IIDecided Mar 31, 2026I-200-26083-725990
- Chief Business Officer at Reflection AI, Inc.$272,397San FranciscoWage Level IVDecided Mar 31, 2026I-200-26084-727259
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
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Marketing Managers pay by experience level in California
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Marketing Managers specialties in California
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 507 certified offers. The most common variant is Product Manager at a median of $220,500.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Product Manager | ByteDance Inc. | 130 | $220,500 |
| Marketing Manager | ByteDance Inc. | 82 | $176,762 |
| Director, Product Management | Adobe Inc. | 81 | $225,856 |
| Manager | Amazon.com Services LLC | 63 | $185,500 |
| Product Marketing Manager | Atlassian US, Inc. | 62 | $187,361 |
| VP, Marketing | Illumination Entertainment LLC | 38 | $282,651 |
| Business Development Manager | PORTON USA LLC | 17 | $144,480 |
| Principal Product Management | Synopsys, Inc. | 9 | $220,000 |
| Chief Marketing Officer | Green Bay Remodeling Inc. | 8 | $208,005 |
| Marketing Director | Tranzeal, Inc. | 6 | $183,547 |
| Brand Manager | Killer Brownie LTD. | 6 | $117,500 |
| Staff Marketing Operations Manager | Intuit Inc. | 5 | $154,659 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Marketing Managers in California, by industry
Median offered wage across 964 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Technology and software leads with a median of $216,250.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technology and software | ByteDance Inc. | 494 | $216,250 |
| Manufacturing | Apple Inc. | 164 | $190,445 |
| Professional services | Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. | 131 | $180,000 |
| Retail and wholesale | Amazon.com Services LLC | 88 | $162,219 |
| Finance and insurance | Visa U.S.A. Inc. | 39 | $180,000 |
| Media and entertainment | Illumination Entertainment LLC | 19 | $137,093 |
| Healthcare | Hinge Health, Inc. | 9 | $218,338 |
| Education | Emeritus Institute of Management, Inc. | 6 | $132,131 |
| Real estate | Turo, Inc. | 6 | $192,914 |
| Nonprofit and civic | Manta Cares Inc. | 3 | $183,102 |
| Transportation and logistics | Federal Express Corporation | 2 | $213,734 |
| Government and public sector | Planet Labs PBC | 2 | $209,750 |
| Energy and utilities | NATIONAL GRID USA SERVICE COMPANY, INC. | 1 | $346,500 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in California over the past 3 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2025 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
5 years or more
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.8 / 5
Sales and Marketing
Knowledge
- 4.5 / 5
English Language
Knowledge
- 4.0 / 5
Administration and Management
Knowledge
- 4.0 / 5
Oral Expression
Ability
- 4.0 / 5
Oral Comprehension
Ability
- 4.0 / 5
Written Comprehension
Ability
- 3.9 / 5
Critical Thinking
Cross-functional
- 3.9 / 5
Reading Comprehension
Basic skill
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Identify, develop, or evaluate marketing strategy, based on knowledge of establishment objectives, market characteristics, and cost and markup factors.
- 02
Formulate, direct, or coordinate marketing activities or policies to promote products or services, working with advertising or promotion managers.
- 03
Evaluate the financial aspects of product development, such as budgets, expenditures, research and development appropriations, or return-on-investment and profit-loss projections.
- 04
Develop pricing strategies, balancing firm objectives and customer satisfaction.
- 05
Compile lists describing product or service offerings.
- 06
Direct the hiring, training, or performance evaluations of marketing or sales staff and oversee their daily activities.
- 07
Consult with product development personnel on product specifications, such as design, color, or packaging.
- 08
Use sales forecasting or strategic planning to ensure the sale and profitability of products, lines, or services, analyzing business developments and monitoring market trends.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+6.6%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Growing faster than average
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Explore coursesTop metros in California
Metro-level salary data for marketing managers in major California metropolitan areas.
- San Jose$231,370
- San Francisco$220,480
- San Diego$174,840
- Los Angeles$171,900
- Sacramento$164,270
- Riverside$157,670
Compare Marketing Managers pay across nearby states
Considering a move? Compare California with another state
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Marketing Managers in California?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Marketing Managers in California is $193,620.
- How does California compare to the national median for Marketing Managers?
- The California median is +18.5% versus the BLS national figure of $163,329.
- What is the salary range for Marketing Managers in California?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $104,370 and the 90th-percentile at $326,400, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Marketing Managers a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 6.6% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Marketing Managers?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Bachelor's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.