What the numbers say
About 19,180 Marketing Managers work in the Los Angeles metro, making it one of the larger concentrations of this role in the country. The 2024 median annual wage came in at $163,100, roughly 6% above the national median of $154,215.
That said, LA sits below the California statewide median of $178,160 by about $15,000. That gap likely reflects the mix of industries hiring here. The San Francisco Bay Area pulls the California figure up through a concentration of tech and venture-backed companies paying at the high end. Los Angeles skews toward entertainment, media, and consumer brands, where pay is competitive but not uniformly at the top of the national range.
The spread within the metro tells its own story. Marketing Managers at the 25th percentile earned $120,080, while those at the 75th earned $214,180. That is a $94,000 gap across the middle half of earners alone. Early-career managers and those in smaller companies or nonprofit-adjacent roles cluster near the lower end. Senior managers overseeing large budgets in entertainment or tech account for much of the upper range. The mean of $181,150 sits well above the median, which confirms a smaller group of high earners pulling the average up.
For a role with this much variation, the percentile a given position falls in matters more than the headline median. Two Marketing Manager job postings in Los Angeles can describe essentially the same title while differing by $80,000 or more in total cash compensation.
Salary distribution
Where Los Angeles marketing managers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $130,560 and $221,920, with a median of $171,900.
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.
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Explore coursesOther metros in California
How the Los Angeles metro compares to other major California metro areas for marketing managers.
- San Jose$231,370
- San Francisco$220,480
- San Diego$174,840
- Sacramento$164,270
- Riverside$157,670
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Marketing Managers in Los Angeles, California?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, the median annual wage for Marketing Managers in the Los Angeles metropolitan area is $171,900.
- Does Los Angeles pay more than the California state average for Marketing Managers?
- The Los Angeles metro median is -11.2% versus the California state median of $193,620.
- How does Los Angeles compare to the national median for Marketing Managers?
- The Los Angeles metro median is +5.2% versus the BLS national figure of $163,329.
- What is the salary range for Marketing Managers in Los Angeles?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $100,360 and the 90th-percentile at $318,960 for the Los Angeles metro area.
- 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. BLS metro estimates reflect the Los Angeles CBSA boundary 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.