Marketing is among the highest paying career tracks for those who wish to pursue a career that includes planning and overseeing meetings and events. At first glance it may seem that this work is unrelated because marketing managers are responsible for promoting an organization’s products and services. Doesn’t sound like meetings and events?

Well, marketing usually works closely with sales, product development, advertising, promotions, training and other managers throughout the organization. Marketing’s basic focus is product, price, promotion and placement. And this will involve developing an entire strategy to host or participate in seminars, meetings, conferences, exhibitions, incentives and more. Events play a big part of marketing.

There are about 175,000 marketing managers in the U.S. and this is projected to rise to nearly 200,000 by 2018, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The best thing about working in marketing is that every organization has a marketing department; therefore, those who are interested in pursuing careers in marketing should try to find an industry where they are comfortable and seek opportunities from there.

Although departments tend to be small, marketing opportunities exist in corporate, non-profit, association and agency environments. Keep in mind: the smaller the organization, the greater the scope of activities; the larger the organization, the marketing manager tends to specialize in their focus. And larger organizations frequently specialize the meetings work to an event marketer.

Check out these titles and general compensation information, according to PayScale (October 2010):

Vice President (VP), Marketing (U.S.)

  • Salary: $101,792 – $170,261
  • Bonus: $13,853 – $45,893
  • Profit Sharing: $5,057 – $24,861
  • Commission: $19,189 – $41,391
  • Total Pay: $116,067 – $205,269
  • PayScale Salary Report

Marketing Director (U.S.)

  • Salary: $50,060 – $110,118
  • Bonus: $3,990 – $20,455
  • Profit Sharing: $1,962 – $10,113
  • Commission: $4,880 – $18,670
  • Total Pay: $49,666 – $120,786
  • PayScale Salary Report

Marketing Manager (U.S.)

  • Salary: $44,365 – $74,020
  • Bonus: $2,024 – $9,855
  • Profit Sharing: $1,450 – $6,076
  • Commission: $2,920 – $12,166
  • Total Pay: $44,230 – $76,702
  • PayScale Salary Report

Marketing Communications Manager (U.S.)

  • Salary: $48,455 – $77,326
  • Bonus: $2,061 – $9,567
  • Profit Sharing: $1,494 – $6,086
  • Commission: $509 – $19,653
  • Total Pay: $48,536 – $80,930
  • PayScale Salary Report

Sales & Marketing Coordinator (U.S.)

  • Salary: $33,146 – $46,648
  • Bonus: $956 – $4,799
  • Profit Sharing: $583 – $2,987
  • Commission: $2,750 – $14,658
  • Total Pay: $31,925 – $46,681
  • PayScale Salary Report

Marketing Consultant (U.S.)

  • Salary: $40,181 – $77,176
  • Bonus: $2,033 – $10,183
  • Profit Sharing: $1,017 – $5,222
  • Commission: $5,068 – $24,677
  • Total Pay: $43,946 – $94,812
  • PayScale Salary Report