SOC 11-2021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Marketing Managers — California
California · 10 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in California comes to $193,620 a year, ahead of the national median of $166,790 by 16.1%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in California comes to $193,620 a year, ahead of the national median of $166,790 by 16.1%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $139,950 and $271,360. The lowest tenth earn under $104,370, while the highest tenth earn more than $326,400.
The area has 54,660 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.18 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Among the 48 states with published data for this occupation, California ranks 2nd by median wage. San Jose leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $231,370. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 22nd of 793 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $104,370 | −37.4% |
| 25th | $139,950 | −16.1% |
| Median (50th) | $193,620 | +16.1% |
| 75th | $271,360 | +62.7% |
| 90th | $326,400 | +95.7% |
| Mean | $207,860 | +24.6% |
Highest-paying metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose | $231,370 | 7,300 | |
| 2 | San Francisco | $220,480 | 11,170 | |
| 3 | San Diego | $174,840 | 3,790 | |
| 4 | Los Angeles | $171,900 | 18,550 | |
| 5 | Santa Maria | $170,920 | 340 | |
| 6 | Oxnard | $169,540 | 620 | |
| 7 | Santa Cruz | $168,980 | 150 | |
| 8 | Sacramento | $164,270 | 1,610 | |
| 9 | Napa | $163,870 | 120 | |
| 10 | Redding | $161,910 | 70 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in California run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $193,620 buys what $174,905 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 4.9% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$193,620as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$174,905US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $193,620 a year, 16.1% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $104,370 to $326,400 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 54,660 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 2nd of 48 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is San Jose, at $231,370.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Marketing Managers in California?
The median annual wage is $193,620, or $93.09 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $166,790, so pay in California is 16.1% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in California earns more than $326,400 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $104,370 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in San Jose, at $231,370 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 54,660 jobs in this occupation in California. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
Explore related data