Median pay: $52,500
Top pay: $92,800
10-year job growth: 7%
Total jobs: 10,000
The job:
As a marketing rep you are the face of the company. You spend the most time with the customers, and your job is to keep them informed, happy and hungry for more. That requires an exhaustive knowledge of the company’s product or service, along with the enthusiasm to drive your message home. Since the bulk of your work is managing clients, you can usually set a flexible schedule that doesn't tie you to a desk.
How to switch:
Find a company whose product or service you believe in -- if you don't feel it, you can't pitch it. Learn everything there is to know about them, then use your gift of gab to pitch yourself to the hiring team. Learn more from the American Marketing Association: marketingpower.com. Or if you need more formal guidance, free online courses can be found at MIT: ocw.mit.edu.
Quality of life ratings:
| Personal satisfaction |
Benefit to society |
Low stress |
Flexibility |
| B |
B |
C |
A |
By Donna Rosato and Tom Ziegler
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