Is marketing good for introverts?
It depends on the role. Of the 4 marketing roles we compared, market research analysts and marketing specialists report the least contact with others and public relations specialists the most.
Marketing covers research work and roles built around persuading and managing people. The ratings separate them: market research analysts and specialists sit well below managers and public relations specialists on contact with others.
Management roles also rate higher on conflict. If you want to stay in quieter work, the analyst route is the one the data favours.
We compared marketing research and specialist roles, two management roles and public relations specialists. Specialist roles cover analysts and digital marketers in the federal data. The ratings come from O*NET, the US Department of Labor's occupation database, where workers answer questions about what their job involves.
What the data shows
- Contact with others ranges from 3.6 out of 5 for market research analysts and marketing specialists to 4.4 for public relations specialists. Both are closest to "contact most of the time".
- After contact, the biggest difference is in dealing with customers or the public: 2.5 out of 5 for market research analysts and marketing specialists, against 3.8 for public relations specialists.
- The next biggest is face-to-face discussions: 3.8 out of 5 for market research analysts and marketing specialists, against 4.8 for public relations specialists.
- 1 of the 4 occupations with their own pay data involve more contact with others than the typical US occupation.
- 34% of market research analysts and marketing specialists say they have face-to-face discussions every day, compared with 82% of public relations specialists.
- 3 of the 4 rate working in a team as very important or more.
- Among occupations with their own pay data, the lowest-contact one is market research analysts and marketing specialists, at a median $78,760 a year. The best paid is marketing managers, at $166,790.
Social demands, side by side
Each figure is an O*NET average on a 1 to 5 scale. Lower means less of it. Hover a heading for the exact question.
| Role | Contact | Face-to-face | Phone | Speaking | Customers | Teamwork | Conflict | Noise |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists | 3.6 | 3.8 | 4.2 | 2.3 | 2.5 | 3.8 | 2.3 | 1.8 |
| Advertising and Promotions Managers | 4.4 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 2.8 | 3.3 | 4.6 | 3.0 | 2.1 |
| Marketing Managers | 4.3 | 4.4 | 4.9 | 2.7 | 3.7 | 4.8 | 3.2 | 2.8 |
| Public Relations Specialists | 4.4 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 3.0 | 3.8 | 4.5 | 3.1 | 2.6 |
Pay, entry and outlook
| Role | Median pay | Typical entry education | Typical training | Growth 2025-35 | Projected openings a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists | $78,760 | Bachelor's degree | None | +7.0% | 82,000 |
| Advertising and Promotions Managers | $133,660 | Bachelor's degree | None | -3.7% | 2,300 |
| Marketing Managers | $166,790 | Bachelor's degree | None | +6.9% | 34,000 |
| Public Relations Specialists | $74,750 | Bachelor's degree | None | +1.8% | 23,000 |
Each role in detail
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists
Contact with others: 3.6 out of 5, closest to "contact most of the time", more than 7% of ranked occupations. Face-to-face discussions every day for 34% of workers. Phone calls: closest to "once a week or more". Public speaking: closest to "once a year or more". Teamwork rated "very important"; dealing with customers or the public "fairly important". Distracting noise: closest to "once a year or more".
Median pay $78,760 a year. Typical entry education: bachelor's degree. About 82,000 projected openings a year.
Core tasks, as listed by O*NET:
- Seek and provide information to help companies determine their position in the marketplace.
- Prepare reports of findings, illustrating data graphically and translating complex findings into written text.
- Conduct research on consumer opinions and marketing strategies, collaborating with marketing professionals, statisticians, pollsters, and other professionals.
Advertising and Promotions Managers
Contact with others: 4.4 out of 5, closest to "contact most of the time", more than 48% of ranked occupations. Face-to-face discussions every day for 68% of workers. Phone calls: closest to "every day". Public speaking: closest to "once a month or more". Teamwork rated "extremely important"; dealing with customers or the public "important". Distracting noise: closest to "once a year or more".
Median pay $133,660 a year. Typical entry education: bachelor's degree. About 2,300 projected openings a year.
Core tasks, as listed by O*NET:
- Plan and prepare advertising and promotional material to increase sales of products or services, working with customers, company officials, sales departments, and advertising agencies.
- Inspect layouts and advertising copy, and edit scripts, audio, video, and other promotional material for adherence to specifications.
- Coordinate activities of departments, such as sales, graphic arts, media, finance, and research.
Marketing Managers
Contact with others: 4.3 out of 5, closest to "contact most of the time", more than 46% of ranked occupations. Face-to-face discussions every day for 60% of workers. Phone calls: closest to "every day". Public speaking: closest to "once a month or more". Teamwork rated "extremely important"; dealing with customers or the public "very important". Distracting noise: closest to "once a month or more".
Median pay $166,790 a year. Typical entry education: bachelor's degree. About 34,000 projected openings a year.
Core tasks, as listed by O*NET:
- Formulate, direct, or coordinate marketing activities or policies to promote products or services, working with advertising or promotion managers.
- Use sales forecasting or strategic planning to ensure the sale and profitability of products, lines, or services, analyzing business developments and monitoring market trends.
- Identify, develop, or evaluate marketing strategy, based on knowledge of establishment objectives, market characteristics, and cost and markup factors.
Public Relations Specialists
Contact with others: 4.4 out of 5, closest to "contact most of the time", more than 54% of ranked occupations. Face-to-face discussions every day for 82% of workers. Phone calls: closest to "every day". Public speaking: closest to "once a month or more". Teamwork rated "extremely important"; dealing with customers or the public "very important". Distracting noise: closest to "once a month or more".
Median pay $74,750 a year. Typical entry education: bachelor's degree. About 23,000 projected openings a year.
Core tasks, as listed by O*NET:
- Respond to requests for information from the media or designate an appropriate spokesperson or information source.
- Post and update content on the company's Web site and social media outlets.
- Plan or direct development or communication of programs to maintain favorable public or stockholder perceptions of an organization's accomplishments, agenda, or environmental responsibility.
What the numbers can't tell you
- O*NET ratings are averages of worker answers on a 1 to 5 scale. Some questions ask how much (contact), some how often (face-to-face, phone, public speaking, conflict, noise) and some how important (teamwork, customers). They are shown on their own scales.
- The ratings describe the job, averaged across workers and workplaces. A particular employer, team or shift can be very different.
- They don't measure personality, and they are not career, medical or psychological advice.
- Pay and openings are national figures from the BLS. Local pay varies.
Common questions
Which marketing job involves the least contact with others?
Of the 4 roles compared here, market research analysts and marketing specialists report the least, at 3.6 out of 5 on O*NET's contact rating, closest to "contact most of the time".
Do these marketing jobs need a degree?
All 4 occupations with BLS education data typically need more than a high school diploma to start.
Do these ratings measure personality?
No. They are averages of what workers say their job asks of them. They describe the work, not the people doing it, and they are not career, medical or psychological advice.