Growth / Marketing Manager

💰 $99K–$180K salary range

Median: $132K  ·  Based on 794 public job postings  ·  Updated August 30, 2026

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Driving user acquisition, activation, and retention, this role leverages data insights and AI-driven tools to scale growth for AI-native products. Based on 207 job postings, salaries range from $105K to $221K, with a median of $175K. Professionals commanding top compensation demonstrate expertise in SQL for advanced data analysis, sophisticated A/B testing frameworks, and prompt engineering for leveraging generative AI in campaigns. Success hinges on a deep understanding of customer journeys within an AI product context and the ability to iterate rapidly based on measurable outcomes. This strategic role is pivotal in translating cutting-edge AI product capabilities into market success and sustained user adoption.

📊 Salary breakdown

Growth / Marketing Manager salary by location

• All locations: $132K median ($99K–$180K typical range)
• New York: $145K median, $111K–$184K range (+10% vs. national)
• San Francisco: $170K median, $130K–$190K range (+28% vs. national)
• Chicago: $110K median, $82K–$142K range (-17% vs. national)
• Los Angeles: $115K median, $91K–$146K range (-13% vs. national)
• Austin: $103K median, $85K–$166K range (-22% vs. national)
• Boston: $160K median, $91K–$171K range (+21% vs. national)
• Seattle: $135K median, $106K–$154K range (+2% vs. national)
• Dallas: $80K median, $78K–$143K range (-40% vs. national)

Highest paying companies

San Francisco

• OpenAI: $247K median
• Leg io n Health: $200K median
• Exa: $195K median
• Sierra AI: $185K median
• Twitch: $156K median
• Triumph Arcade: $105K median

New York

• Sunset: $205K median
• Basic Capital: $201K median
• Sent: $188K median
• Kalshi: $185K median
• Distributed Spectrum: $175K median
• Shepherd: $168K median

Based on companies with 3+ active postings. Median of publicly advertised salary range.

What's typically included

• Health insurance: 74% of postings
• Equity (RSU/options): 62% of postings
• Flexible PTO: 51% of postings
• Parental leave: 28% of postings
• Learning/education budget: 14% of postings
• Visa sponsorship: 4% of postings

Typical experience required: 5–5 years.

Marketing salaries by seniority

• Marketing Coordinator: $87K
• Marketing Manager: $126K
• Growth / Marketing Manager: $132K
• Senior Growth Manager: $158K
• Marketing Lead: $175K
• Head of Growth: $185K
• Growth Engineer: $188K
• VP Marketing: $200K

What does a Growth / Marketing Manager do?

Growth / Marketing Managers are marketers who drive demand, brand, and growth. This benchmark reflects Mid-level base compensation at high-growth and AI-native companies.

Government wage data

For corroboration, U.S. Department of Labor certified wage filings (FY2026) show a median of $159K for Growth / Marketing Manager roles, ranging $128K–$179K, across 170 filings. This is reported separately from — never blended with — the job-posting median above.

Common questions

What is the average Growth / Marketing Manager salary at an AI startup?
The median pay is $132K, with a typical range of $99K–$180K, based on 794 public job postings collected in 2025–2026.

What is the Growth / Marketing Manager salary in New York?
New York Growth / Marketing Managers at AI-native startups earn a median of $145K, with a typical range of $111K–$184K (25th–75th percentile). That's 10% above the $132K US national median. 15% below San Francisco's $170K. Based on 186 qualifying postings, 2025–2026.

What is the Growth / Marketing Manager salary in San Francisco?
San Francisco Growth / Marketing Managers at AI-native startups earn a median of $170K, with a typical range of $130K–$190K (25th–75th percentile). That's 28% above the $132K US national median. Based on 113 qualifying postings, 2025–2026.

Where does this salary data come from?
It is aggregated from public job postings on company career pages — no private placement or client data. We require a minimum of 15 postings per role.

Methodology

Figures are the midpoint of each posting's advertised USD salary range, aggregated from 794 public job postings (2025–2026). The range shown is the 25th–75th percentile; the median is the 50th percentile. Equity is separate and not included; where a posting's range reflects on-target earnings (OTE) for commission roles, that is included in the midpoint. Roles require at least 15 postings to be published. Last refreshed August 30, 2026.

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