Marketing Manager

💰 $108K–$160K salary range

Median: $130K  ·  Based on 1,231 public job postings  ·  Updated October 15, 2026

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These professionals are instrumental in translating complex AI capabilities into compelling market narratives and executing data-driven go-to-market strategies for AI-native products. Based on an analysis of 208 job postings, the compensation for the Marketing Manager role typically ranges from $120,000 to $185,000, with a median salary reported at $150,000. Individuals achieving top pay possess advanced proficiency in marketing analytics for AI adoption metrics, strategic content development for technical audiences, and hands-on experience leveraging generative AI tools for campaign optimization. This position demands a blend of strategic insight and execution excellence to effectively position cutting-edge AI solutions within competitive markets.

📊 Salary breakdown

Marketing Manager salary by location

• All locations: $130K median ($108K–$160K typical range)
• New York: $130K median, $110K–$157K range (+0% vs. national)
• San Francisco: $168K median, $142K–$208K range (+29% vs. national)
• Los Angeles: $116K median, $103K–$138K range (-11% vs. national)
• Denver: $110K median, $105K–$125K range (-16% vs. national)
• Chicago: $116K median, $105K–$128K range (-11% vs. national)
• Dallas: $119K median, $83K–$150K range (-9% vs. national)
• Boston: $120K median, $114K–$130K range (-8% vs. national)
• Atlanta: $140K median, $123K–$140K range (+8% vs. national)

Highest paying companies

San Francisco

• Anthropic: $288K median
• OpenAI: $235K median
• Perplexity: $215K median
• Notion: $203K median
• Fal: $200K median
• Decagon: $185K median

New York

• Outtake: $195K median
• Outtake: $180K median
• DoorDash: $176K median
• AB InBev: $175K median
• PayPal: $145K median
• Tennr: $135K median

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

What's typically included

• Health insurance: 69% of postings
• Equity (RSU/options): 65% of postings
• Flexible PTO: 60% of postings
• Parental leave: 34% of postings
• Learning/education budget: 13% of postings
• Visa sponsorship: 6% of postings

Typical experience required: 5–6 years.

Marketing salaries by seniority

• Marketing Coordinator: $95K
• Growth / Marketing Manager: $123K
• Marketing Manager: $130K
• Senior Growth Manager: $154K
• Deployment Strategist: $170K
• Marketing Lead: $175K
• Head of Growth: $195K
• Growth Engineer: $196K
• VP Marketing: $200K

What does a Marketing Manager do?

Marketing Managers are marketers who drive demand, brand, and growth. This benchmark reflects Manager-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 $160K for Marketing Manager roles, ranging $130K–$187K, across 258 filings. This is reported separately from — never blended with — the job-posting median above.

Common questions

What is the average Marketing Manager salary at an AI startup?
The median pay is $130K, with a typical range of $108K–$160K, based on 1,231 public job postings collected in 2025–2026.

What is the Marketing Manager salary in New York?
New York Marketing Managers at AI-native startups earn a median of $130K, with a typical range of $110K–$157K (25th–75th percentile). That's 0% above the $130K US national median. 22% below San Francisco's $168K. Based on 226 qualifying postings, 2025–2026.

What is the Marketing Manager salary in San Francisco?
San Francisco Marketing Managers at AI-native startups earn a median of $168K, with a typical range of $142K–$208K (25th–75th percentile). That's 29% above the $130K US national median. Based on 151 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 1,231 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 October 15, 2026.

Hiring Marketing Managers? RFS recruiters specialize in Marketing placements at AI-native and high-growth startups. Talk to an RFS recruiter →

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