Email Marketing Jobs: How to Break Into One of Digital Marketing’s Most Valuable Roles
Among the most desired jobs in the world of digital marketing is that of email marketing, one of the easiest to get into. While there are those jobs in paid media that would need budgets for advertising to test your skills or SEO, which would need time before you can see results,
This is not the case in email marketing. If you want to get into email marketing, then look no further than this guide below.
Why Email Marketing Is a Strong Career Choice
Before delving into getting your first job, let me explain the value of email marketing:
- High Demand: Every business that maintains an email list requires someone to maintain it.
- Quantifiable Results: You can measure the results achieved from it.
- Transferable Skills: Your expertise in email marketing transfers to CRM management and marketing automation.
- Good Compensation: Mid-level email marketers make around $65,000-$90,000; Managers: $75,000-$120,000+
- Can Work Remotely: It is entirely digital work, hence many opportunities to work remotely.
- Defined Career Path: Specialist > Manager > Director > VP of Marketing
Types of Email Marketing Jobs
The field of email marketing jobs is far more extensive than many people would think. The following are the primary positions.
Email Marketing Specialist
The most prevalent junior-level email position. The job entails creating and delivering email campaigns, managing the list, tracking performance, and updating templates.
Salary: $45,000–$75,000.
Email Marketing Manager
Responsible for the overall email strategy and scheduling. Supervises specialists and is responsible for all revenues generated through emails.
Salary: $70,000–$120,000.
Marketing Automation Specialist
Develops automated workflows for emails and oversees the integration process between email and CRM solutions. More technical than an average email position.
Salary: $65,000–$100,000.
CRM Manager
Manages all the information about customers throughout their journey via email communication. Usually involves similar responsibilities as those of an email manager.
Salary: $75,000–$120,000.
Email Copywriter
Responsible for writing emails including subjects, bodies, CTAs etc. Usually operates on freelance or agency basis.
Project rates: $150–$600 per email.
Email Deliverability Specialist
Niche position, highly specialized into email deliverability and inboxing processes. Highly sought-after but rather uncommon specialization.
Salary: $80,000–$130,000.
Director of Email / CRM
Senior level position responsible for managing the full suite of emails and CRM campaigns.
Supervises a team and is responsible to the VP or CMO.
Salary: $120,000–$175,000+.
Skills Required for Email Marketing Jobs
Technical Skills
- Experience with at least one ESP: Mailchimp, Klaviyo, HubSpot, ActiveCampaign, Salesforce Marketing Cloud
- Marketing automation skills: Ability to create and fix marketing automation sequences
- HTML/CSS knowledge: To tweak emails and fix any issues with renderings
- Data analysis skills: Ability to analyze reports and A/B test results, track revenue attribution
- List management: Ability to segment, tag and manage suppression lists
Creative Skills
- Email copywriting: Write effective subject lines, body copy, CTAs
- Basic design sensibilities: Know what a good-looking email looks like (even if you aren’t designing it)
Strategic Skills
- Customer journey thinking: Knowing the position of the subscriber within the customer’s journey and their needs at that stage
- A/B testing approach: Knowing what to test, how to conduct tests and how to analyze their results
- Segmentation approach: Knowing how to segment your audience and create relevant content
How to Build Email Marketing Skills Without a Job
You do not have to be employed to hone your email marketing skills. This is how to start building a portfolio and learning basics of email marketing prior to getting your first job.
Start Your Own Email List
Create an email newsletter on a subject that interests you using a free trial account on platforms such as Mailchimp, MailerLite, and ConvertKit. It does not matter whether you get only 100-200 subscribers for your list.
Take Free Certifications
- Email marketing certifications
- HubSpot Email Marketing Certification (Free, Industry Recognized)
- Mailchimp Academy
- Klaviyo Product Certifications
- Google Analytics 4 Certification (demonstrates ability to measure impact of email marketing)
Volunteer Your Skills
Propose managing email marketing campaigns for non-profit organizations, local business, or startups in return for portfolio items. Nothing substitutes for experience with an actual client and actual results.
Study High-Performing Emails
Sign up for 20-30 newsletters and mailing lists from various sectors. See what makes you open an email, read through the body of the email and what makes you click the CTA button. Sites like “Really Good Emails” (reallygoodemails.com) are highly recommended.
Build Sample Campaigns
Develop 3-5 sample email marketing campaigns for fictional or existing brands. Develop the subject line, design the template (or use the default of the marketing email platform) and draft the body copy.
How to Write a Resume for Email Marketing Jobs
Email marketing resumes must first emphasize measurable accomplishments, not job duties alone.
Bad: “Managed email marketing campaigns”
Good: “Managed email marketing campaigns for 45,000 subscriber list with 32% average open rate and produced $280,000 of email revenue in 2024.”
Always Include
- Familiar email platforms (Mailchimp, Klaviyo, Hubspot, etc.)
- Campaign metrics for any email campaigns that you’ve handled (open rate, click-through rate, revenue, email list size, etc.)
- Automations that you’ve set up
- Relevant certifications
If You’re Applying for Your First Email Role
Start your pitch by highlighting transferable skills:
- Experience with content writing (copywriting)
- Experience with data analysis (performance metrics)
- Experience with project management (campaigns)
- All freelance or volunteer experience with email
Where to Find Email Marketing Jobs
Job Boards
- LinkedIn Jobs: Top source for in-house email marketing jobs
- Indeed: Many postings in every size of company
- We Work Remotely: Top for remote email marketing positions
- AngelList Talent (Wellfound): Start-up email marketing jobs have high growth potential
- FlexJobs: Selected remote and flexible jobs
Agency and Freelance Work
- Upwork: Best to build a portfolio fast (lower rates but real experience)
- Fiverr: For starting freelance work
- PeoplePerHour: Email marketing freelance projects
Networking
Most email jobs aren’t advertised. Top chances come from:
- Connections on LinkedIn and LinkedIn job postings
- Email marketing networking groups (Email Geeks Slack, Only Influencers)
- Word-of-mouth in the industry
How to Ace the Email Marketing Interview
“Walk Me Through an Email Campaign You Managed From Start to Finish.”
Begin by stating your objective, audience, strategy, implementation, and outcomes, respectively. Your ending should include concrete metrics.
“How Would You Improve Our Current Email Program?”
Join their email list prior to the interview. Be ready to share 2–3 concrete observations and improvement suggestions from the emails you received.
“How Do You Handle a Declining Open Rate?”
Explain your diagnostic process. This includes checking deliverability, segmentation, subject lines, and send frequency.
“What Does Good Email Segmentation Look Like?”
Use examples to explain: Behavioral segmentation vs. Demographic Segmentation. How you have used each, and the effect of segmentation on your campaign.
“What’s Your Favorite Email You’ve Ever Received? Why?”
This shows your preference and analytical skills. Choose an example that is easy for you to analyze. Explain why the subject line worked, why the copy worked, and why the CTA worked.
Final Thoughts
Email marketing positions are worth considering since they are in-demand, well-paid, offer work from home options, and have an easy-to-navigate career progression to top marketing roles.
The route is simple, gain relevant skills through personal experience, get certified on major platforms, and gather a portfolio of results. This unique combination of skills is valued in the job market and will pay off nicely.
Start now – your first email marketing position is just around the corner.