An email marketing internship is one of the most direct entry points into a digital marketing career that pays real dividends. For every $1 spent on email marketing, $36 is made in return, according to Litmus, a 3,600% ROI. That number is why businesses across every industry are hiring email marketing interns to support their campaigns, and why landing one of these roles can fast-track your growth as a marketer.
This guide covers exactly what the role involves, which skills matter most, what pay to expect, and how to land an email marketing internship that actually builds your career.
Key Takeaways
Email marketing delivers an average ROI of $36 for every $1 spent, making it a high-priority channel for most businesses.
Email marketing interns typically design and execute campaigns, conduct A/B testing on subject lines and CTAs, and analyze campaign performance metrics.
The average pay for a marketing intern in the United States is $19.00 per hour, according to Indeed data from over 3,900 salaries.
Marketing manager roles, which email interns often grow into, are projected to grow 8% through 2033, faster than the average for all occupations, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
HubSpot Academy's Email Marketing Certification is one of the most recognized credentials online, running about four hours across 12 bite-sized lessons.
What Does an Email Marketing Intern Actually Do?
An email marketing intern sits at the intersection of copywriting, data, and campaign operations. The day-to-day work is more hands-on than most marketing internships.
The email marketing intern assists in developing and executing email campaigns to drive customer engagement, lead generation, and brand awareness. In practice, that means working across several functions:
Designing and executing email campaigns, including promotional, transactional, and newsletter emails
Optimizing email templates for engagement, open rates, and conversions
Conducting A/B testing for subject lines, content, and CTAs
Analyzing campaign performance using email marketing analytics tools
Ensuring compliance with email marketing best practices and regulations such as GDPR and CAN-SPAM
An email marketing internship is one of the most direct entry points into a digital marketing career that pays real dividends. For every $1 spent on email marketing, $36 is made in return, according to Litmus, a 3,600% ROI. That number is why businesses across every industry are hiring email marketing interns to support their campaigns, and why landing one of these roles can fast-track your growth as a marketer.
This guide covers exactly what the role involves, which skills matter most, what pay to expect, and how to land an email marketing internship that actually builds your career.
Key Takeaways
Email marketing delivers an average ROI of $36 for every $1 spent, making it a high-priority channel for most businesses.
Email marketing interns typically design and execute campaigns, conduct A/B testing on subject lines and CTAs, and analyze campaign performance metrics.
The average pay for a marketing intern in the United States is $19.00 per hour, according to Indeed data from over 3,900 salaries.
Marketing manager roles, which email interns often grow into, are projected to grow 8% through 2033, faster than the average for all occupations, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
HubSpot Academy's Email Marketing Certification is one of the most recognized credentials online, running about four hours across 12 bite-sized lessons.
What Does an Email Marketing Intern Actually Do?
An email marketing intern sits at the intersection of copywriting, data, and campaign operations. The day-to-day work is more hands-on than most marketing internships.
The email marketing intern assists in developing and executing email campaigns to drive customer engagement, lead generation, and brand awareness. In practice, that means working across several functions:
Designing and executing email campaigns, including promotional, transactional, and newsletter emails
Optimizing email templates for engagement, open rates, and conversions
Conducting A/B testing for subject lines, content, and CTAs
Analyzing campaign performance using email marketing analytics tools
Ensuring compliance with email marketing best practices and regulations such as GDPR and CAN-SPAM
Email marketing interns also maintain and segment email lists for targeted campaigns.
Beyond the technical work, interns often coordinate across teams. This includes coordinating with internal teams such as Sales, Product, and Marketing for smooth execution of client communication.
Core Skills Employers Look For
Hiring managers for email marketing internship roles consistently screen for a specific combination of technical and communication skills. Here is what comes up most frequently in job postings.
Technical Skills
Email platform proficiency. Familiarity with Mailchimp, HubSpot, Klaviyo, or similar tools is often listed as a requirement. Highlighting skills in email marketing, SEO, social media, and analytics is important, and if you have experience with specific tools like Google Analytics or Mailchimp, mention them.
Basic HTML/CSS. Coding can help with formatting newsletters, setting up email lists, and automating emails. Learning basic coding processes in HTML, CSS, or JavaScript is useful.
Analytics. Analytics involves using data to make marketing decisions. As an email marketing specialist, you use analytics to decide what content to produce, which keywords to use, and when to deliver emails.
List segmentation. Maintaining and segmenting email lists for targeted campaigns is a core intern responsibility.
Soft Skills
Strong communication and writing ability, an analytical mindset with attention to detail, and an eagerness to learn performance marketing and growth strategies are consistently listed soft skill requirements.
Employers should seek candidates who demonstrate a passion for marketing and a willingness to learn. Curiosity and a proactive attitude matter because marketing trends change rapidly, and interns who show initiative add more value to the team.
For context on what advanced email marketing looks like in practice, our guide on email personalization techniques that boost conversions 47% shows the kind of work skilled interns contribute to.
What Tools Will You Use?
Most companies run their email programs on one of a handful of platforms. As an email marketing intern, you should aim to have working knowledge of at least one before you start.
Email marketing interns also maintain and segment email lists for targeted campaigns.
Beyond the technical work, interns often coordinate across teams. This includes coordinating with internal teams such as Sales, Product, and Marketing for smooth execution of client communication.
Core Skills Employers Look For
Hiring managers for email marketing internship roles consistently screen for a specific combination of technical and communication skills. Here is what comes up most frequently in job postings.
Technical Skills
Email platform proficiency. Familiarity with Mailchimp, HubSpot, Klaviyo, or similar tools is often listed as a requirement. Highlighting skills in email marketing, SEO, social media, and analytics is important, and if you have experience with specific tools like Google Analytics or Mailchimp, mention them.
Basic HTML/CSS. Coding can help with formatting newsletters, setting up email lists, and automating emails. Learning basic coding processes in HTML, CSS, or JavaScript is useful.
Analytics. Analytics involves using data to make marketing decisions. As an email marketing specialist, you use analytics to decide what content to produce, which keywords to use, and when to deliver emails.
List segmentation. Maintaining and segmenting email lists for targeted campaigns is a core intern responsibility.
Soft Skills
Strong communication and writing ability, an analytical mindset with attention to detail, and an eagerness to learn performance marketing and growth strategies are consistently listed soft skill requirements.
Employers should seek candidates who demonstrate a passion for marketing and a willingness to learn. Curiosity and a proactive attitude matter because marketing trends change rapidly, and interns who show initiative add more value to the team.
For context on what advanced email marketing looks like in practice, our guide on email personalization techniques that boost conversions 47% shows the kind of work skilled interns contribute to.
What Tools Will You Use?
Most companies run their email programs on one of a handful of platforms. As an email marketing intern, you should aim to have working knowledge of at least one before you start.
Mailchimp: More than 11 million users trust Mailchimp's data-driven tools to help them learn what works, improve future campaigns, and turn insights into action. It is the most beginner-friendly entry point.
HubSpot: A strong choice for B2B-focused internships. HubSpot offers marketing features including AI answer engine optimization, content remix, ad management, social media management, landing pages, SEO, and lead scoring.
Klaviyo: Common in ecommerce companies. Klaviyo AI helps build cohesive omnichannel journeys across channels like email, SMS, WhatsApp, and web chat, providing the right message at the right time on the right channel.
ActiveCampaign and Customer.io: Some internships specifically involve learning to build marketing automations in software such as ActiveCampaign, Klaviyo, and Customer.io.
Understanding A/B testing, list segmentation, and automation workflows across these platforms will make you a far more attractive candidate. For a practical look at how segmentation works at a strategic level, see our article on email list segmentation strategies that boost ROI by 760%.
Email Marketing Intern Salary: What to Expect
Pay for an email marketing internship varies depending on company size, location, and whether the role is remote or in-person.
The average salary for a marketing intern is $19.00 per hour in the United States, based on over 3,900 salaries taken from job postings on Indeed over the past 36 months. PayScale data shows a slightly different range: the average hourly pay for a marketing intern with email marketing skills is $14.72 in 2024.
Most marketing interns are nearing graduation from their college careers and have an interest in the field. Some marketing internships are paid, while others are unpaid depending on the position or organization and its budget.
Location significantly affects pay. Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract digital marketing interns, with California averaging $66,750 annually for digital marketing interns.
Looking further ahead: email marketing specialists design email marketing campaigns to reach a company's target audience and achieve marketing goals. The median total salary for an email marketing specialist is $76,000. An internship is the first step toward that figure.
The Job Market for Email Marketing Interns
The demand signal for email marketing talent is strong and getting stronger.
On average, businesses make about $36 for every $1 they spend on email marketing. Companies around the world spent about $8.3 billion on email marketing in 2023, and this is expected to hit $18.9 billion by 2028, nearly double in only five years, with an average growth rate of nearly 19%.
The job outlook for marketing professionals remains strong. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, advertising, promotions, and marketing manager roles are projected to grow 8%, faster than average for all occupations, through 2033.
Robert Half's analysis of job posting activity in the U.S. points to sustained demand for marketing and creative talent, with employers posting 376,200 jobs in 2025. Advertising for digital marketing roles across all seniority levels was particularly robust with 64,900 postings.
For 30% of marketers, content creation is the most in-demand email marketing skill, making content specialists a top hiring priority for companies, according to Litmus. Interns who can write clearly and create engaging copy will consistently stand out.
Mailchimp: More than 11 million users trust Mailchimp's data-driven tools to help them learn what works, improve future campaigns, and turn insights into action. It is the most beginner-friendly entry point.
HubSpot: A strong choice for B2B-focused internships. HubSpot offers marketing features including AI answer engine optimization, content remix, ad management, social media management, landing pages, SEO, and lead scoring.
Klaviyo: Common in ecommerce companies. Klaviyo AI helps build cohesive omnichannel journeys across channels like email, SMS, WhatsApp, and web chat, providing the right message at the right time on the right channel.
ActiveCampaign and Customer.io: Some internships specifically involve learning to build marketing automations in software such as ActiveCampaign, Klaviyo, and Customer.io.
Understanding A/B testing, list segmentation, and automation workflows across these platforms will make you a far more attractive candidate. For a practical look at how segmentation works at a strategic level, see our article on email list segmentation strategies that boost ROI by 760%.
Email Marketing Intern Salary: What to Expect
Pay for an email marketing internship varies depending on company size, location, and whether the role is remote or in-person.
The average salary for a marketing intern is $19.00 per hour in the United States, based on over 3,900 salaries taken from job postings on Indeed over the past 36 months. PayScale data shows a slightly different range: the average hourly pay for a marketing intern with email marketing skills is $14.72 in 2024.
Most marketing interns are nearing graduation from their college careers and have an interest in the field. Some marketing internships are paid, while others are unpaid depending on the position or organization and its budget.
Location significantly affects pay. Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract digital marketing interns, with California averaging $66,750 annually for digital marketing interns.
Looking further ahead: email marketing specialists design email marketing campaigns to reach a company's target audience and achieve marketing goals. The median total salary for an email marketing specialist is $76,000. An internship is the first step toward that figure.
The Job Market for Email Marketing Interns
The demand signal for email marketing talent is strong and getting stronger.
On average, businesses make about $36 for every $1 they spend on email marketing. Companies around the world spent about $8.3 billion on email marketing in 2023, and this is expected to hit $18.9 billion by 2028, nearly double in only five years, with an average growth rate of nearly 19%.
The job outlook for marketing professionals remains strong. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, advertising, promotions, and marketing manager roles are projected to grow 8%, faster than average for all occupations, through 2033.
Robert Half's analysis of job posting activity in the U.S. points to sustained demand for marketing and creative talent, with employers posting 376,200 jobs in 2025. Advertising for digital marketing roles across all seniority levels was particularly robust with 64,900 postings.
For 30% of marketers, content creation is the most in-demand email marketing skill, making content specialists a top hiring priority for companies, according to Litmus. Interns who can write clearly and create engaging copy will consistently stand out.
Getting the offer comes down to showing specific skills, not just claiming them. Here is a practical approach.
1. Build a portfolio before you apply
A great portfolio does not require past internships. Personal projects can be just as impressive as professional work if they highlight your skills clearly. Join a campus club, create a mock brand campaign, or help improve a friend's business online presence to showcase your marketing skills.
Consider starting a blog, publishing a newsletter, or curating your own email list. You can also use these published works in your portfolio.
2. Get certified
Certifications are quick wins that prove your interest and skill in marketing. Many companies filter resumes based on these, and the courses are often free and can be completed in a few hours.
The two most recognized options for email marketing specifically are:
HubSpot Email Marketing Certification: HubSpot Academy's Email Marketing Certification is probably the most popular email marketing course online. The course runs about four hours and is divided into 12 bite-sized lessons, each of which ends with a quiz.
Google's "Think Outside the Inbox": This is hosted on Coursera as part of Google's Digital Marketing and E-commerce Certification Program and has five modules with practical tasks that mirror real-world scenarios.
3. Optimize your LinkedIn profile
Your LinkedIn profile is a living resume. Recruiters use it to search for marketing internship candidates, sometimes even before posting the job.
Add your certifications, list any relevant projects, and include keywords that match common job descriptions such as "email marketing," "Mailchimp," "A/B testing," and "campaign analytics."
4. Tailor your application to each role
"Prior to sending your internship email, really reflect on your top areas of strength and what successes you've had in and out of the classroom that showcase skills that could be used in the internship," shared Brad W. Minton, certified career counselor and founder of Mint To Be Career. "Too often, students want to write about themselves and the company but don't adequately connect the dots between the two."
Use the job description to mirror the exact language the company uses. Connect your specific experiences directly to the role's requirements.
5. Demonstrate channel knowledge
78% of marketers actively use email marketing as a key part of their multichannel approach, according to Salesforce. Hiring managers want interns who understand how email fits within a broader marketing strategy, not just someone who can draft a newsletter.
Getting the offer comes down to showing specific skills, not just claiming them. Here is a practical approach.
1. Build a portfolio before you apply
A great portfolio does not require past internships. Personal projects can be just as impressive as professional work if they highlight your skills clearly. Join a campus club, create a mock brand campaign, or help improve a friend's business online presence to showcase your marketing skills.
Consider starting a blog, publishing a newsletter, or curating your own email list. You can also use these published works in your portfolio.
2. Get certified
Certifications are quick wins that prove your interest and skill in marketing. Many companies filter resumes based on these, and the courses are often free and can be completed in a few hours.
The two most recognized options for email marketing specifically are:
HubSpot Email Marketing Certification: HubSpot Academy's Email Marketing Certification is probably the most popular email marketing course online. The course runs about four hours and is divided into 12 bite-sized lessons, each of which ends with a quiz.
Google's "Think Outside the Inbox": This is hosted on Coursera as part of Google's Digital Marketing and E-commerce Certification Program and has five modules with practical tasks that mirror real-world scenarios.
3. Optimize your LinkedIn profile
Your LinkedIn profile is a living resume. Recruiters use it to search for marketing internship candidates, sometimes even before posting the job.
Add your certifications, list any relevant projects, and include keywords that match common job descriptions such as "email marketing," "Mailchimp," "A/B testing," and "campaign analytics."
4. Tailor your application to each role
"Prior to sending your internship email, really reflect on your top areas of strength and what successes you've had in and out of the classroom that showcase skills that could be used in the internship," shared Brad W. Minton, certified career counselor and founder of Mint To Be Career. "Too often, students want to write about themselves and the company but don't adequately connect the dots between the two."
Use the job description to mirror the exact language the company uses. Connect your specific experiences directly to the role's requirements.
5. Demonstrate channel knowledge
78% of marketers actively use email marketing as a key part of their multichannel approach, according to Salesforce. Hiring managers want interns who understand how email fits within a broader marketing strategy, not just someone who can draft a newsletter.
Study up on subject line performance. Our breakdown of email subject line best practices that boost open rates by 27% is the kind of tactical knowledge that impresses in interviews.
What to Expect During the Internship
Once you start, focus on output over activity. You will help create marketing materials, track campaign performance, and contribute fresh ideas to improve strategies.
Ask to be involved in A/B tests from the start. Document what you learn about open rates, click-through rates, and list health. These results become the core of your resume going forward.
Use the "skill-action-result" method to demonstrate how your contributions led to measurable success in previous roles or internships. Numbers are what differentiate a strong intern resume from a generic one.
Before starting your internship, set specific and achievable goals for what you want to learn and accomplish during your time with the company. Ask your manager in the first week what metrics they use to evaluate email performance, then make those your benchmark.
Frequently Asked Questions
What qualifications do I need for an email marketing internship?
Most roles require pursuit of a bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Marketing, IT, Commerce, or a related field. Fresher candidates or those with up to one year of experience in business development, sales, or marketing are typically eligible. Certifications in platforms like HubSpot or Google Digital Marketing can substitute for direct experience.
Is an email marketing internship paid?
Most marketing interns are nearing graduation from their college careers and have an interest in the field. Some marketing internships are paid, while others are unpaid depending on the position or organization and its budget. At larger companies and tech firms, paid internships are the standard.
What tools should I learn before applying?
Skills in email marketing, SEO, content marketing, social media, and analytics are valued, and experience with specific tools like Google Analytics and Mailchimp makes you a stronger candidate. Getting hands-on time with Mailchimp's free plan is a practical first step before applying anywhere.
Can an email marketing internship lead to a full-time role?
The outlook for this job is promising, with 6% growth expected through 2034, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. As more businesses across all industries embrace digital marketing, email marketers have become integral to business success. Interns who deliver measurable results and show initiative are strong candidates for conversion to full-time email marketing specialist or coordinator roles.
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Study up on subject line performance. Our breakdown of email subject line best practices that boost open rates by 27% is the kind of tactical knowledge that impresses in interviews.
What to Expect During the Internship
Once you start, focus on output over activity. You will help create marketing materials, track campaign performance, and contribute fresh ideas to improve strategies.
Ask to be involved in A/B tests from the start. Document what you learn about open rates, click-through rates, and list health. These results become the core of your resume going forward.
Use the "skill-action-result" method to demonstrate how your contributions led to measurable success in previous roles or internships. Numbers are what differentiate a strong intern resume from a generic one.
Before starting your internship, set specific and achievable goals for what you want to learn and accomplish during your time with the company. Ask your manager in the first week what metrics they use to evaluate email performance, then make those your benchmark.
Frequently Asked Questions
What qualifications do I need for an email marketing internship?
Most roles require pursuit of a bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Marketing, IT, Commerce, or a related field. Fresher candidates or those with up to one year of experience in business development, sales, or marketing are typically eligible. Certifications in platforms like HubSpot or Google Digital Marketing can substitute for direct experience.
Is an email marketing internship paid?
Most marketing interns are nearing graduation from their college careers and have an interest in the field. Some marketing internships are paid, while others are unpaid depending on the position or organization and its budget. At larger companies and tech firms, paid internships are the standard.
What tools should I learn before applying?
Skills in email marketing, SEO, content marketing, social media, and analytics are valued, and experience with specific tools like Google Analytics and Mailchimp makes you a stronger candidate. Getting hands-on time with Mailchimp's free plan is a practical first step before applying anywhere.
Can an email marketing internship lead to a full-time role?
The outlook for this job is promising, with 6% growth expected through 2034, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. As more businesses across all industries embrace digital marketing, email marketers have become integral to business success. Interns who deliver measurable results and show initiative are strong candidates for conversion to full-time email marketing specialist or coordinator roles.
