Entry Level Email Marketing Jobs: How to Land Your First Role
Break into email marketing with actionable tips for landing entry level positions. Learn skills employers want, resume strategies, and where to find jobs.
Entry Level Email Marketing Jobs: How to Land Your First Role
Break into email marketing with actionable tips for landing entry level positions. Learn skills employers want, resume strategies, and where to find jobs.
Email marketing delivers one of the strongest returns in digital marketing. For every $1 spent, the average return is $36, according to Litmus, equal to a 3600% ROI. That kind of performance drives consistent hiring demand, making email marketing jobs entry level a genuinely viable starting point for marketers who want to build a durable, high-value skill set.
This guide covers what entry level email marketing jobs actually involve, what skills and tools you need to be competitive, how to build a portfolio from scratch, and how to move up fast once you get in the door.
Key Takeaways
Entry-level email marketing positions start at around $43,000 per year, with experienced specialists earning up to $111,612.
Entry-level email marketing roles require strong communication skills, basic knowledge of email marketing platforms, and an understanding of audience segmentation and campaign analytics.
Free certifications from platforms like HubSpot or Google build foundational knowledge, while creating sample campaigns or volunteering for small businesses provides practical experience.
Email marketing managers often begin as coordinators or specialists, honing skills in campaign creation and analytics before progressing to a managerial role where they strategize and execute complex campaigns.
In digital marketing, your portfolio does the work your resume cannot. Marketing skills are provable: you can show a campaign you optimized or an email sequence you built.
What Entry Level Email Marketing Jobs Actually Involve
An entry level email marketing job involves creating, designing, and managing email campaigns to engage customers and promote a company's products or services. Responsibilities typically include writing email copy, segmenting audiences, analyzing performance metrics, and using tools like Mailchimp or HubSpot.
On a daily basis, you can expect to build and schedule email campaigns, maintain marketing lists and databases, segment audiences, and track performance metrics like open and click rates.
You may also assist with drafting and proofreading email copy, coordinating with designers or other marketing team members, and performing quality checks.
These are not just administrative tasks. Each one builds a skill that compounds quickly. A person who can segment an audience properly and write copy that connects is already ahead of most applicants. Understanding how drive results gives you an analytical edge from day one.
Email marketing delivers one of the strongest returns in digital marketing. For every $1 spent, the average return is $36, according to Litmus, equal to a 3600% ROI. That kind of performance drives consistent hiring demand, making email marketing jobs entry level a genuinely viable starting point for marketers who want to build a durable, high-value skill set.
This guide covers what entry level email marketing jobs actually involve, what skills and tools you need to be competitive, how to build a portfolio from scratch, and how to move up fast once you get in the door.
Key Takeaways
Entry-level email marketing positions start at around $43,000 per year, with experienced specialists earning up to $111,612.
Entry-level email marketing roles require strong communication skills, basic knowledge of email marketing platforms, and an understanding of audience segmentation and campaign analytics.
Free certifications from platforms like HubSpot or Google build foundational knowledge, while creating sample campaigns or volunteering for small businesses provides practical experience.
Email marketing managers often begin as coordinators or specialists, honing skills in campaign creation and analytics before progressing to a managerial role where they strategize and execute complex campaigns.
In digital marketing, your portfolio does the work your resume cannot. Marketing skills are provable: you can show a campaign you optimized or an email sequence you built.
What Entry Level Email Marketing Jobs Actually Involve
An entry level email marketing job involves creating, designing, and managing email campaigns to engage customers and promote a company's products or services. Responsibilities typically include writing email copy, segmenting audiences, analyzing performance metrics, and using tools like Mailchimp or HubSpot.
On a daily basis, you can expect to build and schedule email campaigns, maintain marketing lists and databases, segment audiences, and track performance metrics like open and click rates.
You may also assist with drafting and proofreading email copy, coordinating with designers or other marketing team members, and performing quality checks.
These are not just administrative tasks. Each one builds a skill that compounds quickly. A person who can segment an audience properly and write copy that connects is already ahead of most applicants. Understanding how drive results gives you an analytical edge from day one.
Email marketing job titles at the entry level include Email Marketing Coordinator, Email Specialist, CRM and Email Specialist, Marketing Automation Specialist, and Email Designer/Copywriter.
Email Marketing Coordinators are the organizational backbone of email campaigns. They assist in the execution of email strategies, manage subscriber lists, and ensure email content aligns with brand messaging. This role serves as a foundation for understanding the intricacies of campaign management and customer engagement.
From there, the career path moves steadily upward:
Email Marketing Coordinators typically earn between $43,839 and $65,000, while Email Marketing Specialists who oversee the creation and execution of campaigns, analyze performance data, and develop improvement strategies earn between $54,957 and $83,123.
Email Marketing Managers often begin as coordinators or specialists, honing skills in campaign creation and analytics. Progressing to a managerial role means strategizing and executing complex campaigns, often leading a team. With experience, they may become Senior Email Marketing Managers handling larger-scale projects. Advancement can lead to Head of Email Marketing or Director of Digital Marketing positions.
After gaining between three and five years of experience as a specialist or coordinator, you can move into a managerial role.
Skills Hiring Managers Look For
To thrive in an entry level email marketing role, you need a grasp of marketing principles, strong writing skills, and ideally a bachelor's degree in marketing, communications, or a related field. Familiarity with platforms such as Mailchimp or Constant Contact, as well as basic analytics tools, is often expected.
With the ever-evolving landscape of privacy laws and regulations, you must also have an understanding of compliance issues. Skills in navigating regulations such as GDPR, CCPA, and CAN-SPAM are essential to ensure campaigns are both effective and legally compliant.
Here is a breakdown of what matters most:
Hard skills:
Understanding email platforms, basic HTML, data analysis, and content creation.
A/B testing and campaign performance interpretation
Interpreting metrics such as open rates, click-through rates, conversion rates, and bounce rates to refine strategies.
Soft skills:
Attention to detail, creativity, and the ability to work collaboratively.
Strong writing skills, attention to detail, and a willingness to learn.
Email marketing job titles at the entry level include Email Marketing Coordinator, Email Specialist, CRM and Email Specialist, Marketing Automation Specialist, and Email Designer/Copywriter.
Email Marketing Coordinators are the organizational backbone of email campaigns. They assist in the execution of email strategies, manage subscriber lists, and ensure email content aligns with brand messaging. This role serves as a foundation for understanding the intricacies of campaign management and customer engagement.
From there, the career path moves steadily upward:
Email Marketing Coordinators typically earn between $43,839 and $65,000, while Email Marketing Specialists who oversee the creation and execution of campaigns, analyze performance data, and develop improvement strategies earn between $54,957 and $83,123.
Email Marketing Managers often begin as coordinators or specialists, honing skills in campaign creation and analytics. Progressing to a managerial role means strategizing and executing complex campaigns, often leading a team. With experience, they may become Senior Email Marketing Managers handling larger-scale projects. Advancement can lead to Head of Email Marketing or Director of Digital Marketing positions.
After gaining between three and five years of experience as a specialist or coordinator, you can move into a managerial role.
Skills Hiring Managers Look For
To thrive in an entry level email marketing role, you need a grasp of marketing principles, strong writing skills, and ideally a bachelor's degree in marketing, communications, or a related field. Familiarity with platforms such as Mailchimp or Constant Contact, as well as basic analytics tools, is often expected.
With the ever-evolving landscape of privacy laws and regulations, you must also have an understanding of compliance issues. Skills in navigating regulations such as GDPR, CCPA, and CAN-SPAM are essential to ensure campaigns are both effective and legally compliant.
Here is a breakdown of what matters most:
Hard skills:
Understanding email platforms, basic HTML, data analysis, and content creation.
A/B testing and campaign performance interpretation
Interpreting metrics such as open rates, click-through rates, conversion rates, and bounce rates to refine strategies.
Soft skills:
Attention to detail, creativity, and the ability to work collaboratively.
Strong writing skills, attention to detail, and a willingness to learn.
Understanding what good campaigns actually look like in practice matters too. Reviewing email marketing examples that drive results gives you concrete benchmarks before your first interview.
How to Get Certified Without Spending Money
Certifications give you a structured foundation and a credential that hiring managers recognize. Several strong options are free.
HubSpot certifications are free, industry-recognized courses from HubSpot Academy that give you skills in a variety of business areas. These courses are broken down into bite-sized lessons in a mix of video and text, and most can be completed in a few hours.
The HubSpot email marketing certification covers how to create compelling email copy and design, personalize and automate emails, and conduct A/B testing to learn what works best with your audience.
Having a HubSpot certification can make it easier to get employers' attention. As of late 2024, companies continue posting job openings on LinkedIn, Glassdoor, and Indeed listing HubSpot certifications as a preferred or required qualification.
Beyond HubSpot:
Google Digital Garage offers free digital marketing fundamentals
Mailchimp Academy covers platform-specific skills directly relevant to entry level roles
Coursera and LinkedIn Learning offer paid options with financial aid available
Many small business owners and professionals take these courses to gain new skills. Because you can put a completion badge on your resume and LinkedIn profile, HubSpot courses are also a great way to demonstrate your expertise to potential employers.
How to Build a Portfolio Without a Job
The most common barrier candidates face is a lack of work samples. The solution is to create them yourself before you get hired.
You do not need a job to build a marketing portfolio. There are concrete projects that demonstrate real skills, from running a blog to launching a campaign, and a clear timeline to get it done.
You can build a strong entry level email marketing portfolio without extensive metrics. What hiring managers want to see is that you understand the basics: strategy, copy and design, segmentation, deliverability and compliance, testing, and iteration.
Practical ways to build portfolio-worthy work:
Understanding what good campaigns actually look like in practice matters too. Reviewing email marketing examples that drive results gives you concrete benchmarks before your first interview.
How to Get Certified Without Spending Money
Certifications give you a structured foundation and a credential that hiring managers recognize. Several strong options are free.
HubSpot certifications are free, industry-recognized courses from HubSpot Academy that give you skills in a variety of business areas. These courses are broken down into bite-sized lessons in a mix of video and text, and most can be completed in a few hours.
The HubSpot email marketing certification covers how to create compelling email copy and design, personalize and automate emails, and conduct A/B testing to learn what works best with your audience.
Having a HubSpot certification can make it easier to get employers' attention. As of late 2024, companies continue posting job openings on LinkedIn, Glassdoor, and Indeed listing HubSpot certifications as a preferred or required qualification.
Beyond HubSpot:
Google Digital Garage offers free digital marketing fundamentals
Mailchimp Academy covers platform-specific skills directly relevant to entry level roles
Coursera and LinkedIn Learning offer paid options with financial aid available
Many small business owners and professionals take these courses to gain new skills. Because you can put a completion badge on your resume and LinkedIn profile, HubSpot courses are also a great way to demonstrate your expertise to potential employers.
How to Build a Portfolio Without a Job
The most common barrier candidates face is a lack of work samples. The solution is to create them yourself before you get hired.
You do not need a job to build a marketing portfolio. There are concrete projects that demonstrate real skills, from running a blog to launching a campaign, and a clear timeline to get it done.
You can build a strong entry level email marketing portfolio without extensive metrics. What hiring managers want to see is that you understand the basics: strategy, copy and design, segmentation, deliverability and compliance, testing, and iteration.
Practical ways to build portfolio-worthy work:
Build a mock email sequence. Pick a real or hypothetical brand and create a 5-email welcome or nurture sequence. Document your copy decisions and show the automation logic. A well-crafted 5-email sequence with 40%+ open rates tells employers you understand email fundamentals.
Volunteer for a nonprofit or local business. Creating sample campaigns or volunteering to manage email communications for small businesses or nonprofits provides practical experience.
Screenshot and annotate real campaigns. Analyze campaigns from brands you respect, break down what works and why, and present it as a teardown. This shows strategic thinking even without access to the tools.
Use free plan accounts. Mailchimp and HubSpot both offer free tiers. Set up a list, create a campaign, and document the results.
Your portfolio should showcase expertise in email and analytics. Include case studies with measurable metrics and highlight skills in campaign planning, execution, and optimization.
Where and How to Find Entry Level Email Marketing Jobs
Most listings do not always use the phrase "entry level" in the title. Search for these terms across major job boards:
Email Marketing Coordinator
Email Marketing Assistant
Marketing Associate (with email focus)
CRM Marketing Coordinator
Digital Marketing Specialist (entry level)
Many companies employ email marketing specialists under different titles like marketing consultant or digital marketer, so read each job description carefully.
Job boards to prioritize:
Build a mock email sequence. Pick a real or hypothetical brand and create a 5-email welcome or nurture sequence. Document your copy decisions and show the automation logic. A well-crafted 5-email sequence with 40%+ open rates tells employers you understand email fundamentals.
Volunteer for a nonprofit or local business. Creating sample campaigns or volunteering to manage email communications for small businesses or nonprofits provides practical experience.
Screenshot and annotate real campaigns. Analyze campaigns from brands you respect, break down what works and why, and present it as a teardown. This shows strategic thinking even without access to the tools.
Use free plan accounts. Mailchimp and HubSpot both offer free tiers. Set up a list, create a campaign, and document the results.
Your portfolio should showcase expertise in email and analytics. Include case studies with measurable metrics and highlight skills in campaign planning, execution, and optimization.
Where and How to Find Entry Level Email Marketing Jobs
Most listings do not always use the phrase "entry level" in the title. Search for these terms across major job boards:
Email Marketing Coordinator
Email Marketing Assistant
Marketing Associate (with email focus)
CRM Marketing Coordinator
Digital Marketing Specialist (entry level)
Many companies employ email marketing specialists under different titles like marketing consultant or digital marketer, so read each job description carefully.
Company career pages directly, especially for SaaS, e-commerce, and media companies
Building a portfolio and networking with marketing professionals increases your chances of landing entry level roles. Consistent learning and adapting to industry trends will support career growth.
Once you understand the hiring landscape, refine your target by industry. If you want to specialize fast, studying niche applications like SaaS email marketing strategy or ecommerce email marketing helps you frame your interest specifically in cover letters and interviews.
What to Expect from Salary and Growth
The average email marketing specialist in the United States earns $63,814 per year. Entry-level positions start at around $43,044, while the most experienced specialists earn up to $111,612.
The average salary for an email marketing specialist is $76,361 per year according to Glassdoor, based on anonymously submitted salaries in the United States.
Location affects pay significantly. California-based specialists average $79,606 annually, while those in Massachusetts average $78,545.
Industry matters too. The top paying industries for email marketing specialists in the United States are Information Technology with a median of $73,416, followed by Media and Communication at $66,760, and Retail and Wholesale at $65,955.
From an entry level position, salary growth depends primarily on demonstrated impact. Candidates who can point to specific metrics, open rate improvements, list growth numbers, or revenue attribution, earn faster promotions and negotiate more effectively.
Making the Most of Your First Role
Landing the job is step one. Developing fast once you are in requires deliberate focus.
Skills to build immediately on the job:
Learn the analytics dashboard your employer uses and pull your own reports weekly
Get hands-on with automation workflows, not just broadcast sends
Study your company's list segmentation approach and propose improvements
Understand deliverability basics: sender reputation, bounce handling, authentication like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC
Once you are inside the door via an internship, entry-level role, or internal switch, it is time to learn as much as possible. You will handle real-life scenarios with measurable results. Those results help you figure out what works and what does not.
Building a portfolio and networking with marketing professionals increases your chances of landing entry level roles. Consistent learning and adapting to industry trends will support career growth.
Once you understand the hiring landscape, refine your target by industry. If you want to specialize fast, studying niche applications like SaaS email marketing strategy or ecommerce email marketing helps you frame your interest specifically in cover letters and interviews.
What to Expect from Salary and Growth
The average email marketing specialist in the United States earns $63,814 per year. Entry-level positions start at around $43,044, while the most experienced specialists earn up to $111,612.
The average salary for an email marketing specialist is $76,361 per year according to Glassdoor, based on anonymously submitted salaries in the United States.
Location affects pay significantly. California-based specialists average $79,606 annually, while those in Massachusetts average $78,545.
Industry matters too. The top paying industries for email marketing specialists in the United States are Information Technology with a median of $73,416, followed by Media and Communication at $66,760, and Retail and Wholesale at $65,955.
From an entry level position, salary growth depends primarily on demonstrated impact. Candidates who can point to specific metrics, open rate improvements, list growth numbers, or revenue attribution, earn faster promotions and negotiate more effectively.
Making the Most of Your First Role
Landing the job is step one. Developing fast once you are in requires deliberate focus.
Skills to build immediately on the job:
Learn the analytics dashboard your employer uses and pull your own reports weekly
Get hands-on with automation workflows, not just broadcast sends
Study your company's list segmentation approach and propose improvements
Understand deliverability basics: sender reputation, bounce handling, authentication like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC
Once you are inside the door via an internship, entry-level role, or internal switch, it is time to learn as much as possible. You will handle real-life scenarios with measurable results. Those results help you figure out what works and what does not.
The specialists who move up fastest treat every campaign as a test, not just a send. They track what changes, document the outcome, and bring data to conversations with their manager. Understanding email marketing analytics best practices from the start puts you in that category quickly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a degree to get an entry level email marketing job?
A formal qualification is often not required for entry level roles. Strong written communication skills, attention to detail, and a basic understanding of digital marketing principles are the core expectations. Ideally, a bachelor's degree in marketing, communications, or a related field helps, but practical skills and a strong portfolio often carry more weight with hiring managers.
How long does it take to get hired in email marketing with no experience?
The first step is developing the necessary skills to work in digital marketing. An internship can help you hone your skills, build contacts in the industry, and gain industry-specific knowledge. Realistically, most candidates who pursue certifications, build a portfolio, and apply actively can land a first role within three to six months.
What tools should I know before applying for email marketing jobs?
Familiarity with email marketing platforms like Mailchimp, HubSpot, or Constant Contact is valuable, and many free online courses and tutorials can help build your competence. Beyond those platforms, basic knowledge of Google Analytics, a CRM system like HubSpot or Salesforce, and spreadsheet tools like Google Sheets are assets most entry-level roles expect.
What is the typical career progression from an entry level email marketing role?
Many professionals start with roles such as Marketing Assistant or Junior Email Marketing Coordinator, gaining hands-on experience with email software, campaign analysis, and list segmentation. As they develop their expertise, they advance to positions such as Email Marketing Manager or Digital Marketing Strategist. Further progression may lead to roles like Marketing Director or Chief Marketing Officer.
No comments yet. Be the first!
The specialists who move up fastest treat every campaign as a test, not just a send. They track what changes, document the outcome, and bring data to conversations with their manager. Understanding email marketing analytics best practices from the start puts you in that category quickly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a degree to get an entry level email marketing job?
A formal qualification is often not required for entry level roles. Strong written communication skills, attention to detail, and a basic understanding of digital marketing principles are the core expectations. Ideally, a bachelor's degree in marketing, communications, or a related field helps, but practical skills and a strong portfolio often carry more weight with hiring managers.
How long does it take to get hired in email marketing with no experience?
The first step is developing the necessary skills to work in digital marketing. An internship can help you hone your skills, build contacts in the industry, and gain industry-specific knowledge. Realistically, most candidates who pursue certifications, build a portfolio, and apply actively can land a first role within three to six months.
What tools should I know before applying for email marketing jobs?
Familiarity with email marketing platforms like Mailchimp, HubSpot, or Constant Contact is valuable, and many free online courses and tutorials can help build your competence. Beyond those platforms, basic knowledge of Google Analytics, a CRM system like HubSpot or Salesforce, and spreadsheet tools like Google Sheets are assets most entry-level roles expect.
What is the typical career progression from an entry level email marketing role?
Many professionals start with roles such as Marketing Assistant or Junior Email Marketing Coordinator, gaining hands-on experience with email software, campaign analysis, and list segmentation. As they develop their expertise, they advance to positions such as Email Marketing Manager or Digital Marketing Strategist. Further progression may lead to roles like Marketing Director or Chief Marketing Officer.
