Analysts, Marketing Specialists Among Fastest Occupations In San Francisco
According to the California Employment Development Department (EDD): market research analysts and marketing specialists are among the fastest growing occupations in San Francisco.
Trailing only professions in the tech sector, the employment change for market research analysts and marketing specialists is expected to increase more than 55 percent over the period 2010 to 2020. This projected change reflects the continuing need for most industries to rely on market research to evaluate consumer needs and desires, and business and marketing strategies.
In order to find employment in this sector, individuals are generally expected to have a bachelor's degree in marketing or a related field such as business administration, social sciences and communications. Entry-level salaries for this industry are not listed through the EDD, but upon graduation, those individuals who do find employment in the San Francisco marketing sector can expect to have an annual mean salary of approximately $86,000 - nearly $20,000 more than the national mean annual wage.
Individuals interested in pursuing their education locally must take a specified amount of classes for a marketing or a related major, in addition to a diverse selection of general education courses. Sample courses taken from San Francisco State University's business administration-marketing program include public relations, digital marketing, consumer behavior, brand management and sales management.
In addition to San Francisco State University, other Bay Area universities offering undergraduate degrees in marketing are UC Berkeley, the University of San Francisco and California State University-East Bay. City College of San Francisco also offers associate degrees from the business department with coursework that is transferable as college credits to the four-year university level.
While there is no guarantee every person graduating with a degree in marketing or other related field will secure a position in the field locally, there are many industries in San Francisco that depend on the talents of market research analysts and marketing specialists. The sectors listed in the Bureau of Labor Statistics which employ the largest percentage of market analysts or specialists in the overall industry are: management, scientific/technical consulting services, advertising, and public relations.
Randy Yagi is a freelance writer covering all things San Francisco. In 2012, he was awarded a Media Fellowship from Stanford University. His work can be found on Examiner.com Examiner.com.
