10 of the best cities to work in digital marketing
One of the deciding factors when taking a new job is definitely location. If you’re thinking about a digital marketing role, are you setting yourself up to fail by searching in the wrong area?
We’ve scoured the net and dug out the 10 best global cities for marketing professionals.
1. New York
If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere. In a city of over 8.5 million, there are a large number of jobs available. Marketing managers make an average of $108,802 a year – approximately £77,880 – at big guns such as Interpublic Group, Omnicom Group and Horizon Media. Despite the awesome jobs, amazing culture and sights aplenty, New York is an incredibly expensive city to live in. Be ready to rough it for a little while, but be safe in the knowledge that the going will get very good.
2. London
Business capital of the UK and home to nearly 9 million people, London really is a global city. Most companies that are housed in London’s busy business districts are worldwide – making London a more international city than New York. A recent report showed that 1.46 million people employed by the UK’s digital firms, are located in London. Networking events are a dime a dozen, with the bars and restaurants are full of career-advancing connections.
If you’re dreaming of moving to the big smoke, you may hit the same problems as New Yorkers. High rent, long working hours and a poor work/life balance are the trade-offs for potentially cataclysmic success.
3. Manchester
If you’ve already established yourself as an experienced marketer, Manchester might just be your bag. MediaCityUK, Mediacom North, Deluxe media and ICrossing UK all boast Manchurian roots and head offices. If you’re sick of the London commute and housing costs, Manchester offers seasoned professionals a place to tune back in to their creativity, enjoy a musically atmospheric city, whilst still have money in the bank at the end of the month
4. Tokyo
Fancy brushing up on your Japanese? If you do, you’ve got a shot at Dentsu – the largest advertising agency in the world, Hakuhodo, McCann and BBDO. Due to Japan’s slight lag behind in digital marketing, they welcome foreign talent and pay them well. According to Monocle, Tokyo is the world’s most liveable city. For a change of culture, excellent salary and a job of a lifetime, you better get your visa application started.
5.Singapore
No worrying about your language skills in Singapore, it’s business friendly and English speaking. Explore a diverse culture and be immersed in the Asia Pacific market, whilst rubbing shoulders with tons of other expats. Whilst it has become harder for foreign nationals to get jobs in Singapore, it’s by no means a closed door, if you can afford the cost of living that is. The Economist has named Singapore as the most expensive place to live in the world, but quality of life, public safety and support of creative industries also scored exceptionally highly.
6. Bangkok
Want to soak up some sunshine, culture and exotic scenery? You won’t get paid the earth for working in Bangkok, but you can guarantee it’ll be an experience. Many remote firms rate Bangkok due to its super-fast internet and it appears at #2 on Nomad List. The cost of living in the city is also pretty low, if you can cope with the heat and noise. For young creatives, digital nomads or start-up junkies, this is your place.
7. Shanghai
Fancy a challenge? How do you market in a country where Facebook and Google are banned? Working in China will teach you the power of local platforms as well as how to market in a wealth divided system. The luxury market thrives in China, whilst there is vast poverty in other areas. Wieden+Kennedy, AKQA and IDEO are all Shanghai based and looking for new talent, once you’ve got your visa. If can cope with the hustle bustle, there are big opportunities to be had.
8. San Francisco
A population of just over 860,000 and among the highest paid marketers in the country, San Fran rocks for digital marketers. Marketing managers rake in an average salary of $110,000 – over £78,000 – at companies such as Salesforce, Dropbox, Airbnb, Facebook and Twitter. Plus, San Fran is continually ranked as the best city in America for quality of living. It’s super liberal, very creative and unencumbered by overcrowding – despite producing more tech millionaires than any other city.
9. Amsterdam
Home of the young start-ups, Amsterdam’s relaxed atmosphere and appealing tax laws mean that new tech companies are flocking there. Great news for us. Whilst speaking Dutch will help your social life, it’s not essential as many locals speak English. If you’re a keen cyclist or eco-warrior, Amsterdam is a wonderfully liveable and conscious city. A less stressful and modern working experience awaits young professionals.
10. Dallas
Fancy some deep south? Dallas has almost 6000 marketing positions for a city of 1.3 million. 46% of these are in the top two-fifths of salaries, and 1400 senior positions pay over $90k – £65k. Companies such as The Marketing Arm, AT&T, Deloitte and JPMorgan Chase call Dallas home. Compared with many American cities, Dallas is pretty affordable and boasts being the 4th largest employment centre in the country. All of America’s good bits, with less of the not so good.
I can practically hear you packing boxes. There are marketing opportunities across the globe and with the progression of digital remote working, you literally could go anywhere with digital marketing.
