You’ve seen them pop up on job sites. The listings for an “Email Marketing Specialist” or a “CRM Manager.” And you’re probably wondering, especially in 2025, are email marketing jobs legit? Or is it just a fancy title for a professional spammer. It is a question that a lot of people have. Social media gets all the attention. But email is still hanging around, quietly. So, let’s get into it and see what the deal really is.
So, What Does an Email Marketer Actually Do Anyway?
It’s not just hitting ‘send’ on a bunch of emails. That’s a tiny piece of it.
An email marketer is basically a communicator. And also a bit of a scientist.
Their job is to build a relationship with a list of people. People who actually agreed to hear from a company.
They think about what to say. And when to say it. And who to say it to.
It involves a lot of planning. You have to come up with campaigns. Like for a new product launch. Or a holiday sale.
There’s writing involved. This is the big one. They write headlines that get opened.
And they write the email body. The part that gets people to click.
They also think about the pictures and design. It all has to look good on a phone.
Then comes the techy stuff. They use special software. Tools like Mailchimp or Klaviyo or Hubspot.
They have to build the emails in these tools. And they have to make sure they work.
Data is a huge part of the job. It is considered to be very important. They look at numbers all day long.
Who opened the email? How many people clicked the link? Who bought something?
Using that information, they make the next email better. It’s a cycle of test, learn, repeat.
They are also in charge of keeping the email list healthy. Removing people who never open anything. Making sure the company follows the rules. There are a lot of rules, like CAN-SPAM. You don’t want to get your company in trouble.
So no, it’s not about sending spam. It’s about sending stuff people might actually want to see.
The Money Talk: Can You Actually Make a Living?
Alright, the big question. Does it pay the bills? The short answer is yes.
Email marketing is a real skill. And companies pay good money for it.
The pay can change a lot. It depends on your experience. And where you work. And the size of the company.
A big tech company in a major city will normally pay more. A small local business will pay less. That’s just how it is.
But we can talk about general numbers. So you have an idea of what to expect.
Starting Out Salaries
If you’re just getting into the field. Maybe it’s your first or second job.
You’re probably looking at a Junior or Coordinator role.
For these kinds of jobs, you can typically expect to see a salary somewhere in the $45,000 to $65,000 range in the US.
At this stage, you’re learning the ropes. You’re helping build campaigns. And you’re looking at basic reports.
The Experienced Pro Paycheck
Once you have a few years under your belt. Say, 3 to 5 years of experience.
You move into a Specialist or Manager role. Things get more serious.
Now, your salary starts to climb. You might be in the $70,000 to $95,000 zone.
You’re not just sending emails. You’re building the whole strategy. You’re managing bigger projects.
And if you get really good? And become a Director or a senior freelance consultant?
The six-figure mark is very common. The best in the business can make a lot more. Because they can show that their emails make the company tons of money.
Why People Think Email Marketing is a Scam (And Why They’re Wrong)
Let’s just be honest. We all hate spam. It clogs up our inboxes.
Most of it is junk. Trying to sell us things we don’t want. From companies we’ve never heard of.
This is where the bad reputation comes from. And it is this that makes people skeptical.
Legit email marketing is the total opposite of spam. The number one rule is permission.
A real email marketer only sends messages to people who said “yes, you can email me.”
They signed up on a website. They gave their email address willingly. They expect to hear from the brand.
Scammers and spammers don’t care about permission. They buy or steal lists of email addresses. Then they blast them with junk. That’s the difference.
Here are some red flags for a fake or scammy email marketing job:
The job description promises you’ll “get rich quick.”
They tell you that you need to buy your own email lists.
The company has no real website or online presence.
They are really vague about what you will be selling or promoting.
The pay is 100% commission based on some weird metric.
A real job will be with a real company. A company that has products or services. And that wants to build a relationship with its customers. Not just blast out millions of unwanted messages. It is generally about building community.
What Email Marketing Looks Like in 2025
The job isn’t the same as it was five years ago. It has definitely changed. And it will keep changing.
Technology is making a big impact. Especially artificial intelligence, or AI.
AI helps marketers write emails faster. It can suggest subject lines. It can even write a first draft of an email.
This doesn’t mean the human is obsolete. Not at all. It just means the human’s job is shifting.
Instead of just writing, the marketer’s job is to be the strategist. To guide the AI. To check its work and add the human touch.
Another big thing for 2025 is making things super personal. We’re talking about more than just using someone’s first name.
It’s about sending emails based on what a person has browsed on a website. Or what they’ve bought before. Making emails that feel like they were written just for you, which is a powerful thing.
Automation is also key. This means setting up email series that send automatically.
Like a welcome series for new subscribers. Or a reminder if someone left something in their shopping cart. The marketer builds these journeys, but the software does the sending. This frees up the marketer to think about the bigger picture. The job is more about thinking and planning now than ever before. It’s less about the manual labor of sending every single email by hand.
Key Takeaways
Email marketing jobs are very much legit and are not about sending spam.
The work involves strategy, writing, design, tech, and data analysis.
You can make a good living, with salaries growing a lot with experience.
The key difference from spam is permission; marketers email people who agreed to be contacted.
In 2025, the job is focused on strategy, using AI, and creating super personal experiences.
Frequently Asked Questions About Email Marketing Jobs
1. Are email marketing jobs legit or is the field dying because of social media?
Totally legit. Email isn’t dying, it’s just different. It often gives a much better return on investment than social media because you have a direct line to people who want to hear from you. Companies are still investing heavily in it.
2. Do I need a college degree to get a job in email marketing?
Not always. A degree in marketing, communications, or business can help. But many people get into the field by showing they have the right skills. Building a portfolio, getting certifications from email software companies, and showing you can write well can be just as good.
3. How can I tell if an email marketing job posting is a scam?
Look for red flags. If the ad promises you’ll make thousands of dollars in your first week, it’s probably a scam. If they ask you to pay for training or for your own list of contacts, run away. Real jobs are with established companies that have a clear product or service.
4. Can I do email marketing as a remote job?
Absolutely. It’s one of the most remote-friendly marketing jobs out there. Since the work is done on a computer with online tools, you can typically do it from anywhere. Many companies now hire for fully remote email marketing positions.
5. Is it hard to get your first email marketing job with no experience?
It can be a challenge, like any first job. A good way to start is by practicing. Offer to help a small local business or a non-profit with their emails. You can also start your own newsletter on a topic you love. This gives you real experience and something to show potential employers.
