In 2020, despite the pandemic, India’s digital marketing spending grew by roughly 15%, reaching 18,938 crores. The pandemic has just accelerated India’s use of digital marketing. As more businesses explore expanding their digital investment, they will need to develop a talent pool to capitalize on this potential. Because of the skills scarcity, the average digital marketing salary in India will continue to climb for the top performers.
Most of us would agree that there is no use in developing products or providing superior services if our target clients are unaware of our presence. Digital continues to be the most effective method of reaching your audience in the shortest amount of time. Thus, businesses are rightly allocating significant time and money to digital marketing.
As is evident from the above bar graph, spending on digital marketing has seen a spike in the current times due to the Covid-19 pandemic-induced restrictions, leading to enhanced digital marketing efforts and increased demand for a skilled workforce. An online presence has become a matter of survival for every business.
As a result, pursuing a career in digital marketing is a good choice, especially now. It has thrown wide new doors of opportunity for anybody eager to study. The digital marketing salaries in India described in this article will provide you with a good understanding of the field’s potential as a profession.
We will dive deep into the average digital marketing salary in India based on role, specialization, and based on years of experience in digital marketing. So without further ado, let us begin.
Average Digital Marketing Salary in India
Salaries for digital marketing professionals in India vary according to position, specialization, and years of experience. The basic skill set necessary for each function differs, and there is also a palpable influence as you go from inexperienced to experienced marketing professionals due to the recency effect.
As you advance in your professions, the recency effect has a considerable influence on the kind of roles offered to you by recruiters. For example, if you work for a marketing firm, you will get more offers from related businesses. Similarly, if you handle marketing for a consumer packaged goods company, you are more likely to get offers from retailers, FMCG, and similar verticals.
Here is a breakdown of roles that are usually part of most marketing organizations. But do note that this is not an exhaustive list and you will continually encounter new roles and positions that are always created due to the dynamic nature of the field.
1. Digital Marketing Manager
Digital marketing managers are responsible for driving awareness and demand for a brand online. They are responsible for managing the online presence and advertising of the company. They create, implement, and monitor strategies in digital spaces to promote the brand and drive sales.
The average salary of a Digital Marketing Manager in India is INR 548,755 per annum. It goes up to INR 18 LPA with experience.
2. Content Marketing Manager
A Content Manager is a person who develops a content plan according to the requirements of the company. They are responsible for all the online content of the company. Managing blogs, marketing campaigns, e-book publications, guest blogging, email communications, video marketing, sales page copywriting, etc., are the roles of a Content Marketing Manager.
The average salary of a Content Marketing Manager in India is INR 634,547 per annum. It goes up to INR 10 LPA with experience.
3. Search Engine Optimizer
The primary role of a Search Engine Optimizer (SEO) is to rank a website on the search engine and increase the website’s traffic. They keep the tab on Google’s updated algorithm. They conduct keyword research and make sure that the content created has high visibility on search engines.
The average salary of an SEO in India is INR 247,606 per annum. It ranges between INR 121k and INR 502k.
4. Social Media Marketing Expert
A Social Media Marketing Expert is the one who is responsible for a company’s presence on social media. They plan, implement, and monitor social media content to engage the audience, leading to increased sales. They build the social media marketing strategy, research to promote the brand’s product. They directly interact with the audience to achieve the company’s goals.
The average salary of a social media expert in India is INR 559,520 per annum. It ranges between INR 1,50,000 per annum and INR 10,00,000 per annum.
5. Digital Marketing Copywriter
A Digital Marketing Copywriter plays with words. They understand the target audience and the brand’s goals. Then tailor the content for the company’s website. They fine-tune the work of social media experts by crafting a copy that inspires, educates, and entertains the target audience based on the goals defined. They can work as freelancers or be on the company’s payroll.
The average salary of a digital marketing copywriter in India is INR 364,720 per annum. Its range is wide. Entry-level salary depends on your experience.
6. Pay per click analyst
Pay-per-click analyst is one of the emerging job roles in 2021. They must have the right knowledge of this whole process of digital marketing and the psychology behind every click. This job role is result-oriented, and they are responsible for achieving the revenue goals of the organization.
The average salary of a pay-per-click analyst in India is INR 3 LPA (Lakh Per Annum). It goes up to INR 5 LPA.
7. Search Engine Marketing Specialist
A Search Engine Marketing Specialist deals with paid ads across all the platforms. One needs to have technical skills for the job. They are responsible for all performance marketing aimed at driving leads and conversions.
The average salary of a Search Engine Marketing Specialist in India is INR 358,926 per annum.
Digital marketing salary in India is on the rise because of the huge growth in the industry. There is a growing demand for skilled and diligent professionals in this sector. The digital marketing salary for freshers in India is considered modest, but the salaries increase steadily as the skillset improves and experience is gained.
Experience is one of the major factors in the salary jump. Although having a degree in digital marketing provides you with an edge, experience makes you inevitable for getting better results. Ultimately learning and skills matter the most. Here is a table showing the salary jump with experience in the digital marketing industry.
India has the 2nd largest number of internet users globally, predicted to grow to almost 666 million by 2023. Thus, a larger share of people are shifting online, and it makes complete sense to start marketing online.
Dentsu Aegis Network reported that the advertising industry of India showed a tremendous growth of 10.9% in 2020 compared to 2019. This proves that even during the pandemic, there was an increase in the amount of money allocated to advertising, especially the digital channels.
Companies are giving so much importance to digital marketing that some of the biggest ones are enhancing their marketing budget to shift their focus completely to digital.
With this, the digital marketing salary in India is bound to rise.
Final Thoughts
The demand for digital marketing professionals is increasing as digital marketing has become the need of the times. Especially with the onset of the pandemic, the job market has shifted its focus on digital skills to enable them to work remotely.
Thus, companies are looking for people who are skilled in handling digital marketing jobs. A Goldman Sachs report revealed that the digital marketing career scope in the Indian industry alone will reach around $160 billion by 2025, which is three times its present value.
Digital marketing is a promising and exciting field of work with numerous job opportunities. With the right digital marketing skills and tools, you can make a lucrative long-term career out of it.
The industry itself is in a constant state of flux, with new domains emerging every year. It is important to continually reinvent yourself if you want recruiters to pay you the salary you truly deserve.
