Cost of hiring a marketing specialist in San Francisco-Oakland, CA
Budget above the national rate here. The median marketing specialist in San Francisco-Oakland earned $123,250 a year in May 2025[1], 30.1% above the California statewide median of $94,700 and 56.5% above the US median of $78,760. Only 1 of 516 US areas pay more for this job. BLS counts about 24,120 people in this job here, 20% of the California total.
BLS occupation 13-1161, area San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in San Francisco-Oakland against California and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland, CA | $60,680 | $123,250 | $211,140 | |
| California | $48,440 | $94,700 | $181,600 | |
| United States | $43,390 | $78,760 | $155,480 |
The middle half of marketing specialists in San Francisco-Oakland earns $82,510–$170,560. The top tenth earns $211,140 or more, 3.5 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 3.6 times.
What to budget for a marketing specialist here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $60,680 | $5,057 | $29.17 | $86,686 |
| 25th percentile | $82,510 | $6,876 | $39.67 | $117,871 |
| Median | $123,250 | $10,271 | $59.25 | $176,071 |
| 75th percentile | $170,560 | $14,213 | $82.00 | $243,657 |
| 90th percentile | $211,140 | $17,595 | $101.51 | $301,629 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $47,310 a year in pay and about $67,586 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $40,740 in pay. These percentiles describe what people in the job earn locally, not experience levels, so place your offer by the tasks and seniority you need.
What a hire really costs in San Francisco-Oakland
Pay is only part of it. Benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2], which adds about $52,821 to the $123,250 median and brings it to $176,071 a year. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for marketing specialists we answer within one business day whether we can help. Enter the monthly pay you have in mind to compare it with a local hire. The fee field shows our standard fee[3]; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool[4].
Other roles in San Francisco-Oakland
Of the 17 roles we track in San Francisco-Oakland, this one ranks #2 by median pay. Project Coordinator is the highest at $135,040 and Virtual Receptionist the lowest at $49,450.
| Role | Median | vs marketing specialist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +9.6% | 20,770 | |
| Marketing Specialist | this role | 24,120 | |
| Accountant | -10.2% | 25,170 | |
| Executive Assistant | -14.7% | 11,250 | |
| Recruiter | -16.3% | 16,420 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -21.3% | 29,980 | |
| Office Manager | -28.1% | 19,480 | |
| Paralegal | -31.8% | 7,630 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -34.7% | 2,260 | |
| HR Assistant | -46.0% | 1,300 | |
| Bookkeeper | -46.8% | 18,100 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -49.6% | 20,270 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -50.2% | 13,660 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -53.1% | 19,930 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -58.3% | 1,250 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -58.4% | 1,410 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -59.9% | 8,510 |
Other areas in California
Across the 28 areas of California with data for this job, the median runs from $60,540 in El Centro to $141,960 in San Jose-Sunnyvale, a gap of $81,420 a year.
| Area | Median | vs San Francisco-Oakland | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale, CA | +15.2% | 12,710 | |
| San Francisco-Oakland, CA | this area | 24,120 | |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA | -32.7% | 39,390 | |
| Napa, CA | -33.9% | 390 | |
| North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California (Nonmetro) | -34.7% | 370 | |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks, CA | -35.0% | 1,570 | |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | -35.3% | 960 |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a marketing specialist in San Francisco-Oakland, CA?
About $176,071 a year at the median, or $14,673 a month: $123,250 in pay plus benefits and payroll taxes at the 30% share of total compensation in US private industry (June 2026). Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do marketing specialists earn in San Francisco-Oakland?
The median was $123,250 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $60,680, the 90th $211,140, and the middle half earned $82,510 to $170,560.
Is San Francisco-Oakland cheaper than the rest of California for marketing specialists?
No, it costs more: a median of $123,250 against $94,700 statewide. San Jose-Sunnyvale pays the most ($141,960) and El Centro the least ($60,540).
How many marketing specialists work in San Francisco-Oakland?
BLS counts about 24,120 in the May 2025 survey. That is 20% of the California total of 119,070.
Does a marketing specialist cost more than an accountant in San Francisco-Oakland?
Yes: $12,520 a year more at the median. The medians are $123,250 and $110,730.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 13-1161: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes131161.htm
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm
- Silkstaff pricing: https://silkstaff.com/#pricing
- Deel pricing, contractor management: https://www.deel.com/pricing/
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-06.