Average Marketing Manager Salary in Raleigh, NC

The average Marketing Manager in Raleigh, NC earns $159,900 per year. See how this compares to the national average and what it means for your budget.

Average Salary
$159900
Median Salary
$153470
vs. National
3.9% below
Real Pay (COL-adjusted)
$162902

“Real pay” adjusts the average for Raleigh’s cost of living (Regional Price Parity 98.157, U.S. average = 100) — what this salary is worth in national-average dollars.

What Marketing Managers actually earn in Raleigh

The spread from entry-level (10th percentile) to top earners (90th), from BLS wage data.

10th (entry) $81110
25th $108210
Median $153470
75th $192130
90th (top) $231730

2330 Marketing Managers employed in the Raleigh metro.

Can a Marketing Manager afford a home in Raleigh?

Max home price under the 28% rule (housing ≤ 28% of gross), 10% down, 6.7% 30-yr rate. Median Raleigh home: $377800.

Earnings levelSalaryMax homeMedian home?
Entry (10th)$81110$32588386%
Median$153470$616611Yes
Top (90th)$231730$931043Yes

What’s this salary worth in another city?

What you earn (or want to compare)

Take-home pay for a Marketing Manager in Raleigh

Estimated pay after federal, FICA, and NC state taxes (2026). Prefilled with the local average — adjust for your situation.

Estimate only — not tax advice. Tax year 2026, federal + FICA + state (single or married filing jointly). Excludes local/city income taxes (e.g., NYC, Philadelphia) and individual credits. See our methodology.

Raleigh at a glance

Population470763
Median household income$82424
Median home value$377800
Median rent$1468/mo
Cost of living (RPP, U.S.=100)98.157
Bachelor’s degree or higher32.5%
Poverty rate11%

In Raleigh, NC, Marketing Managers earn a median of $153,470 a year — about 8% below the U.S. median of $166,410. Among the 47 metros tracked here for this role, that ranks #15.

What that pay is worth in Raleigh

Local prices run 98 on the BEA cost-of-living index (U.S. = 100), so a $159,900 salary is about break-even with the national average ($162,902 adjusted).

Can Marketing Managers afford a home in Raleigh?

A typical Raleigh home runs about $377,800 — 2.4 times the average Marketing Manager salary, very affordable against the classic 3x rule of thumb. Median rent near $1,468/mo takes roughly 11% of gross pay — within the 30% comfort line.

The Marketing Manager pay ladder in Raleigh

Entry-level (10th percentile) Marketing Managers earn about $81,110; the top 10% reach $231,730 — a $150,620 spread, wide for this field. Most of that gap comes down to experience, employer, and how hard you negotiate.

The Marketing Manager job market in Raleigh

Raleigh employs roughly 2,330 Marketing Managers. It’s a sizable local market to build a career in.

Compare Raleigh with other cities

See the full Marketing Manager salary by city ranking to weigh Raleigh against the other metros on both pay and cost-adjusted value, or use the cost-of-living calculator to compare any two cities directly.

Frequently asked questions

How much do Marketing Managers make in Raleigh?

The average Marketing Manager in Raleigh, NC earns about $159,900 per year, 3.9% below the national average of $166,410.

What is the take-home pay for Marketing Managers in Raleigh after taxes?

After federal and NC taxes, this $159,900 salary is worth about $114,686 a year - roughly $9,557 a month in take-home pay, an effective tax rate near 28%.

What do the highest-paid Marketing Managers earn in Raleigh?

The top 10% of Marketing Managers in Raleigh earn about $231,730 a year, versus about $81,110 for the bottom 10%.

Can Marketing Managers afford a home in Raleigh?

A typical Raleigh home runs about $377,800 - roughly 2.4x this salary, within reach by the classic 3x rule of thumb.

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