Marketing & Communications Jobs in Tucson, AZ
Marketing and communications work in Tucson sits mostly inside employers rather than agencies: hospital communications teams in midtown, a credit union marketing department, and growing home-services firms. The guides below cover every marketing and communications role in Tucson, who is hiring, and what it pays.
Why Marketing & Communications Work Is Different in Tucson
Tucson's economy leans on large public, defense and health care employers, and that shapes where marketing and communications jobs live. Many of the steadiest openings are in-house: communication specialists and event coordinators at Tucson Medical Center on East Grant Road, marketing leadership at Hughes Federal Credit Union, and campaign and brand roles at companies like Occidental Roofing that sell into the Tucson home market. Those jobs reward people who can write for patients, members and neighbors as much as for search engines. A hospital communications job, for example, mixes news releases, internal updates for staff, community events and the occasional crisis message, often in the same week.
The University of Arizona, Pima Community College and Tucson's tourism and resort trade add more communications work, but much of it is posted on systems that change week to week, so the live listings above are the best guide to what is open today. A local portfolio helps: Tucson employers notice work that shows you know the audience, including bilingual Spanish and English campaigns in a border-region market.
Top Marketing & Communications Employers in Tucson
These Tucson employers have posted marketing or communications roles on their own careers sites:
- Tucson Medical Center - communication specialists, a senior communication specialist and a communications and event coordinator for the TMC Health system in midtown.
- Hughes Federal Credit Union - an in-office marketing manager directing all marketing for the credit union, whose branches include Wetmore Road in Tucson.
- Occidental Roofing - a marketing manager role listed for its Tucson and Tempe offices, working alongside a Tucson sales team.
For more openings, search all marketing jobs in Tucson.
Marketing & Communications Career Paths in Tucson
- Coordination and general marketing - Marketing and Marketing Coordinator. Campaign calendars, events and vendor work, and the usual first job in the field.
- Content and design - Content Writer and Graphic Designer. Portfolio-driven roles that produce the words and visuals for every campaign.
- Digital channels - Digital Marketing Specialist, SEO Specialist, Email Marketing Specialist and Social Media Manager. Measured work in paid, organic, email and social.
- Communications - Communications Specialist. Media relations, internal news and public messaging, the track hospital and institutional employers hire for most.
How to Start a Marketing & Communications Career in Tucson
- University of Arizona degrees - the Eller College of Management's BSBA in Marketing and the School of Journalism's B.A. in Journalism are the local four-year routes into marketing and communications.
- Pima Community College Digital Arts AAS - two years full time at West Campus, with a design concentration in graphic design and a web design concentration.
- A portfolio - writing samples, campaign results or design work. For content, social and design jobs it often carries more weight than the degree.
Arizona does not license marketing, communications or graphic design work. Degrees and portfolios are employer preferences, and manager roles usually ask for both plus years of results.
Marketing & Communications Salaries in Tucson
- Entry - about $40,000 to $52,000 a year for coordinators, junior designers and content writers.
- Mid - about $52,000 to $75,000 a year for marketing specialists, communication specialists, PR specialists and experienced designers.
- Senior - about $90,000 to $150,000 a year for marketing managers and directors.
These are estimates that vary by employer and experience. In the May 2023 federal wage survey for the Tucson metro, graphic designers had a median of $23.10 an hour, public relations specialists $27.97, marketing specialists and market research analysts $28.00, and marketing managers $53.56, with an average near $134,700 a year. Hughes Federal Credit Union posted $118,000 to $147,000 for its marketing manager. In-house employers such as hospitals and credit unions add full benefits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a license to work in marketing in Tucson?
No. Arizona does not license marketing, communications, public relations or graphic design work. Employers judge candidates on degrees, portfolios and results.
Who hires marketing and communications staff in Tucson?
Recent postings on employers' own sites include Tucson Medical Center, Hughes Federal Credit Union and Occidental Roofing. Universities, colleges, resorts and agencies also hire, so check the live job cards above for current openings.
How much do marketing jobs pay in Tucson?
Entry roles run about $40,000 to $52,000 a year, specialists about $52,000 to $75,000, and managers and directors about $90,000 to $150,000. Tucson's marketing specialists had a median of $28.00 an hour in the May 2023 federal survey. These are estimates that vary by employer and experience.
Where can you study marketing or design in Tucson?
The University of Arizona offers a BSBA in Marketing through the Eller College of Management and a B.A. in Journalism. Pima Community College offers a two-year Digital Arts AAS at West Campus with graphic design and web design concentrations.
What helps you get hired in Tucson marketing?
A portfolio of real work, comfort with analytics and social tools, and clear writing. Bilingual Spanish and English skills are a plus in a border-region market where many campaigns reach both audiences.
Ready to get started? Browse all current marketing and communications job openings in Tucson, AZ on TucsonHIRED and apply today.