Marketing and creative roles continue to evolve as organizations expand their use of AI-enabled tools, digital experiences and data-driven decision-making. Rather than increasing salaries across the board, many employers are reserving higher compensation for professionals with the expertise needed to lead high-impact initiatives.
Drawing on exclusive data from the 2027 Canada Salary Guide From Robert Half, this article highlights 8 of the higher-paying marketing and creative roles in Canada, along with the skills, certifications and industries shaping hiring in 2027.
2027 Salary trends for creative and marketing jobs
Hiring managers are seeking specialized skills
Organizations are facing skills gaps that are impacting projects, with two-thirds (66%) of marketing and creative leaders reporting project delays and over half (57%) with cancellations due to missing skills.
As marketing becomes increasingly shaped by data digital platforms and AI-enabled tools, employers are placing greater value on professionals who combine creative thinking with technical expertise and business insight. According to the 2027 Salary Guide, 6 in 10 marketing and creative hiring managers are offering salaries above their planned ranges to secure top talent, and 87 per cent identify specialized expertise as a reason. 66 per cent are paying more for AI-related skills, with 32 per cent reporting that these premiums exceed those offered for other tech skills.
Across the industry, employers are seeking professionals with expertise in areas such as SEO and GEO, brand and product strategy, AI-powered marketing, marketing technology, performance measurement, product marketing, UX/UI design, creative direction, motion design, and short-form video production. Professionals who can combine these capabilities with strong communication, creativity and business judgment are often well positioned for higher starting compensation.
8 higher-paying marketing and creative jobs
The following roles represent some of the higher-paying positions in Canada's marketing and creative sector for 2027. While compensation depends on factors such as experience, location and organization size, these positions often command higher starting salaries because of their strategic responsibilities and the specialized expertise required.
Chief Marketing Officer: National midpoint starting salary of $188,750
The Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) is a senior executive responsible for the strategic vision, leadership and overall execution of all marketing initiatives for the organization.
Typical responsibilities include:
Developing and executing a multiyear marketing strategy to achieve business growth, brand recognition and market share objectivesLeading, mentoring and managing the entire marketing department, fostering a culture of creativity, innovation and performanceOverseeing all marketing functions, including brand management, public relations, digital marketing, demand generation, product marketing and market research
VP of Marketing: National midpoint starting salary of $163,000
The Vice President (VP) of Marketing oversees an organization’s marketing strategy and the teams responsible for the development and execution of marketing business plans, including the definition of new markets, branding initiatives, advertising, digital strategy and pricing.
Typical duties include:
Collaborating with marketing research and analytics teams to collect customer insights that will inform the marketing strategyManaging and optimizing the development of products and services to help ensure they meet customers’ needsOverseeing all marketing functions, including brand management, public relations, digital marketing, demand generation, product marketing and market research
Creative Director: National midpoint starting salary of $151,000
A Creative Director is a visionary leader who drives the artistic and strategic direction of an organization's brand, campaigns and overall creative output.
Typical duties include:
Developing and executing the overarching creative strategy for projects, campaigns and brand initiativesLeading, mentoring and managing creative teams (designers, copywriters, content creators), fostering a culture of innovation and excellenceOverseeing the conceptualization, design, and production of all creative assets across various media (digital, print, video, social)
Communications Director: National midpoint starting salary of $137,250
A Communications Director is a senior leader responsible for developing and executing an organization's overall communication strategy.
Typical duties include:
Developing and implementing comprehensive communication strategies aligned with organizational goalsOverseeing all internal communications (employee engagement, executive messaging)Managing external communications, including media relations and public relations
Marketing Director: National midpoint starting salary of $135,500
The Marketing Director is part analyst, part strategist and part manager. This professional supervises a marketing team responsible for developing promotional communications strategy and materials for a company or product.
Typical duties include:
Preparing short- and long-term marketing plans, including promotional calendars and programs, pricing policies, and budgetsDirecting marketing messaging activities and ensuring marketing programs align with public relations initiativesTracking and evaluating the results of marketing campaigns and identifying opportunities to drive improvement and grow target market share
UX Director: National midpoint starting salary of $131,500
A UX Director is a senior executive leader responsible for defining and driving the vision and strategy for user experience across an entire organization. This role focuses on building and leading a high-performing UX team, establishing best practices, and ensuring that all digital products and services are user-centric and accessible.
Typical duties include:
Defining and championing the long-term UX vision and strategy, ensuring it is aligned with company objectivesLeading and growing a team of UX designers, researchers and writers, providing mentorship, career development and performance managementOverseeing the entire user experience lifecycle, from initial research and discovery to design, testing and implementation
Public Relations Director: National midpoint starting salary of $127,250
A Public Relations Director is responsible for managing an organization's public image, media strategies, and internal and external corporate communications.
Typical duties include:
Creating and running PR plans that match business goalsSetting up meetings with reporters, editors and news groupsOverseeing the entire user experience lifecycle, from initial research and discovery to design, testing and implementation
Marketing Analytics Manager: National midpoint starting salary of $108,500
The Marketing Analytics Manager uses data from marketing automation, customer relationship management (CRM) software and other business intelligence tools to provide insights on marketing campaign performance and return on investment.
Typical duties include:
Working with key partners in other departments such as IT, operations, sales and marketing to help companies improve processes and meet business needsOverseeing market research studies to understand customer behaviorCreating and using operational reporting dashboards to provide data-driven insights to various stakeholders
Marketing and creative certifications that can boost pay
While hands-on experience remains one of the strongest differentiators, professional certifications can help demonstrate expertise in marketing technology, analytics, campaign management and project leadership. Depending on the role, employers may value credentials such as Google Ads Certification, and Google Analytics certifications.
Industries with strong demand for marketing and creative talent
Demand for marketing and creative professionals remains strong across industries that are investing in customer acquisition, digital engagement, brand development and e-commerce growth.
Some of the industries creating demand for these roles include:
Advertising Consumer products Finance/insurance/real estate Health care Manufacturing Professional services Retail trade Technology
Total rewards for marketing and creative professionals
Salary is only one part of a competitive offer. When evaluating new opportunities, many marketing and creative professionals also consider benefits and perks like workplace flexibility. Remote and hybrid work options, paid time off, flexible schedules, bonus programs and profit-sharing opportunities continue to play an important role in attracting and retaining skilled talent.
As demand grows for professionals who can combine creativity, technology and analytical thinking, organizations that pair competitive salaries with strong total rewards packages will be better positioned to hire and keep top marketing and creative talent.
Whether you're hiring marketing talent or planning your next career move, understanding which skills, certifications and roles are commanding higher compensation can help you make more informed decisions.
Explore the full 2027 Canada Salary Guide From Robert Half for additional salary benchmarks, hiring insights and compensation trends.
