Top Jobs on the Rise in 2021

Hello, 2021. A new year brings new opportunities and growth. As you look at your business goals for the coming year, you may realize you don’t have the people or resources to achieve them—that’s where we can help. 

In our 2021 Salary Guide & Trends Report, we published insights and trends from our experience as a leader in creative and marketing operational strategy, including the top digital areas to invest in, design jobs of the future, and skillsets in demand. 

Our guide can help you see where the industry is heading and assess if you have the right tools and talent to remain competitive in today’s marketplace. If you haven’t checked it out yet, you can download it for free on our website. 

In addition to our 2021 Salary Guide & Trends Report, we thought we would share the top up and coming jobs for the year in the creative and marketing space and why they are needed to help you achieve your business goals this year.

HR Marketing Specialist
Average salary: $51,498

Instead of marketing a company’s products or services, HR Marketing Specialists market the company. An HR Marketing Specialist helps develop a company's branding and recruiting strategies using marketing strategies through web, social, email, and search to find the best talent. Their role is to enhance the company's image to appeal to qualified job seekers. 

Over the past several years, the increase in social media platforms has created the need for HR Marketing Specialists. As brands are stepping into a leadership role with consumers, for instance, with COVID-19 and social issues, HR Marketing Specialists will play a significant role in connecting how a company responds to important issues and its influence on individuals looking for employment.

Multimedia Designer/ Animator
Average salary: $75,250

A Multimedia Designer or Animator creates images, sometimes involving movement for a wide variety of media including, TV, ads, web, video. They plan, edit, and shoot video and photographs as part of their role. Multimedia Designers or Animators can have a specific focus area, such as video games and movies. 

A Multimedia Designer or Animator creates images, sometimes involving movement for a wide variety of media including, TV, ads, web, video. They plan, edit, and shoot video and photographs as part of their role. Multimedia Designers or Animators can have a specific focus area, such as video games and movies. 

In the last few years, video and graphics have become more prevalent in marketing content. For instance,  we have seen an increase in video hires in the previous two years. And data from Hubspot/Wyzowl indicates that 92% of marketers plan to increase their video spending in the coming year. As video and graphics become the centerpiece of marketing and web content, Multimedia Designers and Animators’ need will grow. 

Augmented Reality Designer
Average salary: $75,720

When you hear augmented reality, your mind might go to games or entertainment but augmented reality is about using digital media, images, and graphics that enhance the physical surrounding of people’s everyday lives. 

A recent article in the New York Times suggests that the trend for 2021 will be around useful technology that can help us live in the post-pandemic world, such as using augmented reality to try on clothes visually without stepping inside a store. Augmented Reality Designers will play a key role in helping companies think outside the box and create visual solutions that solve today’s problems. 

Medical 3D Modeler
Average salary: $59,515

In 2018, the 3D medical printing market was $937 million. By 2026. the market is expected to grow to $3.7 billion. 3D printing can create custom medical tools for procedures, prostheses, implants, and even human organs.

With such broad and life-changing applications in the medical field, 3D printing can deliver tailor custom medical solutions and savings for patients. A Medical 3D Modeler’s job is to design and build 3D models using computer software and illustrations. The growth and opportunity in this field, specifically for medicine, is tremendous. 

Progressive Web Designers
Average salary: $56,250

Progressive web apps or PWAs are a new Java-based technology that incorporates JavaScript’s latest features with standard web technologies. PWA blends mobile and web and has practical applications for retailers to increase conversation rates. 

PWAs have better SEO ranking, are OS independent, and have a more straightforward setup. Companies using PWAs have significantly improved their conversation rates, and that alone is worth hiring a Progressive Web Designer to start developing PWAs for your business.   

Ecommerce Specialist
Average salary: $58,724 

An e-commerce specialist designs and executes an e-commerce marketing strategy to sell products online through a variety of channels. They are responsible for the overall development and maintenance of online stores and marketing strategy using data analytics.

As more products are being sold online with the pandemic, E-commerce Specialists are a valuable asset to a business wanting to grow their online presence and sales. Since COVID-19 lockdowns, 43% of consumers feel more positive about buying online. And it’s predicted that by 2040, 95% of purchases will be made online. 

If a business is going to invest anywhere for 2021, it should develop its e-commerce strategy and hire an E-commerce Strategist to carry it out.

Product Manager
Average salary: $108,992

Product Managers oversee the entire process of a product from its design and development to its launch into the market. They work with other disciplines, such as sales and marketing, to market the product and measure its sales performance. 

Product Managers are essential to a company because, without a great product, a company can’t succeed. A great product should is focused on the customer, their needs, and their desires. A Product Manager may not be a new role, but they are the glue that holds everything together. And with COVID-19, many businesses have to rethink all aspects of their products and how they go to market.

Video Game Designer & Developer
Designer average salary: $58,627
Developer average salary: $50,923

A Video Game Designer has the idea for the video game and the overall game’s objectives and layout. A Video Game Developer takes the game’s ideas and goals from the designer and creates the game into a product.

Before COVID-19, the video game industry grew with advancements in technology and different platforms like social media. COVID-19 will have a significant impact on future market growth due to more people staying at home. From 2020 to 2027, the $151 billion U.S. video game market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 12.9%. As the industry continues to grow, video game designers and developers will be in high demand. 

Industrial Designer
Average salary: $68,890

An Industrial Designer comes up with new everyday product designs using art, business, and engineering knowledge; they’ll look at the usability of a product and how it can be improved. Industrial Designers usually specialize in specific areas, such as cars, toys, or medical devices. 

The design and usage of a product is key to the customer’s ultimate experience with the product and the organization. A consumer designed product can ensure the long-term success of the product in the market. Industrial Designers are essential to make products that are innovative, affordable, and functional.

Chief Experience Officer
Average salary: $105,000

A Chief Experience Officer’s (CXO) job is to constantly be thinking about enhancing the customer’s experience, which focuses on emotional marketing. A CXO’s role is to ensure a positive customer experience with the product and brand and to measure the customer’s perceptions about the company and its products and services. 

When 86% of consumers will pay more for a better customer experience, it’s no wonder why a CXO is an up and coming role for 2021. More than two-thirds of companies now compete on customer experience as a focus. Companies are increasing their budgets to align more with emotional marketing, and it’s why CXOs are growing in popularity. 

This year, to grow your business,  it’s going to take new ideas, resources, and talent. Whether it’s hiring a team, a freelancer, or hiring for project-based work, we can help you with creative talent and solutions for your business needs in 2021. 

*Salary information is sourced from Creatives On Call’s  2021 Salary Guide and Trends Report and other sources. You can find our salary guide on the homepage of our website.

.........

This is a time for marketers to step up to the challenge and get creative in meeting current demands and behavior changes. Creatives On Call supports your business through this. Contact us here.  We have Marketing professionals ready to start in areas including:

• Strategy & Advisory

• Design and Production

• Content Creation & Management

• Customer Engagement & Experience

• Learning & Knowledge Management

• Digital Technology & Transformation

Learn more here.