Hiring guide
Email Marketing Manager: what they do, what to pay, and how to hire one
An email marketing manager owns a brand’s email and SMS program. They set the plan, run the calendar, lead the people who build and write the emails, and own the revenue target. At an agency, they run the program for several clients and report results in plain words.
What an email marketing manager does
- Builds and tunes core flows: welcome, browse and cart abandon, post-purchase, win-back, and sunset.
- Plans and sends a weekly campaign calendar tied to launches and sales.
- Segments the list by buying behavior, not just by sign-up date.
- Runs A/B tests on subject lines, offers, timing, and design.
- Protects deliverability: list health, sender setup, and spam rates.
- Reports revenue per recipient, flow revenue share, and repeat purchase rate.
Skills and tools
- Platforms
- Klaviyo, Postscript or Attentive for SMS, Shopify
- Craft
- Flows, segmentation, campaign calendars, testing
- Data
- Revenue per recipient, cohort repeat rate, attribution windows
- Design
- Figma or Klaviyo editor; mobile-first layouts
Email Marketing Manager salary
| Level | Pay | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Specialist / entry | $58K to $73K | SalaryOptics entry $58K; Robert Half low $73K |
| Manager (mid) | $81K to $92K | Payscale median $81K; Robert Half mid $91.5K |
| Senior manager | $105K to $125K | SalaryOptics P75 $105K; Glassdoor base P75 $125K |
| Total pay with bonus | $97K to $153K | Glassdoor total pay P25 to P75, median $121K |
US pay, 2026. Glassdoor runs high because it includes tech firms. DTC brands and email agencies land near the Payscale and Robert Half bands.
What a great email marketing manager looks like
Hire for this bar. A cheaper hire who misses it costs more in lost months than the pay you save.
Knows the numbers. Can name a healthy flow revenue share and click rate for the brand's size.
Audits a Klaviyo account in one day and ranks the top five fixes by revenue.
Writes or edits copy that sounds like the brand, not a template.
Fixes deliverability before it hurts. Knows SPF, DKIM, DMARC, and when to sunset contacts.
Tests on purpose, with one change at a time and a clear read.
Ties every email to revenue and repeat buying, not opens.
Related titles and how they differ
Klaviyo specialist
A Klaviyo specialist is the hands-on builder. They set up flows, segments, and data feeds, and they fix broken tracking. They are often not client-facing. Hire one when your strategy is clear but your account is messy or slow to change.
Email copywriter
An email copywriter writes campaigns and flows that sell. Great ones write in the brand's voice, test hooks, and know the offer cold. Test with a short paid task: three subject lines and one campaign email for a real product.
Email marketing manager vs retention marketer
An email manager owns the email and SMS channel. A retention marketer owns repeat buying across every channel, including loyalty, subscriptions, and reviews. Small brands often hire one person for both.
Email Marketing Manager job description template
Copy this, then fill in the parts in brackets. Keep the pay range in the post. Strong people skip posts without one.
Job title: Email Marketing Manager About the role We are hiring an Email Marketing Manager to own our email and SMS program in Klaviyo. You will grow repeat revenue and keep our list healthy. What you will do - Own flows, campaigns, and segments for [brand or N clients]. - Send [N] campaigns a week on a clear calendar. - Test and report revenue per recipient every week. - Keep deliverability strong. What you need - [2+] years running Klaviyo for ecommerce brands. - Proof of flow and campaign revenue you grew. - Sharp writing and a good eye for design. Pay $[min] to $[max] base, plus [bonus or equity]. US market range for this level (Manager, mid): $81K to $92K.
Email Marketing Manager interview questions
Flow revenue dropped 20% this month. What do you check first?
A strong answer: Checks deliverability, list growth, and broken flows before copy.
How do you segment a list of 200,000 people?
A strong answer: Uses buying behavior and engagement, not just demographics.
Tell me about a test that changed your program.
A strong answer: Shows the guess, the result, and what they kept.
Work test ideas for an email marketing manager
An interview shows how someone talks. A short, paid work test shows how they work. Use one of these ideas to start.
- Account audit: give a made-up Klaviyo summary with flow and campaign stats. Ask for the top five fixes, ranked by revenue.
- Flow build: ask for a post-purchase flow plan with timing, messages, and goals.
- Campaign brief: give a product launch. Ask for a three-email plan with subject lines.
SuperHired builds a custom Work Simulation for each client. It uses your real accounts, your tools, and your standards, so you see the work before you make an offer.
Email Marketing Manager FAQ
What does an email marketing manager do?
They plan, build, and tune emails and texts that bring customers back to buy again.
How much does an email marketing manager make?
Most US email marketing managers earn $81K to $92K base. Senior managers earn $105K to $125K.
Do I need a Klaviyo specialist or an email manager?
Hire a specialist to build and fix the account. Hire a manager to own the plan and the revenue number.
How much revenue should email drive?
Many DTC brands aim for email and SMS to drive 25% to 40% of online revenue. Your mix of paid ads and repeat buying moves that number.
For founders
Need an email marketing manager who meets this bar?
We find people who clear the standards on this page and prove it in a paid Work Simulation before you meet them. You get a short list, not a pile of resumes.
For candidates
Are you an email marketing manager?
Join the SuperHired talent pool. We reach out when a role fits your skills and the way you like to work.
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