The online world has become a medium for people’s everyday tasks, from accessing information to banking. With over 4.66 billion internet users, companies take advantage of this fact to effectively market their services and products. As a result, the demand for digital marketers is also increasing.
However, not all countries need as many digital marketers as others do. One factor that drives the demand for such professionals is the rate of internet usage. For example, 93% of the entire North American population access the internet regularly while there are only 43% in Africa. This implies that North America needs more digital marketers than Africa does.
As a digital marketing professional, you need to know where in the world your skills are needed. You need to focus your efforts on the right audience, service, or product. Because of this, we compiled the best countries you can go to start your job as a digital marketer.
USA
The USA is one of the countries with the highest job opportunities. Home to big corporations like Google, Apple, and Microsoft, you’ll never run out of marketing opportunities in the US. Additionally, it is also one of the highest-paying countries when it comes to digital marketers. As of January 2022, the average base salary for marketers in the US is $50,676 annually.
On the downside, the cost of living is high and it is considered as one of the most expensive countries to live in. Additionally, before you can work in the US, you need to be a permanent resident in the country.
Citizenship by investment in other countries offers you the fastest way to become a permanent resident. However, it’s not the case in the US. One of the requirements of applying for citizenship by investment is to undergo the process of naturalization. This is in addition to getting a green card that takes three to five years.
Portugal
Being a digital marketer in Portugal, you can get as much as €19,995 ($22,930) annually. If you already spent 10-19 years as a digital marketing specialist in the country, you can earn as much as €30,000 ($34,404) annually.
Aside from these, you can get dual citizenship by investment in Portugal. This makes it easier for you to migrate to the country should the need arise. It has one of the fastest citizenship by investment programs, which only takes 3 to 6 months of processing.
This is called Golden Visa and it grants you a way to become a permanent resident after staying there for five years. To get such a visa, you need to acquire real estate worth €500,000. Or you can invest €350,000 in an urban generating area property.
Getting a second passport in Portugal means you can have visa-free travel to Schengen in Europe. You are also eligible to access free health care and educational opportunities from prestigious institutions. Additionally, you can work in Portugal and in other countries within the EU without the need for a work permit.
By availing EU citizenship by investment, you can live and work in countries like Ireland, Malta, and Spain. Aside from Portugal, these countries also have excellent digital marketing career opportunities for you.
Most importantly, it is relatively affordable to live in Portugal than in any country in Europe. Living in Lisbon, Portugal by yourself can cost you €1,640 (about $1,880 in conversion). This is cheaper than in 83% of cities in Europe and in 57% of cities in the world.
However, one of the disadvantages of working in Portugal is that you need to learn their language. While you can converse in English on the street, you need to speak Portuguese in government agencies. Additionally, you can’t pay with a Visa or Mastercard anywhere in the country. So it’s best to bring cash with you all the time.
Canada
If you want to have a better career and quality of life, then Canada is the best option for you. As an entry-level digital marketing professional, you can earn a salary of $47,500 per year. On the other hand, experienced professionals earn as much as $72,017 per year. Moreover, the employment rate in the country is 61.5%.
Going to Canada to live as a permanent resident is made easier with multiple programs. While they don’t offer investment citizenship, they have Express Entry, which is the fastest way to become a Canadian citizen.
And if you can prove yourself to be a highly-skilled digital marketer, you can apply for their Provincial Nominee Program. This way, you’ll be able to work in the country in no time.
The downside of it is that the cost of living in Canada is high. Since they provide free healthcare and education, residents pay high tax rates.
Australia
In Australia, 87% of their jobs now require employees to have strong digital skills. Furthermore, there is a need for about 156,000 digital marketers to meet the demands brought by the digital age. With extensive knowledge in digital marketing, you’ll be able to fill this digital skills gap.
Aside from that, Australia has one of the most efficient and well-regulated immigration programs. You have various alternatives for relocating to Australia, with Skilled Nominated Visa being the fastest way to do so.
The average digital marketer can earn as much as $81,910 per year, which is the highest among the list. And, with enough experience, you can get a salary of $100,007 per year.
Some of the disadvantages of working in Australia include a high cost of living. Similar to Canada, Australia offers a unified healthcare system. This means that ex-pats can get high-quality medical care and permanent residents get free or low-cost medical care. However, you can expect to spend as much as $560 – 700 monthly.
Additionally, the affordability of houses has gone worse. In Sydney, the average property price has reached $1.3 million.
Ireland
Many IT professionals in Ireland think that schools are failing to provide students with digital skills. This results in a large number of graduates with limited digital expertise. Due to a lack of training, 50% of Irish adults lack fundamental digital abilities. The digital transformation and creativity of Irish enterprises are being hampered by a shortage of skills.
One of the best things about working as a digital marketer in Ireland is that the average salary is $50,000. And if you’re experienced enough, you can earn as much as $57,000 yearly.
Additionally, it recognizes dual citizenship. This means that you can get the benefits of living in Ireland and the country you’re living in. One of these benefits includes access to an excellent healthcare system and free education.
While that is the case, it does not have the cheapest citizenship by investment. To be qualified, you are required to invest at least €1 million for three years. If you want to get the best citizenship by investment program in Europe, you will have to go to Malta. Outside of Europe, there is Dominica with the cheapest citizenship to buy.
Not to mention that it is the second most expensive country to live in. Its consumer goods and services are 34% higher than the average. This is compared to the 21% higher-than-average consumer goods and services in the UK.
India
To keep up with technological advancements, there is a need to increase job opportunities for digital marketers by ninefold. The number of people using the internet in India is increasing each year. And by the end of 2022, it is expected to reach 932 million internet users in India.
That means more work opportunities for you.
Another perk of working in India is that the cost of living is cheap. There is affordable housing even in big cities that you can rent. Not to mention that the food is also inexpensive. And to make it even better, their internet service is top-notch. This makes it easier to work as a digital marketer in India.
The downside is that there are 4 additional working hours as compared to other countries. While the country has an inexpensive cost of living, an average digital marketer only earns up to INR 19,418 per month ($254).
Final Thoughts
Digital marketing specialists are one of the most in-demand professionals. Every company in all parts of the world needs a digital marketer in their team. However, there are only a few countries that provide the best working and living conditions for digital marketers.
On the other hand, enhance your digital marketing skills with experience and training. A diploma in digital marketing helps you stand out from other applicants.