You’re six meetings deep, running on caffeine, and still staring at three half-finished briefs by dinner. The rebrand deck is overdue. The social team needs approvals. Sales just asked for “something fresh” by tomorrow.
Sound familiar?
If you’re asking how many hours marketing managers work, you’re probably not looking for a number—you’re looking for permission to say it’s too much.
Let’s call it what it is: Marketing management isn’t a job. It’s a juggling act.
Campaigns. Collateral. Branding that actually feels consistent across ten platforms. It’s all on you—and it doesn’t pause when your calendar says “EOD.”
But how many hours are actually normal? And more importantly—how do you get your life back?
So, how many hours do marketing managers really work?
Let’s start with the technical answer.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, most marketing managers are clocked in for 40–45 hours per week. But “clocked in” doesn’t mean “off the clock.” In reality, many marketing leaders are pushing 50 to 60 hours a week, sometimes more during:
- Major product launches
- Last-minute campaigns
- Trade show seasons
- Q4 budget madness
Marketing doesn’t sleep. And neither do the notifications.
And here’s the kicker: it’s rarely just about time. It’s about headspace. Even when you’re off the clock, your brain isn’t. You’re still thinking about performance metrics, approval chains, and why your CEO sent that 9 p.m. email with the subject line “quick thing.”
The real job description nobody gave you
Sure, your title is “Marketing Manager.” But on any given day, you’re also:
- A creative director
- A data analyst
- A therapist (for your team and your boss)
- An operations coordinator
- A last-minute miracle worker
You’re not just leading campaigns—you’re keeping the whole engine running. And the expectations keep growing: more channels, faster turnarounds, higher ROI.
No wonder it feels like you’re working two jobs.
5 reasons your work hours keep creeping up
1. Delayed approvals create deadline disasters
One stalled asset. One stakeholder who’s “OOTO until Thursday.” Suddenly, you’re the one staying late to make up for lost time.
2. “Can you just…” syndrome
“Can you just add this to the deck?”
“Can you just update the landing page real quick?”
“Can you just do a version B?”
“Can you just do all of it by tomorrow?”
These micro-tasks eat entire afternoons. And marketing managers don’t have the luxury of saying no.
3. You’re filling too many gaps
Marketing departments are often under-resourced, especially during leadership transitions or growth spurts. So what happens? You become the copywriter, the project manager, the strategist—and the person booking the photographer.
4. Your boss wants results… yesterday
Marketing is under more pressure than ever to prove value. The C-suite wants fast wins, high visibility, and measurable ROI. And if the pressure’s coming from the top, the hours usually follow.
5. You don’t have the right support
Let’s say it plainly: when your team or partners drop the ball, you pick it up. When things fall through, it’s on you. Without a dependable creative partner, the hours don’t just add up—they snowball.
What the smartest marketing managers do differently
The ones who survive this pace—and actually like their jobs—aren’t superheroes. They’ve just figured out a better system.
They don’t try to do it all
They outsource the right things, and trust partners who get it right the first time.
They protect their calendars
They block creative time. They plan weeks ahead. They don’t live in reactive mode (most of the time).
They choose creative partners who move fast
They’ve been burned by agencies that take three weeks to send a proof. Now they know what works: direct execution, zero bloat, and teams that hit deadlines.
That’s where MOCK, the agency fits in.
How MOCK, the agency makes your job easier
We’ve sat in the meeting where your CMO moves up a deadline and your heart sinks.
We’ve taken the late-night call about a trade show booth emergency.
We’ve helped marketing directors look amazing in front of their bosses—on time, on brand, and without needing to micromanage.
At MOCK, the agency:
- We act like an extension of your team
- We skip the layers and talk directly with creatives
- We deliver work that’s fast, polished, and strategically sound
- We’ve been around the block—and we know what it takes to actually get things done
This isn’t theory. It’s how we operate every day for companies who need work yesterday.
If this is hitting a little too close to home…
That’s not a bad thing. It means you’re in the right place.
You don’t need to burn out to be effective.
If you’re tired of asking your agency why something’s late…
If you’re still the one making last-minute edits in Canva at 10 p.m…
If your team is drowning in execution and falling behind on strategy…
Then it’s time to find a partner who can help you breathe again.
Check out these two next:
- Working Conditions of a Marketing Manager
- How to Be a Successful Marketing Manager?
At The End Of The Day
How many hours do marketing managers work?
Too many—if they’re doing it alone.
But it doesn’t have to be that way.
The right creative partner gives you space to lead, not just survive. MOCK, the agency is built for marketing directors who are ready to stop juggling and start delegating—with confidence.
You’re doing enough already. Let us take the next campaign off your plate—and make you look great doing it.
Let’s get started
Need help getting your time (and your sanity) back?
Call us. Email us. Let’s talk.
- Website: https://mocktheagency.com/
- Phone: 470-225-6814
- Email: hello@mocktheagency.com
- Address: 247 14th St NW, Atlanta, GA 30318
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