Key takeaways
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The role of a content strategist involves copywriting, editing, organization, and conducting research, and it typically requires skills such as copywriting, editing, understanding search engine optimization (SEO), and analytical skills, which you may develop as you earn a degree, complete a certification program, or gain experience.
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A content strategist is a professional who helps create and post content, including blogs, videos, and social media posts, to align with a business’s goals.
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As a content strategist, your responsibilities may include creating campaigns, collaborating with others, and reporting on performance analytics.
The qualifications needed to become a content marketing strategist may vary; however, you might consider getting a bachelor’s degree, pursuing relevant certifications, gaining experience in marketing or advertising, and compiling a portfolio to showcase your skills. Learn about content strategists, the education and experience you’ll typically need to take on this position, how to grow in the industry, and the skills you may need to succeed in the following article.
Afterward, consider enrolling in the Adobe Content Creator: Launching Your Creative Career Professional Certificate. In as little as four months, you’ll have the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of content creation and its vital role in today’s digital landscape. Upon completion, add this credential to your resume or LinkedIn profile.
What is a content strategist?
A content strategist is responsible for planning and strategizing content creation for a business. This content can include blog posts, video advertisements, articles, social media posts, and other types of online content.
As a content strategist, you’ll create campaign schedules, research content topics, and perform audits to ensure all content aligns with a business’s overall goals and vision. You might also make presentations to your colleagues explaining new ideas or going over current and past campaigns.
What does a content strategist do?
A content strategist works with a team of other content creators to produce valuable, relevant, and engaging content that helps a business meet its goals. In this role, you’ll review data to measure the level of engagement the content is getting from a specific audience.
For example, if a content strategist works for a customer-facing business that aims to increase profits with a holiday sale of its products, the strategist would use previous years’ data to draft a plan to meet that goal. That plan might include specific blog topics, social media copy, and an email campaign. The content strategist would then take this plan to their team of creatives to produce the needed content and publish it according to an agreed-upon schedule.
While the exact roles and responsibilities of a content strategist are dependent on the business itself, some of the more common tasks you might expect include:
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Develop an editorial calendar: A content strategist is responsible for creating the editorial calendar that the marketing department uses to produce and publish content.
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Conduct research: A key responsibility of a content strategist is conducting user research and competitor analysis. It’s also important to continually research SEO strategies and content trends.
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Read and report on analytics: Content strategists are responsible for performing content audits to identify trends and target audiences.
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Collaborate with colleagues: As a content strategist, you’ll collaborate with your organization’s sales and marketing departments. You’ll also work with content managers, writers, graphic designers, and other creators.
Skills that benefit content strategists
You’ll need a broad range of marketing and content creation skills to successfully lead a team of creators. You can develop these skills through a degree, hands-on work experience, and online training. Some essential skills include:
Technical skills
Workplace skills
How much does a content strategist make? Salary and job outlook
According to Glassdoor, the estimated median total pay for content strategists in the US is $109,000 per year. This figure typically includes base salary and additional pay. Additional pay may represent profit-sharing, commissions, or bonuses [1].
The demand for content strategists is on the rise. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts that content strategists and other media and communication roles will grow at a limited rate, with approximately 88,500 openings per year between 2025 and 2035 [2]. However, Research and Market’s 2026 Content Marketing Report suggests that the industry will grow at an estimated 27 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) between 2026 and 2032, indicating the potential for increased job opportunities for content strategists [3].
How to become a content marketing strategist
To start as a content strategist, you’ll want to have a solid marketing, communications, or advertising background. Hiring managers will typically prefer candidates with a relevant degree; 78.7 percent of content strategists have a bachelor’s degree [4]. However, it’s also possible to move into a content strategist role after spending time as a copywriter or other marketing professional
Think about your current educational and professional background. The field is ever-evolving, and the role of a content strategist varies according to a business’s specific goals, so you have an excellent chance of finding a position that makes the most of your experience. For example, a company looking to grow its presence on a video platform like TikTok might want a strategist with a videography background.
Once you have an outline of how your skills match up to a content strategist role, you’ll want to make a portfolio. A portfolio allows a potential employer to see the type of creative work you can do. A portfolio for a content strategist might include an example editorial calendar, marketing report, or social media copy.
Education
A bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, advertising, or social media marketing can help you pursue a career in content strategy. Certificates in specialties, like content marketing, data and analytics, or Adobe, can help give you a greater edge. These might include:
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Content Marketing Certification provided by the American Marketing Association
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Content Marketing Certification course offered by HubSpot Academy
Experience
Because content strategists are responsible for high-level strategy creation, many businesses look for candidates with relevant experience that the strategist will oversee. To qualify for this role, your first step will be getting an entry-level content creator or marketer role. Experience in one of these roles shows that you’re familiar with the specifics of content creation. If you aren’t already in the field, an internship is a solid first step into a content strategist career.
Possible content strategist career path
To become a content strategist, you’ll first need to get a position within the marketing field. Here are some roles and their median total salary* ranges to consider applying for:
From there, you could develop your skills and build experience, giving you opportunities to either earn a promotion into a content strategist or senior role or seek a position with a different company.
*All salary information represents the median total pay from Glassdoor as of October 2026. These figures include base salary and additional pay, which may represent profit-sharing, commissions, bonuses, or other compensation.
Where do content strategists work?
Content strategists work in a wide variety of industries. In this role, you might work at a marketing firm that manages multiple clients or in-house for corporations or organizations that offer their products or services to the public.
No-fluff help for when you’re stuck
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Watch on YouTube:8 In-Demand Skills from Adobe’s Content Creator Certificate
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Explore jobs:Social Media Career Progression: Job Levels & Skills to Advance
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