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Job outlook for central communications specialists in the United States
Are central communications specialist jobs in demand?
Central communications specialist job and salary trends over time
Central communications specialist jobs over time
Central communications specialist job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 360 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 443 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 509 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 535 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 601 | 0.00% |
Average central communications specialist salary over time
Central communications specialist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $41,083 | $19.75 | +2.7% |
| 2024 | $40,011 | $19.24 | +4.0% |
| 2023 | $38,456 | $18.49 | +2.5% |
| 2022 | $37,515 | $18.04 | +2.4% |
| 2021 | $36,639 | $17.61 | +2.2% |
Central communications specialist jobs by state
Most common states for central communications specialists
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 284 | 41% |
| 2 | Delaware | 961,939 | 188 | 20% |
| 3 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 93 | 16% |
| 4 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 117 | 15% |
| 5 | Vermont | 623,657 | 94 | 15% |
| 6 | Alaska | 739,795 | 98 | 13% |
| 7 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 833 | 12% |
| 8 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 160 | 12% |
| 9 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 108 | 12% |
| 10 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 901 | 11% |
| 11 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 656 | 11% |
| 12 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 360 | 11% |
| 13 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 219 | 11% |
| 14 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 115 | 11% |
| 15 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 164 | 10% |
| 16 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 132 | 10% |
| 17 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 632 | 9% |
| 18 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 501 | 9% |
| 19 | Hawaii | 1,427,538 | 134 | 9% |
| 20 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 97 | 9% |
Most common cities for central communications specialists
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Birmingham | 1 | 0% | $41,113 |
| 2 | Los Angeles | 1 | 0% | $48,956 |
Central Communications Specialist job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of central communications specialist experts
New Jersey Institute of Technology
Coastal Carolina University
Grand Valley State University
Saint Mary's College
University of Kentucky
University of San Francisco
University of Connecticut
Winthrop University
Bowie State University
Point Loma Nazarene University
San Francisco State University
Hope College
Ohio State University
Rowan University
The Ohio State University at Lima
What general advice would you give to a Central Communications Specialist?
Matthew Turner Ph.D., M.B.A.: People like the flexibility and excitement that can come with being a communication specialist. You can often meet interesting and important people and travel to new places. You can get new challenges frequently so you don’t fall into a rut. One of the things that people dislike about being a communication specialist is that it can sometimes feel amorphous. They might wonder what are the most important things to learn, what skills, tools, software, etc. are most valuable and how will changing technology make that knowledge obsolete? It often involves retraining and evolving job responsibilities and positions.
What will help Central Communications Specialists increase their earning potential?
Matthew Turner Ph.D., M.B.A.: Communication is central to pretty much every business and organization so someone with good communication skills will always be employable. The skills acquired in getting a degree in communication are transferable to many different career paths.
What general advice would you give to a Central Communications Specialist?
Yao Sun: The world has never been so eager for enhanced communication. Individuals, parties, organizations, etc. all need conversations and dialogues to improve the understanding toward each other as well as toward the new challenges that we are facing. Being a Communication Specialist can play an important role in this regard.
What will help Central Communications Specialists increase their earning potential?
Yao Sun: People like being a Communication Specialist because of its dynamic and vibrant working environment. However, sometimes people dislike being a Communication Specialist due to the fact that this job demands high energy in dealing with various relationships, and this is a capability that not everybody can have.
Wendy Weinhold Ph.D.
Associate Professor of JournalismCoastal Carolina University
Communication And Media Studies
What Central Communications Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Wendy Weinhold Ph.D.: Curiosity is the most importantly thing when it comes to skill building. Your college classes have you a solid foundation, but there is always more to learn. Seek out mentors who will help you understand your strengths and weaknesses, and be open to opportunities that help you grow.
What will help Central Communications Specialists increase their earning potential?
Wendy Weinhold Ph.D.: Communication is a major that offers you tremendous flexibility as you start your career, so use that to your advantage. Apply for jobs that interest you and build your portfolio. Your first job is highly unlikely to be your final job, so seek a job that will help you gain skills and prepare you for what’s next.
What Central Communications Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Mikhila Wildey PhD: I think the ability to engage and connect with people will be very important in the field as we shift more and more to a culture that is driven by AI. Although AI can be a useful tool, it likely won’t ever fully replace the value of human interaction and connection. In addition, employers often comment that they want to see employees with strong work ethic, and I think this will continue to be the case in 3-5 years. Having a strong work ethic can separate the people that move forward in their careers to those who remain stagnant.
What will help Central Communications Specialists increase their earning potential?
Dr. Mikhila Wildey PhD: My general advice for a graduate beginning their career in the field is to work hard, stay open-minded, and network! Most employees won’t stay in the same position for their entire career, and so I often tell graduates to not get too hung up on the first job needing to be the 'perfect' job for them. Often, the first job will be a place where they learn how to navigate the workplace, learn about their own strengths/weaknesses, and figure out what they like and don’t like. I encourage graduates to use this information to help them make decisions about the next steps in their career. And, if they are working hard and networking with people at their job, then opportunities will often times present themselves or be more available to them as they navigate their future career path.
What general advice would you give to a Central Communications Specialist?
Dr. Veronica Hefner: If you're able to know your passion, and your purpose, then find something that fulfills that, even if it means taking a lower paying job at first. For example, if you're really into fitness, get your foot in the door at a company that you respect and work your way up, rather than taking a higher paying job at a place you don't really like doing a job you don't really feel driven to do. Eventually, the passion for your work will motivate you to excel and that will result in achieving financial goals down the road as you are promoted. It's also good to get a master's degree because that will increase your initial salary by exponential amounts, depending on the field. Then, even if you don't land your dream job on the first try, you will have more options for promotion because you've already got the advanced degree in your portfolio.
Ying Lu Ph.D.
Associate ProfessorUniversity of Kentucky
Hospitality Administration/Management
What general advice would you give to a Central Communications Specialist?
Ying Lu Ph.D.: Communication skills. This is a service industry and requires strong communication skills to coordinate various departments and interact with diverse customers. A strong communication make you stand out in the team and make your job easier.
What general advice would you give to a Central Communications Specialist?
Tika Lamsal PhD: Since communication graduates approach the workplaces equipped with effective interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills, they can vouch for aspirational positions that become both professionally competitive and individually fulfilling.
What Central Communications Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Tianxu Chen: I have completed the questions and attached them to this email.
What will help Central Communications Specialists increase their earning potential?
Tianxu Chen: I may be able to help, because starting later this month, I'll be becoming one of the faculty fellows at UConn's Center for Career Development.
Bonnye Stuart
Internship Coordinator, Speech Communication Coordinator, Study Abroad Adviser, Integrated Marketing Communication InstructorWinthrop University
Public Relations, Advertising, And Applied Communication
What general advice would you give to a Central Communications Specialist?
Bonnye Stuart: First of all – have an e-portfolio of your work to show what you can do! Share that during the interview. Build trust with your employer during the interview stage that you have the skills and can-do attitude necessary to be an asset to his/her company! Be willing to go the extra mile, take on extra tasks, work long and hard on projects – all without asking if you will be paid extra for doing this!
What general advice would you give to a Central Communications Specialist?
Zack Stiegler Ph.D.: Students who have competency across multiple media technologies will become more valuable. Having a broader skill set offers flexibility to employers and is attractive in terms of efficiency.
What Central Communications Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Zack Stiegler Ph.D.: Shooting for a big time programming gig in a major urban market might be alluring, but those jobs are highly competitive. It's better to take a longer path to dream jobs by gaining experience in smaller markets. Additionally, media jobs are not limited to traditional media organizations, and skills acquired in media and communication programs are highly applicable in various industries.
What will help Central Communications Specialists increase their earning potential?
Zack Stiegler Ph.D.: Having flexibility, willingness to learn new skills, and dedication to the organization can enhance one's value as an employee. Preserving work-life balance is also important to avoid exploitation.
What Central Communications Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Rochelle Daniel: My general advice to a graduate who transitions into that first professional job in the Communication field is similar to advice I give Communication students for navigating internship workspaces (Communications Internship Handbook: What HBCU Students Need to Know, 2022). Be intentional about learning the organizational or office culture, really listen to find out what is expected of you, be flexible and adaptable when there are changes in workflow, and don't be afraid to ask questions.
What general advice would you give to a Central Communications Specialist?
Dr. Nick DiFrancesco: Communication- many grads lack even basic communication skills such as presenting, writing, or conversation; the industry is going to be seeking out not just the best and brightest, individuals who are personable, can relate and have rational discussions with others. The inability to engage in conversation and debate, or network with others is a serious issue among students, and these are skills that are absolutely vital to any professional.
What Central Communications Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Nick DiFrancesco: Ask questions, show up, and take an interest in what you do. Be prepared to learn on the fly because the degree you earned is just the foundation for everything you are going to learn doing the actual work.
What will help Central Communications Specialists increase their earning potential?
Dr. Nick DiFrancesco: Be reliable and willing to do different things. You don’t know where your best suited after graduation, but demonstrating that you can be counted on is not easily forgotten by most employers. Similarly, employees who decide to pigeon-hole themselves into a narrow set of tasks are rarely asked to do much beyond that, and can impede the progress in one’s career.
Margarita Pintado Burgos Ph.D.
Professor of SpanishPoint Loma Nazarene University
Romance Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics
What general advice would you give to a Central Communications Specialist?
Margarita Pintado Burgos Ph.D.: I believe you can maximize your salary potential by selling yourself well. In the humanities we tend to think selling ourselves is a bad thing, so we need to move past that idea and really be prepared to wow our interviewers. Give a great first impression, make sure you know your worth and you know how to explain that worth, study the company/ agency you are interested in working with, and find those spots where you can help.
What Central Communications Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Margarita Pintado Burgos Ph.D.: I think the most important skills have remained the same for a while, and they will continue to be prevalent in the near future. To read well, to synthesize information, to interpret content with a critical eye, to serve as bridge between different groups of peoples and cultures, to create compelling content, to offer diverse perspectives, to discern (for example) between fake news and real news, are some of the skills I think will be prevalent in the next 3-5 years.
What will help Central Communications Specialists increase their earning potential?
Margarita Pintado Burgos Ph.D.: A degree in Romance Languages, Literature and Linguistics equips you with plenty of tools to succeed in a variety of job opportunities. Thus, a general advice for recent graduates starting their careers, would be to remain open and to exploit as much as possible their skills, knowing that multilingualism, cross-cultural communication, reading and thinking critically, writing effectively, etc. are in high demand, especially considering the general decline of such skills in today's society.
What general advice would you give to a Central Communications Specialist?
Dr. Geri Merrigan: I advise them to think about half a dozen situations in which they have been both happy and effective, and ask themselves, "Which of my skills or capacities contributed to me being happy in those situations? What made me effective?" Then, find out which industries and organizations most need those skills and capacities. I got this exercise from Richard Bolles’ book, What Color is Your Parachute?
What Central Communications Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Geri Merrigan: Listening, empathy, and perspective-taking remain as important as ever, because change is the only certainty, and globalization connects us to people quite different from ourselves. That means skills for inclusive communication matter – analyzing an audience and crafting messages for diverse stakeholders. Finally, understanding the technology (especially AI) that is most consequential for your industry/sector, for Communication Studies majors, means understanding current events, reading about AI, and evaluating the credibility of what you read.
What will help Central Communications Specialists increase their earning potential?
Dr. Geri Merrigan: Choose an industry and position for which there is a growing demand and be willing to move to another state or country if needed. Second, take advantage of the resources offered by SFSU’s Career Services and Leadership Development, and elsewhere, so you will know when and how to discuss pay with a potential employer, including whether salary is negotiable in the position for which you are applying or not. Finally, know your economic sector and industry: Where does the organization get its supplies and capital? What do they do with those resources? How do they produce revenue and accomplish their goals? Understanding and being part of the revenue-producing stream is a great way to protect your position in the face of ongoing organizational change. This is true whether you work in a for-profit, not-for-profit, or public sector organization.
What general advice would you give to a Central Communications Specialist?
Jayson Dibble Ph.D.: Until we learn to read minds directly (Vulcan mind meld, anyone?), we will always need communication. Put simply, communication is necessary precisely because we can't read each other's minds. And because getting two people's brains to sync is tricky business, there will always be missteps and gaps and mistakes (miscommunications, if you will). Those mistakes can seriously hurt a relationship or a company's bottom line. And since humans are social critters by nature, it absolutely behooves us to learn as much as we can about communication both to build stronger personal relationships and to do better business. Medical schools, for example, are preferring applicants with communication training to assist in their bedside manner. And many businesses are hiring communication experts because of their abilities to listen to and empathize with clients, to really understand the clients' needs, and so on.
What general advice would you give to a Central Communications Specialist?
Michele Gamburd: Students who bring a variety of skills and experience to the workplace will receive higher salaries. Engaging with internships and community-based learning projects will enhance a graduate's career-readiness. In addition, it would be fruitful to broaden one's expertise with some useful professional skills, such as training in marketing or communication, GIS mapping, statistical analysis, or second-language ability.
What will help Central Communications Specialists increase their earning potential?
Dr. Megan Birk: I would suggest marketing the skills that come with a history degree, instead of focusing entirely on the knowledge. Both are important and valuable, but employers often indicate that the skills that come with history degrees are aligned with a wide range of jobs and careers. History jobs and jobs that recruit history majors are often more concerned about the skill set than the specific knowledge base.
What will help Central Communications Specialists increase their earning potential?
Ms. Mary Sterenberg: I believe the rise of generative artificial intelligence will increase the importance of strategic thinking and interpersonal skills for those working in communication. Generative AI will be a critical part of communication jobs and will serve many important purposes, but the tasks they help accomplish will create even more space for those working in the communication field to focus on the creative ideas, strategies and relationships that are beyond the ability of AI.
Dr. Kate Seltzer Ph.D.
Assistant ProfessorRowan University
Department of Language, Literacy and Sociocultural education
How would you rate the starting salaries for Central Communications Specialists, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Dr. Kate Seltzer Ph.D.: Educators are not paid nearly enough. However, working in a state with strong teachers' unions helps to ensure a starting salary that recent graduates can live off of and growth opportunities, albeit modest, over their careers.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Central Communications Specialists to find work opportunities?
Leah Herner-Patnode: Usually, urban areas of bigger cities and southern states, such as North Carolina, have many openings. Maine, Florida, California, Hawaii, Washington, and Texas are the most open positions.