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Communications associate vs communications consultant

The differences between communications associates and communications consultants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a communications associate and a communications consultant. Additionally, a communications consultant has an average salary of $91,455, which is higher than the $44,477 average annual salary of a communications associate.

The top three skills for a communications associate include customer service, patients and powerpoint. The most important skills for a communications consultant are powerpoint, web content, and project management.

Communications associate vs communications consultant overview

Communications AssociateCommunications Consultant
Yearly salary$44,477$91,455
Hourly rate$21.38$43.97
Growth rate8%8%
Number of jobs21,72129,942
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 77%Bachelor's Degree, 71%
Average age4242
Years of experience44

What does a communications associate do?

A communications associate is responsible for assisting with writing and communication projects and tasks within an organization. They are responsible for planning and implementing communication strategies, overseeing the company's media promotion, and editing and proofreading communication materials and texts. As a communications associate, you will be most likely to manage an organization's online presence by developing, updating, or revising its website and creating copy for social media. You also must cultivate and consolidate good media relations, and oversee the company's promotion campaigns and advertising.

What does a communications consultant do?

Communications consultants are responsible for preparing media releases, whether through print, video, or email. They perform varied tasks that may include working on complete projects such as media analysis and branding, creating strategies to reinforced communication among clients and employees, and providing guidance and recommendations to a company's public relations team. Communications consultants may also conduct training on best practices for other employees. Some employers prefer someone with a bachelor's degree in communications, public relations or journalism, previous work experience in a related field, and excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Communications associate vs communications consultant salary

Communications associates and communications consultants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Communications AssociateCommunications Consultant
Average salary$44,477$91,455
Salary rangeBetween $29,000 And $66,000Between $63,000 And $130,000
Highest paying CityNew Haven, CTOakland, CA
Highest paying stateConnecticutMassachusetts
Best paying companyMetaDell
Best paying industryFinanceUtilities

Differences between communications associate and communications consultant education

There are a few differences between a communications associate and a communications consultant in terms of educational background:

Communications AssociateCommunications Consultant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 77%Bachelor's Degree, 71%
Most common majorCommunicationCommunication
Most common collegeStanford UniversityStanford University

Communications associate vs communications consultant demographics

Here are the differences between communications associates' and communications consultants' demographics:

Communications AssociateCommunications Consultant
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 32.5% Female, 67.5%Male, 43.5% Female, 56.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.0% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 11.9% Asian, 5.3% White, 67.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%Black or African American, 10.4% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.2% Asian, 5.4% White, 66.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage12%12%

Differences between communications associate and communications consultant duties and responsibilities

Communications associate example responsibilities.

  • Create and manage several internal communications SharePoint sites and survey tools.
  • Save $60K annually by administering digital asset management system and managing migration of externally-host system to internal SharePoint solution.
  • Co-developed regional, national and international trade show strategy including logistics, management, qualifying leads, communications and ROI tracking.
  • Establish and moderate a Facebook group for a youth sports league.
  • Maintain school's website, including writing/editing content, and official Facebook page.
  • Write and produce weekly HTML newsletters that are distribute to corporate and enterprise-wide audiences.
  • Show more

Communications consultant example responsibilities.

  • Plan and manage and produce online marketing activities and campaigns (B2B and B2C).
  • Manage content, database selection, HTML presentation and quality assurance of all outbound email campaigns.
  • Advise and/or manage on content, navigation architecture, SEO, social media, YouTube, email campaigns.
  • Manage editorial and content for Siemens quarterly executive level do magazine with worldwide distribution.
  • Gather requirements, provide justification and value-ad capabilities for SharePoint implementation, and lead the change management team.
  • Create PowerPoint decks, organization charts, Vision/Strategy/Execution slides, updates to intranet websites and collaboration sites.
  • Show more

Communications associate vs communications consultant skills

Common communications associate skills
  • Customer Service, 12%
  • Patients, 7%
  • PowerPoint, 6%
  • Project Management, 4%
  • Press Releases, 4%
  • Facebook, 4%
Common communications consultant skills
  • PowerPoint, 10%
  • Web Content, 9%
  • Project Management, 8%
  • Press Releases, 5%
  • Strategic Communications Plan, 5%
  • External Communications, 4%

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