Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between communications associates and communications specialists 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 specialist. Additionally, a communications specialist has an average salary of $51,023, 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 specialist are customer service, powerpoint, and patients.
| Communications Associate | Communications Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $44,477 | $51,023 |
| Hourly rate | $21.38 | $24.53 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 21,721 | 42,819 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
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.
A communications specialist takes charge of addressing the public by coming up with various strategic campaigns, newsletters, public correspondence, press releases, and advertisements. Their primary role focuses on promoting, shaping, and enhancing a brand's image through public relations. Furthermore, a communications specialist is responsible for handling any complaints or issues, devising and conducting damage control to resolve bad publicity should there be any. It is also essential for a communications specialist to adhere to the company's policies and regulations at all times.
Communications associates and communications specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Communications Associate | Communications Specialist | |
| Average salary | $44,477 | $51,023 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $66,000 | Between $36,000 And $71,000 |
| Highest paying City | New Haven, CT | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Meta | |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Technology |
There are a few differences between a communications associate and a communications specialist in terms of educational background:
| Communications Associate | Communications Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Communication | Communication |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between communications associates' and communications specialists' demographics:
| Communications Associate | Communications Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 32.5% Female, 67.5% | Male, 42.9% Female, 57.1% |
| Race ratio | Black 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, 10.0% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 11.9% Asian, 5.3% White, 67.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 12% |