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The differences between communications associates and senior 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 senior communications specialist. Additionally, a senior communications specialist has an average salary of $78,948, 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 senior communications specialist are project management, powerpoint, and strategic communications.
| Communications Associate | Senior Communications Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $44,477 | $78,948 |
| Hourly rate | $21.38 | $37.96 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 21,721 | 18,973 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| 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 senior communications specialist is primarily in charge of developing communication strategies in the company. Their responsibilities revolve around ensuring the smooth flow of internal and external communications, coordinating various departments, managing campaigns and event schedules, devising social media strategies, and supervising media relations. A senior communications specialist must also address issues and concerns, resolving them promptly. Furthermore, as a senior specialist, it is essential to lead and assist the junior specialists, all while adhering to the company's policies and regulations.
Communications associates and senior communications specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Communications Associate | Senior Communications Specialist | |
| Average salary | $44,477 | $78,948 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $66,000 | Between $56,000 And $111,000 |
| Highest paying City | New Haven, CT | Oakland, CA |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | Meta | Analysis Group |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Technology |
There are a few differences between a communications associate and a senior communications specialist in terms of educational background:
| Communications Associate | Senior Communications Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Communication | Communication |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between communications associates' and senior communications specialists' demographics:
| Communications Associate | Senior Communications Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 32.5% Female, 67.5% | Male, 35.7% Female, 64.3% |
| 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% |