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The differences between communications associates and social media 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 social media specialist. Additionally, a social media specialist has an average salary of $51,584, 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 social media specialist are social media marketing, instagram, and digital marketing.
| Communications Associate | Social Media Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $44,477 | $51,584 |
| Hourly rate | $21.38 | $24.80 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 21,721 | 47,228 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 79% |
| 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 social media specialist is an individual who is responsible for creating and administering content on all social media platforms to build an audience and ensure customer engagement. By using platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, social media specialists must create content that resonates with the interests of the intended audience. They are required to understand social media metrics so that they can use the information to ensure success in their social media strategy. Social media specialists must also work with industry professionals and influencers via social media to create a strong network.
Communications associates and social media specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Communications Associate | Social Media Specialist | |
| Average salary | $44,477 | $51,584 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $66,000 | Between $38,000 And $68,000 |
| Highest paying City | New Haven, CT | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Meta | McKinsey & Company Inc |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Professional |
There are a few differences between a communications associate and a social media specialist in terms of educational background:
| Communications Associate | Social Media Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 79% |
| Most common major | Communication | Communication |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between communications associates' and social media specialists' demographics:
| Communications Associate | Social Media Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 32.5% Female, 67.5% | Male, 38.6% Female, 61.4% |
| 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% |