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The differences between communications coordinators and specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a communications coordinator, becoming a specialist takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a specialist has an average salary of $58,013, which is higher than the $47,075 average annual salary of a communications coordinator.
The top three skills for a communications coordinator include customer service, web content and event planning. The most important skills for a specialist are patients, customer service, and work ethic.
| Communications Coordinator | Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $47,075 | $58,013 |
| Hourly rate | $22.63 | $27.89 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 39,790 | 358,433 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 49% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 2 |
A communications coordinator is responsible for overseeing the communications department's operations, developing the brand image, and monitoring press releases, company articles, and other related marketing materials for business promotion and visibility. Communications coordinators actively interact with existing and potential clients, negotiate contracts, and build profitable partnerships. They also develop strategic procedures for creating the business' online presence, organizing promotional events, and media conferences. A communications coordinator must have excellent communication and organization skills to maintain a good reputation and customer satisfaction.
Specialists are employees who are responsible for specific tasks or activities in the department they are assigned to. The actions or tasks they work on are related to their educational background or work experiences. They are usually highly skilled in specializations related to the work they are assigned to. Specialists are also highly trained on the competencies that are required of their specialty. As such, they are focused on the skills and competencies that are needed to enhance their experience in their specific field further.
Communications coordinators and specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Communications Coordinator | Specialist | |
| Average salary | $47,075 | $58,013 |
| Salary range | Between $34,000 And $63,000 | Between $32,000 And $104,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Jersey City, NJ |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Microsoft | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Government | - |
There are a few differences between a communications coordinator and a specialist in terms of educational background:
| Communications Coordinator | Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 49% |
| Most common major | Communication | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between communications coordinators' and specialists' demographics:
| Communications Coordinator | Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 29.4% Female, 70.6% | Male, 47.5% Female, 52.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.3% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.1% Asian, 5.3% White, 66.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | Black or African American, 11.4% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.4% Asian, 10.5% White, 55.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 11% |