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The differences between communications department heads 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 department head and a communications consultant. Additionally, a communications department head has an average salary of $95,503, which is higher than the $91,455 average annual salary of a communications consultant.
The top three skills for a communications department head include communications strategy, external communications and external stakeholders. The most important skills for a communications consultant are powerpoint, web content, and project management.
| Communications Department Head | Communications Consultant | |
| Yearly salary | $95,503 | $91,455 |
| Hourly rate | $45.91 | $43.97 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 51,594 | 29,942 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A communications department head is in charge of overseeing the internal and external communication operations of a company. They manage the communications department staff, set goals and guidelines, establish budgets and timelines, liaise with key partners, coordinate with different teams to conceptualize and execute plans, and resolve issues promptly. They must also spearhead the development of media and marketing materials, monitoring the workflow and the workforce to ensure efficiency. Moreover, as the communications department head, they must lead and encourage teams to reach goals, all while implementing and promoting the company's policies and regulations.
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 department heads and communications consultants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Communications Department Head | Communications Consultant | |
| Average salary | $95,503 | $91,455 |
| Salary range | Between $54,000 And $168,000 | Between $63,000 And $130,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Oakland, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Credit Agricole CIB | Dell |
| Best paying industry | - | Utilities |
There are a few differences between a communications department head and a communications consultant in terms of educational background:
| Communications Department Head | Communications Consultant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Business | Communication |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between communications department heads' and communications consultants' demographics:
| Communications Department Head | Communications Consultant | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 51.9% Female, 48.1% | Male, 43.5% Female, 56.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.1% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 11.9% Asian, 5.3% White, 67.0% 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 Percentage | 12% | 12% |