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The differences between communications department heads and 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 department head and a media specialist. Additionally, a communications department head has an average salary of $95,503, which is higher than the $50,832 average annual salary of a media specialist.
The top three skills for a communications department head include communications strategy, external communications and external stakeholders. The most important skills for a media specialist are digital marketing, video production, and customer service.
| Communications Department Head | Media Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $95,503 | $50,832 |
| Hourly rate | $45.91 | $24.44 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 51,594 | 39,401 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| 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.
Media specialists are individuals who establish and administer content on various social media platforms. The job involves monitoring site metrics, overseeing creative design, and responding to reader comments. Specialists offer advice to administrators and teachers on the use of non-print social media. They work for huge enterprises with multimedia departments, new media departments, and in-house websites. The skills the job requires include trend awareness, social media ads, community management, strong visual aesthetic, and understanding SEO.
Communications department heads and media specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Communications Department Head | Media Specialist | |
| Average salary | $95,503 | $50,832 |
| Salary range | Between $54,000 And $168,000 | Between $35,000 And $73,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | California | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Credit Agricole CIB | BP America Inc |
| Best paying industry | - | Professional |
There are a few differences between a communications department head and a media specialist in terms of educational background:
| Communications Department Head | Media Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Business | Communication |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between communications department heads' and media specialists' demographics:
| Communications Department Head | Media Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 51.9% Female, 48.1% | Male, 52.9% Female, 47.1% |
| 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, 10.3% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.2% Asian, 5.3% White, 66.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 12% |