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The differences between communications department heads 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 department head and a senior communications specialist. Additionally, a communications department head has an average salary of $95,503, which is higher than the $78,948 average annual salary of a senior communications specialist.
The top three skills for a communications department head include communications strategy, external communications and external stakeholders. The most important skills for a senior communications specialist are project management, powerpoint, and strategic communications.
| Communications Department Head | Senior Communications Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $95,503 | $78,948 |
| Hourly rate | $45.91 | $37.96 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 51,594 | 18,973 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| 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.
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 department heads and senior communications specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Communications Department Head | Senior Communications Specialist | |
| Average salary | $95,503 | $78,948 |
| Salary range | Between $54,000 And $168,000 | Between $56,000 And $111,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Oakland, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | Credit Agricole CIB | Analysis Group |
| Best paying industry | - | Technology |
There are a few differences between a communications department head and a senior communications specialist in terms of educational background:
| Communications Department Head | Senior Communications Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Business | Communication |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between communications department heads' and senior communications specialists' demographics:
| Communications Department Head | Senior Communications Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 51.9% Female, 48.1% | Male, 35.7% Female, 64.3% |
| 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, 10.0% 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% |