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The differences between communications interns and 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 internship and a communications specialist. Additionally, a communications specialist has an average salary of $51,023, which is higher than the $33,458 average annual salary of a communications internship.
The top three skills for a communications internship include patients, customer service and press releases. The most important skills for a communications specialist are customer service, powerpoint, and patients.
| Communications Internship | Communications Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $33,458 | $51,023 |
| Hourly rate | $16.09 | $24.53 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 62,641 | 42,819 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 83% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
When it comes to a communications internship, the tasks will vary depending on the organization or industry involved. However, one of the primary responsibilities is to observe proper etiquette in dealing with people and other situations. There will also be the need to accomplish administrative tasks such as producing paperwork and other documentation forms, maintaining records in a database, designing presentations, and coordinating with other team members. Furthermore, it is also important to develop various ideas that will help in multiple projects involving public relations.
A communications specialist takes charge of addressing the public by coming up with various strategic campaigns, newsletters, public correspondence, press releases, and advertisements. Their primary role focuses on promoting, shaping, and enhancing a brand's image through public relations. Furthermore, a communications specialist is responsible for handling any complaints or issues, devising and conducting damage control to resolve bad publicity should there be any. It is also essential for a communications specialist to adhere to the company's policies and regulations at all times.
Communications interns and communications specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Communications Internship | Communications Specialist | |
| Average salary | $33,458 | $51,023 |
| Salary range | Between $24,000 And $45,000 | Between $36,000 And $71,000 |
| Highest paying City | Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | The Aspen Institute | |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Technology |
There are a few differences between a communications internship and a communications specialist in terms of educational background:
| Communications Internship | Communications Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 83% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Communication | Communication |
| Most common college | University of Houston | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between communications interns' and communications specialists' demographics:
| Communications Internship | Communications Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 31.5% Female, 68.5% | Male, 42.9% Female, 57.1% |
| 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% |