Post job

Communications internship vs marketing communications specialist

The differences between communications interns and marketing communications 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 internship, becoming a marketing communications specialist takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a marketing communications specialist has an average salary of $53,993, 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 marketing communications specialist are digital marketing, project management, and graphic design.

Communications internship vs marketing communications specialist overview

Communications InternshipMarketing Communications Specialist
Yearly salary$33,458$53,993
Hourly rate$16.09$25.96
Growth rate8%19%
Number of jobs62,64195,444
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 83%Bachelor's Degree, 79%
Average age4237
Years of experience46

What does a communications internship do?

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.

What does a marketing communications specialist do?

A marketing communications specialist is an individual who is responsible for creating all the marketing materials that are distributed to customers to increase brand awareness for the company's products or services. To create these materials, marketing communications specialists must collaborate with graphic design teams. They are required to track their marketing performance so that they can identify ways to improve their marketing strategies. Marketing communications specialists must also set up interviews and press conferences as part of their marketing campaign.

Communications internship vs marketing communications specialist salary

Communications interns and marketing communications specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Communications InternshipMarketing Communications Specialist
Average salary$33,458$53,993
Salary rangeBetween $24,000 And $45,000Between $36,000 And $80,000
Highest paying CityParsippany-Troy Hills, NJSeattle, WA
Highest paying stateNew JerseyDelaware
Best paying companyThe Aspen InstituteApple
Best paying industryProfessionalTechnology

Differences between communications internship and marketing communications specialist education

There are a few differences between a communications internship and a marketing communications specialist in terms of educational background:

Communications InternshipMarketing Communications Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 83%Bachelor's Degree, 79%
Most common majorCommunicationCommunication
Most common collegeUniversity of HoustonNorthwestern University

Communications internship vs marketing communications specialist demographics

Here are the differences between communications interns' and marketing communications specialists' demographics:

Communications InternshipMarketing Communications Specialist
Average age4237
Gender ratioMale, 31.5% Female, 68.5%Male, 28.0% Female, 72.0%
Race ratioBlack 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, 5.3% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 12.6% Asian, 9.6% White, 67.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%
LGBT Percentage12%10%

Differences between communications internship and marketing communications specialist duties and responsibilities

Communications internship example responsibilities.

  • Create and present a case study template, which lead to positive improvement in ALDI operations
  • Coordinate events such as the Rockingham-Harrisonburg SPCA's large scale adoption showcases and donation events while managing the shelter's Instagram.
  • Manage back-end of website (CMS and technologies); update member directory; create content and news feed on website.
  • Manage e-communication of company news through company website and Intranet.
  • Improve aesthetics, effectiveness, ROI and time-to-market of marketing communications by re-designing and effectively managing the development process and procedure.
  • Update outward facing corporate profiles on Facebook, LinkedIn, and other social mediums.
  • Show more

Marketing communications specialist example responsibilities.

  • Accomplish increasing the number of followers for the company's twitter account.
  • Create and manage distribution of bi-weekly HTML compliance notifications to subscribers, as well as monthly HTML newsletter.
  • Monitor and manage general company email address and company LinkedIn page
  • Lead information management, collaboration, CRM, and business intelligence initiatives.
  • Promote company wins by leveraging intranet access while managing logistics for the entire business development team.
  • Improve aesthetics, effectiveness, ROI and time-to-market of marketing communications by re-designing and effectively managing the development process and procedure.
  • Show more

Communications internship vs marketing communications specialist skills

Common communications internship skills
  • Patients, 16%
  • Customer Service, 14%
  • Press Releases, 9%
  • Web Content, 7%
  • PowerPoint, 5%
  • Facebook, 5%
Common marketing communications specialist skills
  • Digital Marketing, 8%
  • Project Management, 7%
  • Graphic Design, 7%
  • Web Content, 6%
  • Press Releases, 5%
  • Marketing Campaigns, 5%

Browse arts, entertainment, sports, and media jobs