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The differences between communications interns 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 internship and a senior communications specialist. Additionally, a senior communications specialist has an average salary of $78,948, 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 senior communications specialist are project management, powerpoint, and strategic communications.
| Communications Internship | Senior Communications Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $33,458 | $78,948 |
| Hourly rate | $16.09 | $37.96 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 62,641 | 18,973 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 83% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| 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 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 interns and senior communications specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Communications Internship | Senior Communications Specialist | |
| Average salary | $33,458 | $78,948 |
| Salary range | Between $24,000 And $45,000 | Between $56,000 And $111,000 |
| Highest paying City | Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ | Oakland, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | The Aspen Institute | Analysis Group |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Technology |
There are a few differences between a communications internship and a senior communications specialist in terms of educational background:
| Communications Internship | Senior Communications Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 83% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Communication | Communication |
| Most common college | University of Houston | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between communications interns' and senior communications specialists' demographics:
| Communications Internship | Senior Communications Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 31.5% Female, 68.5% | Male, 35.7% Female, 64.3% |
| 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% |