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Communications lead vs media director

The differences between communications leads and media directors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a communications lead, becoming a media director takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a media director has an average salary of $112,564, which is higher than the $96,988 average annual salary of a communications lead.

The top three skills for a communications lead include project management, strategic communications and HR. The most important skills for a media director are digital marketing, video production, and media planning.

Communications lead vs media director overview

Communications LeadMedia Director
Yearly salary$96,988$112,564
Hourly rate$46.63$54.12
Growth rate12%8%
Number of jobs20,41322,511
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 72%Bachelor's Degree, 76%
Average age4542
Years of experience64

What does a communications lead do?

The global senior program manager acts as a coordinator for the organization's projects and performs various tasks including supervision, account management, daily staff assignments, budget planning, cost control, and tracking program expenses by collaborating with various global departments to enhance all global programs. He/she should have excellent analytical, decision-making, leadership, and organization skills and knowledge about project management to be able to oversee and organize activities to ensure its compliance with the organization's goals.

What does a media director do?

A media director spearheads and oversees a company's entire media-related activities, including marketing and advertising campaigns. They are in charge of setting goals and guidelines, liaising and building positive relationships with external parties, conceptualizing plans for projects and campaigns, and developing strategies to optimize operations. It is also their duty to address issues and concerns, resolving them promptly and efficiently. Furthermore, as a media director, it is essential to monitor the progress of different teams, leading and encouraging them to reach goals while implementing the company's policies and regulations.

Communications lead vs media director salary

Communications leads and media directors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Communications LeadMedia Director
Average salary$96,988$112,564
Salary rangeBetween $67,000 And $139,000Between $73,000 And $172,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaNevada
Best paying companyMetaGoogle
Best paying industryInternetProfessional

Differences between communications lead and media director education

There are a few differences between a communications lead and a media director in terms of educational background:

Communications LeadMedia Director
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 72%Bachelor's Degree, 76%
Most common majorBusinessCommunication
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaStanford University

Communications lead vs media director demographics

Here are the differences between communications leads' and media directors' demographics:

Communications LeadMedia Director
Average age4542
Gender ratioMale, 41.4% Female, 58.6%Male, 62.0% Female, 38.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.8% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 14.0% Asian, 5.1% White, 62.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%Black or African American, 6.0% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 9.1% Asian, 5.1% White, 74.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage14%16%

Differences between communications lead and media director duties and responsibilities

Communications lead example responsibilities.

  • Lead content migration of old intranet to new SharePoint platform.
  • Manage editorial calendar and writing content for digital assets including intranet and external web.
  • Lead copywriting for newly launch Chinese language website LeEco.com/Chinese to attract Chinese American customers.
  • Manage intranet content, with responsibility for project news, executive visibility, community activities, educational outreach.
  • Manage and overseen housing operations, administration of HUD programs, supervise maintenance and/or improvements of residential properties.
  • Serve as SharePoint site administrator, creating intranet, surveys and resource repository.
  • Show more

Media director example responsibilities.

  • Manage course creation process from media asset creation to LMS formatting.
  • Manage a team performing mastering and short run duplication of 1000-1500 fully finish DVD products per day.
  • Manage online advertising including multiple search engine sponsor link (PPC) campaigns and display campaigns with different traffic providers/networks.
  • Utilize basic HTML, CSS and advance Photoshop techniques to maintain and update the website.
  • Maintain $2600 pvr while keeping high CSI and SSI.
  • Record video clips and post on YouTube and website.
  • Show more

Communications lead vs media director skills

Common communications lead skills
  • Project Management, 9%
  • Strategic Communications, 6%
  • HR, 5%
  • Customer Service, 5%
  • Community Outreach, 4%
  • Digital Marketing, 4%
Common media director skills
  • Digital Marketing, 10%
  • Video Production, 9%
  • Media Planning, 6%
  • Client Relationships, 5%
  • Facebook, 4%
  • TV, 4%

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