Post job

Communications manager vs communications director

The differences between communications managers and communications directors 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 manager and a communications director. Additionally, a communications director has an average salary of $107,700, which is higher than the $81,304 average annual salary of a communications manager.

The top three skills for a communications manager include customer service, property management and yardi. The most important skills for a communications director are web content, press releases, and customer service.

Communications manager vs communications director overview

Communications ManagerCommunications Director
Yearly salary$81,304$107,700
Hourly rate$39.09$51.78
Growth rate8%8%
Number of jobs26,35027,939
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 70%Bachelor's Degree, 76%
Average age4242
Years of experience44

What does a communications manager do?

A communications manager is responsible for overseeing a company or organization's public relations by devising various strategies and finding new opportunities. They must craft and produce marketing materials such as campaigns, advertisements, newsletters, social media engagements, and press releases to shape and improve a brand or company. Furthermore, a communications manager must accomplish administrative tasks such as preparing reports and necessary documentation, reaching out to advertisers, leading communication letters, and coordinating with marketing personnel from other departments.

What does a communications director do?

A communications director is responsible for monitoring and supervising the overall media relations from internal to external communications. A communications director's duties include managing campaigns, providing organizational updates to the employees, supporting social media marketing, developing effective communication strategies to build the organization's reputation, and efficiently leading team members in handling events that represent the business. Communications directors must have strong leadership and communication skills to provide support for the company's daily operations and strategies.

Communications manager vs communications director salary

Communications managers and communications directors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Communications ManagerCommunications Director
Average salary$81,304$107,700
Salary rangeBetween $53,000 And $122,000Between $61,000 And $188,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaNevada
Best paying companyMcKinsey & Company IncMcKinsey & Company Inc
Best paying industry-Health Care

Differences between communications manager and communications director education

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

Communications ManagerCommunications Director
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 70%Bachelor's Degree, 76%
Most common majorBusinessCommunication
Most common collegeUniversity of Southern CaliforniaStanford University

Communications manager vs communications director demographics

Here are the differences between communications managers' and communications directors' demographics:

Communications ManagerCommunications Director
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 34.9% Female, 65.1%Male, 40.2% Female, 59.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.0% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 9.2% Asian, 5.1% White, 74.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 5.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 9.0% Asian, 5.1% White, 75.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage16%16%

Differences between communications manager and communications director duties and responsibilities

Communications manager example responsibilities.

  • Co-administered sales campaigns in Salesforce, CRM to efficiently manage sales productivity of communication and leads.
  • Lead and manage marketing department's copywriting and editing team and develop many aspects of corporate communication.
  • Manage creative agency relationships and lead execution of commercial excellence awards program, Americas mid-year growth summit and kick-off meetings.
  • Manage all Medicaid paperwork, manage staff payroll, client attendance.
  • Manage all facets of community programs and recruitment for HIV prevention clinical trials.
  • Train in YARDI to complete daily transitions, manage resident ledgers and prepare weekly/monthly reports.
  • Show more

Communications director example responsibilities.

  • Assist in managing the Facebook and Instagram pages.
  • Develop and manage c-level strategic client relationships to grow revenue base.
  • Create and manage corporate website, online demand gen through SEO and SEM.
  • Manage editorial content of the organization website, build and upload web pages via HTML.
  • Manage the marketing strategy and budget, including B2C acquisition campaigns focuse on out of home and DRTV.
  • Manage media relations, announcements, editorial placement, and speaking opportunities the organizations.
  • Show more

Communications manager vs communications director skills

Common communications manager skills
  • Customer Service, 16%
  • Property Management, 9%
  • Yardi, 5%
  • Project Management, 5%
  • Press Releases, 4%
  • Web Content, 4%
Common communications director skills
  • Web Content, 8%
  • Press Releases, 8%
  • Customer Service, 7%
  • External Communications, 5%
  • Project Management, 4%
  • Employee Engagement, 4%

Browse executive management jobs