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Job outlook for communications/senior communications managers in the United States
Communications/senior communications manager job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected communications/senior communications manager job growth rate is 8% from 2018-2028.
About 6,300 new jobs for communications/senior communications managers are projected over the next decade.
Communications/senior communications manager salaries have increased 14% for communications/senior communications managers in the last 5 years.
There are over 23,611 communications/senior communications managers currently employed in the United States.
There are 28,072 active communications/senior communications manager job openings in the US.
The average communications/senior communications manager salary is $107,315.
Are communications/senior communications manager jobs in demand?
Communications/senior communications manager job and salary trends over time
Communications/senior communications manager jobs over time
Communications/senior communications manager job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 23,611 | 0.01% |
| 2020 | 23,127 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 22,665 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 20,889 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 19,458 | 0.01% |
Average communications/senior communications manager salary over time
Communications/senior communications manager salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $107,315 | $51.59 | +4.1% |
| 2024 | $103,114 | $49.57 | +2.1% |
| 2023 | $101,018 | $48.57 | +3.2% |
| 2022 | $97,921 | $47.08 | +3.7% |
| 2021 | $94,436 | $45.40 | +3.1% |
Communications/senior communications manager jobs by state
Most common states for communications/senior communications managers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 402 | 58% |
| 2 | Delaware | 961,939 | 144 | 15% |
| 3 | Vermont | 623,657 | 75 | 12% |
| 4 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 879 | 10% |
| 5 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 656 | 10% |
| 6 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 75 | 10% |
| 7 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 57 | 10% |
| 8 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 555 | 9% |
| 9 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 99 | 9% |
| 10 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 75 | 9% |
| 11 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 256 | 8% |
| 12 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 81 | 8% |
| 13 | Alaska | 739,795 | 58 | 8% |
| 14 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 546 | 7% |
| 15 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 289 | 7% |
| 16 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 118 | 7% |
| 17 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 96 | 7% |
| 18 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 89 | 7% |
| 19 | California | 39,536,653 | 2,361 | 6% |
| 20 | New York | 19,849,399 | 1,187 | 6% |
Most common cities for communications/senior communications managers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bethesda | 2 | 3% | $95,093 |
| 2 | Palo Alto | 2 | 3% | $152,566 |
| 3 | Rockville | 2 | 3% | $95,078 |
| 4 | Mountain View | 2 | 2% | $152,492 |
| 5 | Bentonville | 1 | 2% | $107,950 |
| 6 | Bowie | 1 | 2% | $95,276 |
| 7 | Atlanta | 6 | 1% | $97,599 |
| 8 | Boston | 6 | 1% | $89,030 |
| 9 | Washington | 6 | 1% | $91,316 |
| 10 | Tampa | 2 | 1% | $84,743 |
| 11 | Ann Arbor | 1 | 1% | $87,475 |
| 12 | Boca Raton | 1 | 1% | $82,020 |
| 13 | Burbank | 1 | 1% | $143,776 |
| 14 | Chicago | 6 | 0% | $99,249 |
| 15 | New York | 5 | 0% | $107,584 |
| 16 | Oakland | 2 | 0% | $152,616 |
| 17 | Birmingham | 1 | 0% | $89,000 |
| 18 | Dallas | 1 | 0% | $108,666 |
Communications/Senior Communications Manager job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of communications/senior communications manager experts
New Jersey Institute of Technology
Coastal Carolina University
Grand Valley State University
Saint Mary's College
University of Kentucky
University of San Francisco
University of Connecticut
Winthrop University
Denison University
Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi
Bowie State University
Wartburg College
California State University - Long Beach
Point Loma Nazarene University
What will help Communications/Senior Communications Managers increase their earning potential?
Matthew Turner Ph.D., M.B.A.: Communication is central to pretty much every business and organization so someone with good communication skills will always be employable. The skills acquired in getting a degree in communication are transferable to many different career paths.
What Communications/Senior Communications Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Holly Sullenger PhD: Soft skills such as communication, active listening, giving and receiving feedback, writing, and presenting well are crucial and will become more important.
What general advice would you give to a Communications/Senior Communications Manager?
Mr. Daniel Routh: More and more companies want to expand their presence on social media, and someone with good video, photography, writing, and spoken communication skills is in demand. Someone who communicates well also has potential for leadership and promotion, especially in HR and PR fields.
What will help Communications/Senior Communications Managers increase their earning potential?
Mr. Daniel Routh: On a day-to-day basis, a communication specialist is likely to be interviewing or networking, planning an event, taking photos or videos, posting and managing social media on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, and YouTube, meeting with teams or clients about branding and marketing, editing videos, or writing news updates.
What Communications/Senior Communications Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Alice Veksler Ph.D., BCPA: Practice your interpersonal skills and think about how what you have learned in your coursework translates to your chosen field of work. Teamwork, conflict resolution, social media savvy, and professionalism can make or break a career. Being able to articulate and demonstrate mastery of these skills with concrete examples during an interview can help land the job and then embodying the skillset of an excellent communicator will lead to professional success. Networking is also key so making sure that you do internships and engage with others in your chosen field helps with securing a job. Forging connections early in one's career can pay massive dividends down the road. We say that 'you get jobs by talking to people' and this maxim is especially true for a broad field like communication studies. Finally, I always encourage a healthy work-life balance to avoid burnout and maximize productivity.
What Communications/Senior Communications Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Yao Sun: On a day-to-day basis, a Communication Specialist takes care of any work relevant to human interaction. This area of knowledge can be applied to a wide variety of jobs. For example, in an IT company, you can find a Communication Specialist in the marketing department for promoting the product, or in the product management department responsible for team building and knowledge integration.
What will help Communications/Senior Communications Managers increase their earning potential?
Yao Sun: People like being a Communication Specialist because of its dynamic and vibrant working environment. However, sometimes people dislike being a Communication Specialist due to the fact that this job demands high energy in dealing with various relationships, and this is a capability that not everybody can have.
Wendy Weinhold Ph.D.
Associate Professor of JournalismCoastal Carolina University
Communication And Media Studies
What general advice would you give to a Communications/Senior Communications Manager?
Wendy Weinhold Ph.D.: Negotiation is so important whenever you start a job. Research will help you understand what people are making in similar jobs in your area, and you will be more likely to get a better offer if you know what to ask for based on what’s reasonable. Beyond salary, you can negotiate technology—such as laptop computers, tablets, phones—as well as other perks, such as professional development stipends. And remember: your first salary is just a start!
What Communications/Senior Communications Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Wendy Weinhold Ph.D.: Curiosity is the most importantly thing when it comes to skill building. Your college classes have you a solid foundation, but there is always more to learn. Seek out mentors who will help you understand your strengths and weaknesses, and be open to opportunities that help you grow.
What will help Communications/Senior Communications Managers increase their earning potential?
Wendy Weinhold Ph.D.: Communication is a major that offers you tremendous flexibility as you start your career, so use that to your advantage. Apply for jobs that interest you and build your portfolio. Your first job is highly unlikely to be your final job, so seek a job that will help you gain skills and prepare you for what’s next.
What general advice would you give to a Communications/Senior Communications Manager?
Dr. Mikhila Wildey PhD: Maximizing salary potential often has to do with knowing your worth. It is important for individuals to do some research on what similar positions in the field are being paid in order to understand what an acceptable salary range may be for a particular position. In order to argue for an offer to be on the higher end of a typical salary range and maximize earning potential, it is important to vocalize your skills and assets within interviews and in your application materials. Individuals will need to self-advocate to show why they should earn a higher salary. It can be helpful to write out their skills and assets on paper first and rehearse saying them out loud to feel more comfortable and confident within an interview.
What Communications/Senior Communications Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Mikhila Wildey PhD: I think the ability to engage and connect with people will be very important in the field as we shift more and more to a culture that is driven by AI. Although AI can be a useful tool, it likely won’t ever fully replace the value of human interaction and connection. In addition, employers often comment that they want to see employees with strong work ethic, and I think this will continue to be the case in 3-5 years. Having a strong work ethic can separate the people that move forward in their careers to those who remain stagnant.
What will help Communications/Senior Communications Managers increase their earning potential?
Dr. Mikhila Wildey PhD: My general advice for a graduate beginning their career in the field is to work hard, stay open-minded, and network! Most employees won’t stay in the same position for their entire career, and so I often tell graduates to not get too hung up on the first job needing to be the 'perfect' job for them. Often, the first job will be a place where they learn how to navigate the workplace, learn about their own strengths/weaknesses, and figure out what they like and don’t like. I encourage graduates to use this information to help them make decisions about the next steps in their career. And, if they are working hard and networking with people at their job, then opportunities will often times present themselves or be more available to them as they navigate their future career path.
What general advice would you give to a Communications/Senior Communications Manager?
Dr. Veronica Hefner: If you're able to know your passion, and your purpose, then find something that fulfills that, even if it means taking a lower paying job at first. For example, if you're really into fitness, get your foot in the door at a company that you respect and work your way up, rather than taking a higher paying job at a place you don't really like doing a job you don't really feel driven to do. Eventually, the passion for your work will motivate you to excel and that will result in achieving financial goals down the road as you are promoted. It's also good to get a master's degree because that will increase your initial salary by exponential amounts, depending on the field. Then, even if you don't land your dream job on the first try, you will have more options for promotion because you've already got the advanced degree in your portfolio.
What will help Communications/Senior Communications Managers increase their earning potential?
Dr. Veronica Hefner: I would recommend that a new graduate shows up and does the work to the best of their ability. So much of success is determined by reliability, competency, and effort. Aim to achieve a work/life balance that helps you stay mentally and physically healthy, but realize that means that when you're at work, you need to work. The most successful people are not always the most talented or the most educated, but they are the ones who exert the most effort and ambition. However, when you go home at the end of the day, leave work behind and focus on yourself. Finally, show respect to others. If you disagree with them, or just don't like them, you still need to show respect. Respect diverse people, ideas, perspectives, and consider the experiences you have with people and ideas that are different from your own as a privilege that helps you learn and grow.
Ying Lu Ph.D.
Associate ProfessorUniversity of Kentucky
Hospitality Administration/Management
What general advice would you give to a Communications/Senior Communications Manager?
Ying Lu Ph.D.: Communication skills. This is a service industry and requires strong communication skills to coordinate various departments and interact with diverse customers. A strong communication make you stand out in the team and make your job easier.
What Communications/Senior Communications Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Ying Lu Ph.D.: Introducing and instructing customers on how to use various tech equipment to have a better consumption experience.
What will help Communications/Senior Communications Managers increase their earning potential?
Ying Lu Ph.D.: Work experience. Gain work experience in the industry as much as possible while studying the degree colleges. If possible, get a promotion to a supervisory position before graduation.
What general advice would you give to a Communications/Senior Communications Manager?
Tika Lamsal PhD: Since communication graduates approach the workplaces equipped with effective interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills, they can vouch for aspirational positions that become both professionally competitive and individually fulfilling.
What Communications/Senior Communications Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Tika Lamsal PhD: You may want to look for career opportunities that provide a platform for your professional growth through deeply engaging and responsive communication practices across languages and cultures.
What general advice would you give to a Communications/Senior Communications Manager?
Tianxu Chen: But if you could kindly send me the questions you have, I'll coordinate with the career center to gather relevant information.
What Communications/Senior Communications Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Tianxu Chen: I have completed the questions and attached them to this email.
What will help Communications/Senior Communications Managers increase their earning potential?
Tianxu Chen: I may be able to help, because starting later this month, I'll be becoming one of the faculty fellows at UConn's Center for Career Development.
Bonnye Stuart
Internship Coordinator, Speech Communication Coordinator, Study Abroad Adviser, Integrated Marketing Communication InstructorWinthrop University
Public Relations, Advertising, And Applied Communication
What general advice would you give to a Communications/Senior Communications Manager?
Bonnye Stuart: First of all – have an e-portfolio of your work to show what you can do! Share that during the interview. Build trust with your employer during the interview stage that you have the skills and can-do attitude necessary to be an asset to his/her company! Be willing to go the extra mile, take on extra tasks, work long and hard on projects – all without asking if you will be paid extra for doing this!
What Communications/Senior Communications Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Bonnye Stuart: Communication skills – in-person and mediated – will become more important as personal communication becomes less frequent and online communication takes center-stage. Analyzing analytics will be crucial as companies and organizations strive to 'really know' their publics behaviors and reach them where they are. Understanding Search Engine Optimization will be a great skill. Writing for a variety of formats – from long form storytelling to blogging will be important. Other skills will include videoing, photography, content creation, website editing and revision and trend watching!
What will help Communications/Senior Communications Managers increase their earning potential?
Bonnye Stuart: I would say be flexible - you may be asked to do a variety of tasks. Some tasks you may feel comfortable doing, others you may feel you don't have the experience to tackle. Be confident in your abilities – you probably know more than you think you do – especially in the areas of technology and social media. Above all, be a sponge – soak up all everything you can from soft, people skills to specific industry knowledge. You can learn from every experience in the workplace (even mundane meetings can yield much information about the culture of the company or organization and who's voice is heard and valued). There is much to learn as you begin your career, even if your first position is not your 'dream job'!
What general advice would you give to a Communications/Senior Communications Manager?
Zack Stiegler Ph.D.: Students who have competency across multiple media technologies will become more valuable. Having a broader skill set offers flexibility to employers and is attractive in terms of efficiency.
What Communications/Senior Communications Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Zack Stiegler Ph.D.: Shooting for a big time programming gig in a major urban market might be alluring, but those jobs are highly competitive. It's better to take a longer path to dream jobs by gaining experience in smaller markets. Additionally, media jobs are not limited to traditional media organizations, and skills acquired in media and communication programs are highly applicable in various industries.
What will help Communications/Senior Communications Managers increase their earning potential?
Zack Stiegler Ph.D.: Having flexibility, willingness to learn new skills, and dedication to the organization can enhance one's value as an employee. Preserving work-life balance is also important to avoid exploitation.
What Communications/Senior Communications Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Charles St-Georges Ph.D.: With American K-12 education continuing to gut the humanities and stress the importance of a STEM-only education (which is a false either/or choice, by the way), and with each new generation of college students having fewer and fewer social skills and poorer mental health due in part to an increasingly unhealthy relationship with technology, the workforce will increasingly be looking for college graduates who have people skills: effective communicators who are emotionally intelligent, culturally aware, and adept at encountering difference and navigating human complexity. A.I. is not going to provide these skills—especially when it comes to the cross-cultural communication that this increasingly globalized world will require. A quick A.I. translation from language A to language B is not going to facilitate the kind of contextually-savvy, culturally and historically-aware communication needed to combat climate change, deal with the next pandemic, or avert a major armed conflict. Or even effectively sell products, for that matter.
Sheryl McMillan
Senior Research and Outreach Development OfficerTexas A&M University - Corpus Christi
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research And Clinical Nursing
What general advice would you give to a Communications/Senior Communications Manager?
Sheryl McMillan: We would like to please review your article prior to publication.
What Communications/Senior Communications Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Sheryl McMillan: Attached you will find the answers to your questions provided by Christina Murphey, Ph.D., RN, and Renae Schumann, PhD, RN, CNE. I have included their full titles in the attached document.
What will help Communications/Senior Communications Managers increase their earning potential?
Sheryl McMillan: I am happy to help you. If you could please send me your questions, I will find just the right answers and a faculty quote in plenty of time for your deadline.
What general advice would you give to a Communications/Senior Communications Manager?
Dr. Rochelle Daniel: Companies expect Communication graduates to be proficient in verbal and written skills, but there is a higher expectation now and moving forward for these graduates. Both hard and soft communication skills will continue to be important for company growth. Communication graduates will be expected to continuously update their proficiency in AI tools, social media platforms, and other technology to engage organizational publics and meet their companies' expectations. Soft communication skills such as active listening, empathy, friendliness, responsiveness, respect for diversity and inclusion, and nonverbal communication will be crucial.
What Communications/Senior Communications Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Rochelle Daniel: My general advice to a graduate who transitions into that first professional job in the Communication field is similar to advice I give Communication students for navigating internship workspaces (Communications Internship Handbook: What HBCU Students Need to Know, 2022). Be intentional about learning the organizational or office culture, really listen to find out what is expected of you, be flexible and adaptable when there are changes in workflow, and don't be afraid to ask questions.
What general advice would you give to a Communications/Senior Communications Manager?
Dr. Penni Pier: There are a few things I would tell them. Make sure you make the most of your opportunities to network and learn the things about the industry that you do not know. Be mindful that professional development is a lifelong endeavor and that the first year will be a steep learning curve as you are an emerging professional. Take the initiative to learn or practice skill sets that you haven’t quite mastered. Ask for constructive feedback and then incorporate that feedback into your work. Two very practical pieces of advice that I try to tell my students: 1. Never surprise your boss. Keep them in the loop. If you make a mistake own up to it quickly and ask for feedback regarding how to avoid the mistake in the future and 2. Do not overpromise and under deliver. It is instinctual to want to please your supervisor and not let them down, but you must understand your own capacity, under delivering is ultimately more disappointing than understanding and setting your limits at the outset.
What Communications/Senior Communications Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Penni Pier: You must be confident in the skill sets you have and negotiate for a beginning salary that is commensurate with your skills. A lot of emerging professionals shy away from negotiation (or making the right fit for that matter) because they are afraid of turning down a job. Interviews and the first series of negotiations set the tone for the relationship you will have with your employer. You also must be willing to look in geographic areas and related industries that need your skill sets to make give you the most opportunities to be choosy with your first professional position. While at your first position, it is important to make sure that your portfolio stays current, and they you are continuing to do professional development. Be proactive and learn (or enhance) any skills you find lacking. Work on client interaction and how to be a good collaborator with your colleagues. If you do these things and there is room for advancement with the organization that first hired, you this will give you a “leg up” in terms of salary potential. If there is not opportunity for advancement a first position will give you tangible work experience for your portfolio and an opportunity to practice your skills which in turn will make you more marketable if or when you decide to move on.
What will help Communications/Senior Communications Managers increase their earning potential?
Dr. Penni Pier: I wholeheartedly believe the same skills that have been important over the past 50. You need to be a good storyteller, a good writer, and a good researcher. Technology will change, the mediums will change, but the skills of being able to research, use your resources and tell a compelling story that touches the heart of your consumer or target audience remains constant.
What general advice would you give to a Communications/Senior Communications Manager?
Dr. Nick DiFrancesco: Communication- many grads lack even basic communication skills such as presenting, writing, or conversation; the industry is going to be seeking out not just the best and brightest, individuals who are personable, can relate and have rational discussions with others. The inability to engage in conversation and debate, or network with others is a serious issue among students, and these are skills that are absolutely vital to any professional.
What will help Communications/Senior Communications Managers increase their earning potential?
Dr. Nick DiFrancesco: Be reliable and willing to do different things. You don’t know where your best suited after graduation, but demonstrating that you can be counted on is not easily forgotten by most employers. Similarly, employees who decide to pigeon-hole themselves into a narrow set of tasks are rarely asked to do much beyond that, and can impede the progress in one’s career.
Dr. Nancy Meyer MA MA PhD
Lecturer in ClassicsCalifornia State University - Long Beach
Classics And Classical Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics
What Communications/Senior Communications Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Nancy Meyer MA MA PhD: As AI becomes a bigger force, it will become increasingly important that students be able to communicate clearly and intentionally (really know and understand what you want to say, and say it clearly). AI responds clearly to clarity. So, my first bit of advice is learn to communicate clearly. Additionally, in spoken communication—which will continue to be important!—clarity and professionalism will become increasingly difficult to find and more important. My student write for me at least twice during the semester and many of them don’t communicate their thoughts clearly and they can’t (or won’t?) use accepted formats in writing. In know APA is not going to be used at Kaiser or Chase, but every profession, every corporate entity has accepted formats for written communication and students will be expected to emulate those basic formats, likely without formal training. #2, learn to use different formats in written communication. Third, do whatever you need to do to think differently and gain different perspectives. I always encourage my students to take different classes! This is will help them foster curiosity, which will help them not only make a living, but also help them make a LIFE that they want to inhabit! Professionally, these odd classes will help them understand the world and their professions differently! If every engineer takes the same basic classes, they are all going to ask the same questions and come to the same conclusions or lack of answers. It’s the one that took Art History as a minor, or Classics, that sees the world a bit differently! They see different analogies, ask different questions, and find different solutions. Likewise, the Religious Studies major that takes Physics or Psychology is going to approach their work differently. I got into my PhD program BECAUSE I had weird degrees and so I brought very different perspectives. And, my colleague at Soka University, who is an Ob/Gyn, was excited to meet Classicist because in medical school students with Classics degrees always did better on exams (because of the Latin).
What will help Communications/Senior Communications Managers increase their earning potential?
Dr. Nancy Meyer MA MA PhD: Do the research! And, be able to clearly articulate your value. This is especially true for women, and doubly so for women of color who most often get shafted on salary! Women are never assumed to be needed or intelligent in the same way that (white) men are. We have to make our case with data. Know your value, but don’t assume anyone else will know it. Do the research and find out what people at your level in that field get paid and then MAKE YOUR CASE, clearly.
Margarita Pintado Burgos Ph.D.
Professor of SpanishPoint Loma Nazarene University
Romance Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics
What general advice would you give to a Communications/Senior Communications Manager?
Margarita Pintado Burgos Ph.D.: I believe you can maximize your salary potential by selling yourself well. In the humanities we tend to think selling ourselves is a bad thing, so we need to move past that idea and really be prepared to wow our interviewers. Give a great first impression, make sure you know your worth and you know how to explain that worth, study the company/ agency you are interested in working with, and find those spots where you can help.
What Communications/Senior Communications Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Margarita Pintado Burgos Ph.D.: I think the most important skills have remained the same for a while, and they will continue to be prevalent in the near future. To read well, to synthesize information, to interpret content with a critical eye, to serve as bridge between different groups of peoples and cultures, to create compelling content, to offer diverse perspectives, to discern (for example) between fake news and real news, are some of the skills I think will be prevalent in the next 3-5 years.