How To Become A Communications Specialist: What It Is and Career Path

Q: How long does it take to become a communication specialist?

It takes five to eight years to become a communications specialist. This role typically requires a bachelor's degree and three to four years of experience; however, some companies hire especially talented and experienced entry-level candidates.

Q: Is communication specialist a good career?

A communications specialist is a good career. People who work as communications specialists are generally satisfied with their careers. This is because there is a lot of variety within the role and plenty of opportunities to move into different industries, companies, and roles. While they typically do not make exceptional money, most people in communications make good money in a well-respected career field.

Q: What degree do you need to be a communications specialist?

The most common degree for communications specialists is a bachelor's degree in communications. This is not surprising, but there are many other degree paths that provide useful and necessary skills to achieve this role.

Q: What does a communication specialist make?

What a communications specialist makes depends on their experience level, but the average salary is around $50,000 a year. Entry-level communications specialists will make closer to $40,000 annually, while experienced communications specialists make upwards of $65,000 a year.

Q: What is the role of a communications specialist?

The role of a communications specialist is to communicate critical information or to create or maintain a stylized company image. These professionals typically work in the offices of advertising or PR firms, educational administrations, government agencies, or any large company.

Q: What qualifications do you need to work in communications?

The minimum qualifications to work in communications is a bachelor's degree in communications or a related field. They must also have a lot of experience in conveying messages using different mediums while also being able to deal with urgent and crisis situations.

Q: What skills does a communication specialist need?

A communications specialist needs strong written and oral communication skills. In addition to these skills, they should also have highly developed business acumen and problem-solving skills.

What is a communications specialist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted experts

Mike Bromberg,

Everett Wiles

A communications specialist uses various communication channels to effectively convey information to a target audience. They are responsible for creating and implementing communication strategies that promote an organization, product, or service. This includes developing content for websites, social media, press releases, and other communication materials. Communications specialists also work closely with other departments within an organization to ensure consistent messaging and branding. They may also be responsible for crisis management and media relations.

What general advice would you give to a communications specialist?

Mike Bromberg

Assistant Professor, East-West University

There are many great careers out there that can be attained as a result of getting a degree in English. One great example is the fact that many companies find that it's a necessity to develop and maintain their social media presence. They look for Communications Coordinators, social media managers, and media directors to make sure their materials, themes, and messages are organized and broadcasted efficiently and appropriately. Some people go on to graduate programs such as law school, as English courses engage heavily with reading, writing, and critical thinking skills.

ScoreCommunications SpecialistUS Average

Salary

4.0

Avg. Salary $51,023

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.3

Growth rate 8%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

6.6

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.59%

Asian 5.29%

Black or African American 10.00%

Hispanic or Latino 11.90%

Unknown 5.08%

White 67.14%

Gender

female 57.08%

male 42.92%

Age - 40

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 40

Stress level

7.3

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.8

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

3.8

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a communications specialist?

Pros

Chance to develop and implement creative communication strategies
Possibility to work remotely or in a flexible schedule
Opportunity to build and maintain professional networks
Possibility to improve writing and public speaking skills
Chance to continuously learn and develop new skills

Cons

Possibility of dealing with difficult clients or stakeholders
Need to stay up-to-date with constantly changing technologies and trends
Potential for conflicts within the team or with other departments
Possibility of working with limited resources or budget constraints
Need to have excellent time management and organizational skills

Key steps to become a communications specialist

Explore communications specialist education requirements

Most common communications specialist degrees

Bachelor's

64.3 %

Associate

13.9 %

Master's

9.9 %

Start to develop specific communications specialist skills

Skills	Percentages
Customer Service	9.27%
PowerPoint	6.30%
Patients	6.29%
Web Content	6.26%
Project Management	5.70%

Complete relevant communications specialist training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New communications specialists learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a communications specialist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real communications specialist resumes.

Research communications specialist duties and responsibilities

Manage all client data and meeting history in Salesforce.
Provision, manage PRI-ISDN and IP installation of AARP state offices for AARP video systems.
Manage course syllabi, scientific abstracts, reprints and course development according to all ACCME and FDA guidelines.
Manage CRM database and develop key communication items such as email blasts, brochures, flyers, and bulletins.

Prepare your communications specialist resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your communications specialist resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a communications specialist resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable communications specialist resume templates

Build a professional communications specialist resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your communications specialist resume.

Apply for communications specialist jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a communications specialist job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first communications specialist job

Joshua Hammond

Communications Specialist, United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resource Conservation Service (could just stick to UDSA for short)

I entered the United States Army at the age of 19 as a Psychological Operations Specialist, thus began a 16 year journey of becoming the communications professional that I am today. As a Psychological Operations Specialist, I was trained to assess and develop the information needed to influence and engage specific audiences. It was something out of the box and not a typical job one would think of while serving. During that time I had the distinct pleasure of working with the Public Affairs Officers of the State Department. After nine years I decided to make a career change and become an Officer and was trained as a Military Policeman. After a few years I was given the opportunity to become the unit's Public Affairs Representative, a role which I credit the Senior Non-Commissioned Officer Faith Laughter to pushing me towards.

The time came in which I had to leave service and I was left wondering what was next for me? I knew what role I wanted to be, I realized that I wanted to be a public affairs specialist permanently but I knew that there was a gap. I needed something to bridge my experience with formal education. I had my undergraduate degree but I needed something more, so I went back to school. I enrolled in Johns Hopkins in their Masters in Communication and I got a chance to learn from not just from my professors but my fellow students who had years of experience in the field. After a year and a half I finally graduated during the height of COVID and began the arduous task of searching for a job.

My first job outside of the Army was working for the N.C Department of Public Safety as a Public Information Specialist focusing on public records requests. Not ideal, but we all have to start somewhere. I was thankful for the opportunity and I got exposed to another facet of communications and that was requests for information from news organizations, law firms, and other interested parties. Working with that particular department those requests were never in short supply. I worked there for 11 months all the while looking for that one job that I really wanted. Then came the time, I interviewed and accepted the position as a Public Affairs Specialist for the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resource Conservation Service.

I've not looked back since and have loved the journey. I get to tell the story of some of the hardest working people in the country, the American farmer. The sto

Trenton Wilbanks

Communications Specialist, Dollar Tree Distribution

Entered workforce in 2008. Seven years customer service at Sonic. Studied theatre and digital media at University of Central Missouri. Got into direct care in the medical field working with special needs residents. Job hopped several industries for two years until landing at Dollar Tree in 2018 where I hired on as Inventory Control. This company gives me the freedom to continue pursuing gigs part time. Love my community and showing my son how to be productive.

What is a communications specialist and how to become one

What general advice would you give to a communications specialist?

What are the pros and cons of being a communications specialist?

Communications specialist career paths

Key steps to become a communications specialist

Explore communications specialist education requirements

Most common communications specialist degrees

Start to develop specific communications specialist skills

Complete relevant communications specialist training and internships

Research communications specialist duties and responsibilities

Prepare your communications specialist resume

Choose from 10+ customizable communications specialist resume templates

Apply for communications specialist jobs

How did you land your first communications specialist job

Average communications specialist salary

How do communications specialists rate their job?

Communications specialist FAQs

How long does it take to become a communication specialist?

Is communication specialist a good career?

What degree do you need to be a communications specialist?

What does a communication specialist make?

What is the role of a communications specialist?

What qualifications do you need to work in communications?

What skills does a communication specialist need?

Search for communications specialist jobs

Communications specialist jobs by state