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The differences between communications specialists and communications leads can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a communications specialist, becoming a communications lead takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a communications lead has an average salary of $96,988, which is higher than the $51,023 average annual salary of a communications specialist.
The top three skills for a communications specialist include customer service, powerpoint and patients. The most important skills for a communications lead are project management, strategic communications, and HR.
| Communications Specialist | Communications Lead | |
| Yearly salary | $51,023 | $96,988 |
| Hourly rate | $24.53 | $46.63 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 12% |
| Number of jobs | 42,819 | 20,413 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 42 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
A communications specialist takes charge of addressing the public by coming up with various strategic campaigns, newsletters, public correspondence, press releases, and advertisements. Their primary role focuses on promoting, shaping, and enhancing a brand's image through public relations. Furthermore, a communications specialist is responsible for handling any complaints or issues, devising and conducting damage control to resolve bad publicity should there be any. It is also essential for a communications specialist to adhere to the company's policies and regulations at all times.
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.
Communications specialists and communications leads have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Communications Specialist | Communications Lead | |
| Average salary | $51,023 | $96,988 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $71,000 | Between $67,000 And $139,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Internet |
There are a few differences between a communications specialist and a communications lead in terms of educational background:
| Communications Specialist | Communications Lead | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Communication | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between communications specialists' and communications leads' demographics:
| Communications Specialist | Communications Lead | |
| Average age | 42 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 42.9% Female, 57.1% | Male, 41.4% Female, 58.6% |
| 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, 11.8% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 14.0% Asian, 5.1% White, 62.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 14% |