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The differences between communications specialists and marketing communications specialists 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 marketing communications specialist takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a marketing communications specialist has an average salary of $53,993, 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 marketing communications specialist are digital marketing, project management, and graphic design.
| Communications Specialist | Marketing Communications Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $51,023 | $53,993 |
| Hourly rate | $24.53 | $25.96 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 19% |
| Number of jobs | 42,819 | 95,444 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 79% |
| Average age | 42 | 37 |
| 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.
A marketing communications specialist is an individual who is responsible for creating all the marketing materials that are distributed to customers to increase brand awareness for the company's products or services. To create these materials, marketing communications specialists must collaborate with graphic design teams. They are required to track their marketing performance so that they can identify ways to improve their marketing strategies. Marketing communications specialists must also set up interviews and press conferences as part of their marketing campaign.
Communications specialists and marketing communications specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Communications Specialist | Marketing Communications Specialist | |
| Average salary | $51,023 | $53,993 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $71,000 | Between $36,000 And $80,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Delaware |
| Best paying company | Apple | |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a communications specialist and a marketing communications specialist in terms of educational background:
| Communications Specialist | Marketing Communications Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 79% |
| Most common major | Communication | Communication |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between communications specialists' and marketing communications specialists' demographics:
| Communications Specialist | Marketing Communications Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 42.9% Female, 57.1% | Male, 28.0% Female, 72.0% |
| 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, 5.3% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 12.6% Asian, 9.6% White, 67.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 10% |