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The differences between communications specialists and senior communications specialists 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 specialist and a senior communications specialist. Additionally, a senior communications specialist has an average salary of $78,948, 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 senior communications specialist are project management, powerpoint, and strategic communications.
| Communications Specialist | Senior Communications Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $51,023 | $78,948 |
| Hourly rate | $24.53 | $37.96 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 42,819 | 18,973 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
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 senior communications specialist is primarily in charge of developing communication strategies in the company. Their responsibilities revolve around ensuring the smooth flow of internal and external communications, coordinating various departments, managing campaigns and event schedules, devising social media strategies, and supervising media relations. A senior communications specialist must also address issues and concerns, resolving them promptly. Furthermore, as a senior specialist, it is essential to lead and assist the junior specialists, all while adhering to the company's policies and regulations.
Communications specialists and senior communications specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Communications Specialist | Senior Communications Specialist | |
| Average salary | $51,023 | $78,948 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $71,000 | Between $56,000 And $111,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Oakland, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | Analysis Group | |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a communications specialist and a senior communications specialist in terms of educational background:
| Communications Specialist | Senior Communications Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Communication | Communication |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between communications specialists' and senior communications specialists' demographics:
| Communications Specialist | Senior Communications Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 42.9% Female, 57.1% | Male, 35.7% Female, 64.3% |
| 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, 10.0% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 11.9% Asian, 5.3% White, 67.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 12% |