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The differences between communications specialists and social media 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 social media specialist. Additionally, a social media specialist has an average salary of $51,584, 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 social media specialist are social media marketing, instagram, and digital marketing.
| Communications Specialist | Social Media Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $51,023 | $51,584 |
| Hourly rate | $24.53 | $24.80 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 42,819 | 47,228 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 79% |
| 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 social media specialist is an individual who is responsible for creating and administering content on all social media platforms to build an audience and ensure customer engagement. By using platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, social media specialists must create content that resonates with the interests of the intended audience. They are required to understand social media metrics so that they can use the information to ensure success in their social media strategy. Social media specialists must also work with industry professionals and influencers via social media to create a strong network.
Communications specialists and social media specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Communications Specialist | Social Media Specialist | |
| Average salary | $51,023 | $51,584 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $71,000 | Between $38,000 And $68,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | McKinsey & Company Inc | |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Professional |
There are a few differences between a communications specialist and a social media specialist in terms of educational background:
| Communications Specialist | Social Media 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 social media specialists' demographics:
| Communications Specialist | Social Media Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 42.9% Female, 57.1% | Male, 38.6% Female, 61.4% |
| 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% |