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Contract worker vs media buyer

The differences between contract workers and media buyers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a contract worker and a media buyer. Additionally, a media buyer has an average salary of $74,390, which is higher than the $70,825 average annual salary of a contract worker.

The top three skills for a contract worker include financial statements, SQL and payroll. The most important skills for a media buyer are digital marketing, campaign performance, and media buying.

Contract worker vs media buyer overview

Contract WorkerMedia Buyer
Yearly salary$70,825$74,390
Hourly rate$34.05$35.76
Growth rate-8%8%
Number of jobs36,85320,884
Job satisfaction-4
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 47%Bachelor's Degree, 87%
Average age4848
Years of experience66

What does a contract worker do?

A contract worker is an independent contractor who only works at companies for a limited amount of time, according to agreed-upon contract terms. When it comes to employment, a contract worker may find opportunities in different industries, depending upon their set of skills and abilities. Although the extent of their responsibilities depends on their company or industry of employment, it typically includes performing basic tasks, maintaining an active communication line with co-workers, and adhering to company policies and regulations.

What does a media buyer do?

Media Buyers are marketing professionals who manage the company's advertisements. They create the company's media plan to determine the advertising needs of the company. They negotiate with external providers to get the best advertisement placement values. To do this, Media Buyers are expected to conduct thorough research on the different advertising companies, networks, media, size of placement, and length of advertisement. Their research must consider the target market and determine the best media to reach their target market. Media Buyers should have good negotiation skills and must be able to maintain good working relationships with providers.

Contract worker vs media buyer salary

Contract workers and media buyers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Contract WorkerMedia Buyer
Average salary$70,825$74,390
Salary rangeBetween $52,000 And $95,000Between $56,000 And $98,000
Highest paying City-Burlington, VT
Highest paying state-Vermont
Best paying company-Bloomberg
Best paying industry-Professional

Differences between contract worker and media buyer education

There are a few differences between a contract worker and a media buyer in terms of educational background:

Contract WorkerMedia Buyer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 47%Bachelor's Degree, 87%
Most common majorBusinessCommunication
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Contract worker vs media buyer demographics

Here are the differences between contract workers' and media buyers' demographics:

Contract WorkerMedia Buyer
Average age4848
Gender ratioMale, 59.2% Female, 40.8%Male, 30.1% Female, 69.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.1% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.5% Asian, 7.4% White, 65.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%Black or African American, 8.9% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.2% Asian, 7.7% White, 66.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage7%7%

Differences between contract worker and media buyer duties and responsibilities

Contract worker example responsibilities.

  • Assist management in facilitating start-up QSR accounts while effectively managing GPO accounts.
  • Procure common hardware, plumbing and MRO materials.
  • Network within the community to find potential members that are recipients of Medicare/ Medicaid benefits.
  • Work on multiple accounts providing payroll advice and walking through setup and process of running payroll online.
  • Supervise a staff of ten HVAC installers and technicians, providing ongoing field training and troubleshooting support.
  • Follow QA prints to determine the location and layout of various size brackets for various size SCBA bottles.
  • Show more

Media buyer example responsibilities.

  • Manage both PPC and display buys across a network of clients.
  • Manage day to day performance expectation of SEO, SEM, and outside vendors.
  • Manage the client's Youtube page and report monthly on all social media platforms.
  • Manage the @ RCIHelp twitter account and provide RCI consumers with direct responses and posts.
  • Implement, alter and write algorithms using SQL in order to increase efficiency within the portfolios manage.
  • Negotiate, develop, monitor and manage delivery of book campaigns on CPA, CPC and CPM models.
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Contract worker vs media buyer skills

Common contract worker skills
  • Financial Statements, 17%
  • SQL, 15%
  • Payroll, 10%
  • Computer System, 10%
  • Assembly Line, 8%
  • PowerPoint, 7%
Common media buyer skills
  • Digital Marketing, 18%
  • Campaign Performance, 9%
  • Media Buying, 8%
  • Facebook, 7%
  • Google Analytics, 6%
  • Media Planning, 5%

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