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The differences between creative leads and marketing communications managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 8-10 years to become both a creative lead and a marketing communications manager. Additionally, a creative lead has an average salary of $93,742, which is higher than the $84,146 average annual salary of a marketing communications manager.
The top three skills for a creative lead include sketch, project management and adobe creative suite. The most important skills for a marketing communications manager are web content, marketing campaigns, and digital marketing.
| Creative Lead | Marketing Communications Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $93,742 | $84,146 |
| Hourly rate | $45.07 | $40.45 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 6,384 | 106,556 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 80% |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 10 | 10 |
A creative lead is responsible for leading a team of creative staff in conceptualizing designs according to project requirements and client specifications. Creative leads must have excellent technical and critical-thinking skills for utilizing various software tools and applications to generate designs and adjust initial outlines as needed. They also assist the creative staff with the documentation and submission of layouts that meet quality standards and budget limitations. A creative lead works closely with the creative director to establish creative solutions that would attract the audience and enhance the brand's image on market platforms.
A marketing communications manager's role is to oversee all operations involving media and public relations. They are primarily responsible for devising marketing strategies and programs to improve brand awareness, handling communications and various issues within the company, and crafting communication strategies for product launches and other events. Furthermore, they also must handle correspondence, take the lead in creating newsletters, press releases, and other mediums, ensuring that they align in the company's vision, mission, and regulations. As a marketing communications manager, it is essential to lead and encourage staff while implementing company policies and guidelines.
Creative leads and marketing communications managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Creative Lead | Marketing Communications Manager | |
| Average salary | $93,742 | $84,146 |
| Salary range | Between $51,000 And $169,000 | Between $60,000 And $117,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | Meta | Boston Consulting Group |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Finance |
There are a few differences between a creative lead and a marketing communications manager in terms of educational background:
| Creative Lead | Marketing Communications Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 80% |
| Most common major | Graphic Design | Communication |
| Most common college | University of Wisconsin - Madison | University of Georgia |
Here are the differences between creative leads' and marketing communications managers' demographics:
| Creative Lead | Marketing Communications Manager | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 62.1% Female, 37.9% | Male, 32.3% Female, 67.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.0% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 8.7% Asian, 8.2% White, 74.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 3.0% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 8.7% Asian, 8.2% White, 74.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 10% |