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The differences between digital content specialists and content developers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a digital content specialist, becoming a content developer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a content developer has an average salary of $72,030, which is higher than the $54,127 average annual salary of a digital content specialist.
The top three skills for a digital content specialist include digital content, digital marketing and content strategy. The most important skills for a content developer are content development, digital marketing, and subject matter experts.
| Digital Content Specialist | Content Developer | |
| Yearly salary | $54,127 | $72,030 |
| Hourly rate | $26.02 | $34.63 |
| Growth rate | 19% | 13% |
| Number of jobs | 45,100 | 82,250 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 83% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
Digital content specialists are employees who work on the writings and posts that an official company page publishes digitally. This content may be posted on the company website or social media pages. Digital content specialists should be able to write, edit, and proofread posts before publishing them. They should also be familiar with the company's branding so that the contents they publish are consistent with the branding and overall image of the company. They carefully curate posts to ensure that every content they have is in line with the company image. Digital content specialists should be familiar with the current trends in the digital landscape and should also be technologically-savvy.
A content developer is responsible for creating digital content, designing technical deliverables, and developing content strategies by analyzing current market trends to attract clients, driving more revenues, and increasing the company's profitability. Content developers also manage the distribution of the contents, following the clients' specifications or the business requirements. They also coordinate with other project teams to ensure the effectiveness and accuracy of the contents, focusing on its appeal to the target audience. A content developer must have a keen eye for details, especially on doing quality content checks before publishing.
Digital content specialists and content developers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Digital Content Specialist | Content Developer | |
| Average salary | $54,127 | $72,030 |
| Salary range | Between $39,000 And $74,000 | Between $51,000 And $101,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | National Railroad Passenger Corporation | |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Internet |
There are a few differences between a digital content specialist and a content developer in terms of educational background:
| Digital Content Specialist | Content Developer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 83% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Communication | English |
| Most common college | Harvard University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between digital content specialists' and content developers' demographics:
| Digital Content Specialist | Content Developer | |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 47.4% Female, 52.6% | Male, 51.3% Female, 48.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 5.2% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 12.4% Asian, 9.7% White, 67.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 7.0% Unknown, 6.7% Hispanic or Latino, 13.1% Asian, 12.9% White, 59.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 9% |