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Digital director vs digital marketing specialist

The differences between digital directors and digital marketing specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 8-10 years to become a digital director, becoming a digital marketing specialist takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a digital director has an average salary of $129,557, which is higher than the $60,359 average annual salary of a digital marketing specialist.

The top three skills for a digital director include digital marketing, digital transformation and digital strategy. The most important skills for a digital marketing specialist are digital marketing, marketing campaigns, and email marketing.

Digital director vs digital marketing specialist overview

Digital DirectorDigital Marketing Specialist
Yearly salary$129,557$60,359
Hourly rate$62.29$29.02
Growth rate10%19%
Number of jobs65,91494,029
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 75%Bachelor's Degree, 76%
Average age3937
Years of experience106

What does a digital director do?

A digital director is in charge of spearheading and overseeing the campaigns and projects for digital marketing within a company. Their responsibilities revolve around devising strategies to boost sales and brand awareness, establishing goals and sales objectives, monitoring the progress of projects, and assessing workforce performance. They must also coordinate different departments, liaise with external agencies, and produce progress reports for the stakeholders. Furthermore, as a digital director, it is essential to lead and encourage teams to reach goals, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.

What does a digital marketing specialist do?

A digital marketing specialist is an individual who is responsible for promoting products or services of a company using appropriate technology platforms effectively. Digital marketing specialists collaborate with marketing teams to plan and execute digital programs such as online advertising, social media, and mobile. They are proficient in digital technology tools that can include web advertising, social media, and web development. Digital marketing specialists must also develop multimedia packages and present recommendations to the company's director of marketing and communications.

Digital director vs digital marketing specialist salary

Digital directors and digital marketing specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Digital DirectorDigital Marketing Specialist
Average salary$129,557$60,359
Salary rangeBetween $90,000 And $185,000Between $44,000 And $81,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateOregonCalifornia
Best paying companyMcKinsey & Company IncMeta
Best paying industryProfessionalFinance

Differences between digital director and digital marketing specialist education

There are a few differences between a digital director and a digital marketing specialist in terms of educational background:

Digital DirectorDigital Marketing Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 75%Bachelor's Degree, 76%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of GeorgiaUniversity of Georgia

Digital director vs digital marketing specialist demographics

Here are the differences between digital directors' and digital marketing specialists' demographics:

Digital DirectorDigital Marketing Specialist
Average age3937
Gender ratioMale, 68.8% Female, 31.2%Male, 51.1% Female, 48.9%
Race ratioBlack 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, 5.0% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.9% Asian, 12.3% White, 65.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%
LGBT Percentage10%10%

Differences between digital director and digital marketing specialist duties and responsibilities

Digital director example responsibilities.

  • Manage the planning, development, and delivery of email marketing channel including CRM.
  • Implement the use of a CRM system and processes to assign and track new leads.
  • Manage direct mail, email and social media projects to help clients with better response rates and ROI.
  • Manage marketing strategies deliver through social media, email and Facebook advertising.
  • Provide marketing automation expertise to clients with the use of Marketo and Salesforce implementations.
  • film, edit, and post all video material to PPC social media pages.
  • Show more

Digital marketing specialist example responsibilities.

  • Manage and distribution integrate product promotion campaigns (B2B and B2C).
  • Set up and manage campaigns on Facebook and LinkedIn including tracking and conversions.
  • Manage photography department in office and on location in numerous national ad campaign shoots.
  • Manage Facebook ads, AdWords and LinkedIn ads while ensuring marketing message consistent with the company goals and objectives.
  • Maintain all social media platforms, create and curate blog content, and manage the website using ExpressionEngine CMS.
  • Utilize Godaddy software and systems and any require portal tools to achieve campaign goals, objectives and KPI's.
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Digital director vs digital marketing specialist skills

Common digital director skills
  • Digital Marketing, 14%
  • Digital Transformation, 13%
  • Digital Strategy, 4%
  • Project Management, 4%
  • Digital Content, 3%
  • CRM, 3%
Common digital marketing specialist skills
  • Digital Marketing, 23%
  • Marketing Campaigns, 6%
  • Email Marketing, 5%
  • Google Analytics, 4%
  • B Testing, 4%
  • Lead Generation, 3%

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