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The differences between digital marketing strategists and 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 marketing strategist, becoming a marketing specialist takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a digital marketing strategist has an average salary of $65,114, which is higher than the $54,942 average annual salary of a marketing specialist.
The top three skills for a digital marketing strategist include digital marketing, google analytics and email marketing. The most important skills for a marketing specialist are digital marketing, marketing campaigns, and project management.
| Digital Marketing Strategist | Marketing Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $65,114 | $54,942 |
| Hourly rate | $31.30 | $26.41 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 19% |
| Number of jobs | 92,459 | 87,145 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Average age | 39 | 37 |
| Years of experience | 10 | 6 |
A digital marketing strategist is an individual who is responsible for managing the digital strategy of a client's brand and connects digitally to all other aspects of the business. Digital marketing strategists must handle the daily operations of the agency's projects, such as research, scope development, creative briefing, and job execution. They must develop trusting relationships between clients and the agency's partners. Digital marketing strategists must also manage the work and professional development of project managers to ensure that the team is aligned with the client's requirements.
A marketing specialist's primary responsibility revolves around conducting thorough market research and analysis to acquire extensive knowledge and understanding of a brand and how it will work in the consumer market. They must determine and come up with strategies and utilize this to develop various programs or campaigns that would be vital in bringing more awareness to the brand, thus boosting sales and improving client base. Furthermore, a marketing specialist must also use their expertise to figure out new opportunities and trends that will work for the company.
Digital marketing strategists and marketing specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Digital Marketing Strategist | Marketing Specialist | |
| Average salary | $65,114 | $54,942 |
| Salary range | Between $48,000 And $87,000 | Between $36,000 And $82,000 |
| Highest paying City | Jersey City, NJ | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | Washington |
| Best paying company | Northern Trust | |
| Best paying industry | Start-up | Technology |
There are a few differences between a digital marketing strategist and a marketing specialist in terms of educational background:
| Digital Marketing Strategist | Marketing Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Most common major | Marketing | Business |
| Most common college | University of Georgia | University of Georgia |
Here are the differences between digital marketing strategists' and marketing specialists' demographics:
| Digital Marketing Strategist | Marketing Specialist | |
| Average age | 39 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 55.9% Female, 44.1% | Male, 35.5% Female, 64.5% |
| 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, 5.2% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 12.5% Asian, 11.2% White, 65.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 10% |