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The differences between freelancers and media specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a freelancer, becoming a media specialist takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a freelancer has an average salary of $59,367, which is higher than the $50,832 average annual salary of a media specialist.
The top three skills for a freelancer include customer service, web content and video production. The most important skills for a media specialist are digital marketing, video production, and customer service.
| Freelancer | Media Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $59,367 | $50,832 |
| Hourly rate | $28.54 | $24.44 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 2,088 | 39,401 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Average age | 38 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 4 |
A freelancer is a self-employed individual that provides services for multiple clients at one time and usually earns money on a per-job basis. Often known as independent contractors, freelancers usually set their schedules while running their own business and have a flexible lifestyle. They have the liberty to choose their clients that may be less confined to specific markets or sectors. Freelancers usually find work within the creative industries such as graphic design, copywriting, or photography.
Media specialists are individuals who establish and administer content on various social media platforms. The job involves monitoring site metrics, overseeing creative design, and responding to reader comments. Specialists offer advice to administrators and teachers on the use of non-print social media. They work for huge enterprises with multimedia departments, new media departments, and in-house websites. The skills the job requires include trend awareness, social media ads, community management, strong visual aesthetic, and understanding SEO.
Freelancers and media specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Freelancer | Media Specialist | |
| Average salary | $59,367 | $50,832 |
| Salary range | Between $40,000 And $86,000 | Between $35,000 And $73,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | - | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | - | BP America Inc |
| Best paying industry | - | Professional |
There are a few differences between a freelancer and a media specialist in terms of educational background:
| Freelancer | Media Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Graphic Design | Communication |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between freelancers' and media specialists' demographics:
| Freelancer | Media Specialist | |
| Average age | 38 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 47.7% Female, 52.3% | Male, 52.9% Female, 47.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.4% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 10.6% Asian, 10.4% White, 70.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 10.3% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.2% Asian, 5.3% White, 66.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 13% | 12% |