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The differences between internal communications specialists and communications consultants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both an internal communications specialist and a communications consultant. Additionally, a communications consultant has an average salary of $91,455, which is higher than the $61,999 average annual salary of an internal communications specialist.
The top three skills for an internal communications specialist include employee engagement, powerpoint and HR. The most important skills for a communications consultant are powerpoint, web content, and project management.
| Internal Communications Specialist | Communications Consultant | |
| Yearly salary | $61,999 | $91,455 |
| Hourly rate | $29.81 | $43.97 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 27,601 | 29,942 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
An internal communications specialist's role is to devise strategies in maintaining a clear and active line of communication and engagement within a workplace. They must manage the flow of communications across different departments, all while prioritizing timeliness and accuracy. Additionally, they must participate in writing and editing communication materials, reports, correspondence, memos, and more. There are also instances when they have to produce presentations, disseminate information, and utilize various mediums such as photos and videos. Furthermore, as an internal communications specialist, it is essential to develop action plans while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
Communications consultants are responsible for preparing media releases, whether through print, video, or email. They perform varied tasks that may include working on complete projects such as media analysis and branding, creating strategies to reinforced communication among clients and employees, and providing guidance and recommendations to a company's public relations team. Communications consultants may also conduct training on best practices for other employees. Some employers prefer someone with a bachelor's degree in communications, public relations or journalism, previous work experience in a related field, and excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Internal communications specialists and communications consultants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Internal Communications Specialist | Communications Consultant | |
| Average salary | $61,999 | $91,455 |
| Salary range | Between $41,000 And $92,000 | Between $63,000 And $130,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Oakland, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Parsons | Dell |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Utilities |
There are a few differences between an internal communications specialist and a communications consultant in terms of educational background:
| Internal Communications Specialist | Communications Consultant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Communication | Communication |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between internal communications specialists' and communications consultants' demographics:
| Internal Communications Specialist | Communications Consultant | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 36.5% Female, 63.5% | Male, 43.5% Female, 56.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.0% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 11.9% Asian, 5.3% White, 67.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | Black or African American, 10.4% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.2% Asian, 5.4% White, 66.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 12% |