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Media assistant vs media specialist

The differences between media assistants and media specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a media assistant and a media specialist. Additionally, a media specialist has an average salary of $50,832, which is higher than the $37,287 average annual salary of a media assistant.

The top three skills for a media assistant include video production, audio equipment and visual equipment. The most important skills for a media specialist are digital marketing, video production, and customer service.

Media assistant vs media specialist overview

Media AssistantMedia Specialist
Yearly salary$37,287$50,832
Hourly rate$17.93$24.44
Growth rate8%8%
Number of jobs13,89439,401
Job satisfaction3-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 76%Bachelor's Degree, 70%
Average age4242
Years of experience44

What does a media assistant do?

Media assistants are professionals who are responsible for providing administrative support to the media operations of an organization. These assistants are required to work closely with the media team to perform tasks such as analyzing media, using media software to keep track of performance and develop strong relationships with media outlets. By coordinating with technical consultants, media assistants must assist in planning various video productions as well as updating the content and graphics of the company's website. They must also develop strategies so that they can increase audience reach across media channels.

What does a media specialist do?

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.

Media assistant vs media specialist salary

Media assistants and media specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Media AssistantMedia Specialist
Average salary$37,287$50,832
Salary rangeBetween $25,000 And $54,000Between $35,000 And $73,000
Highest paying CityMountain View, CAWashington, DC
Highest paying stateNew YorkNew Jersey
Best paying companyGoogleBP America Inc
Best paying industryProfessionalProfessional

Differences between media assistant and media specialist education

There are a few differences between a media assistant and a media specialist in terms of educational background:

Media AssistantMedia Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 76%Bachelor's Degree, 70%
Most common majorCommunicationCommunication
Most common collegeStanford UniversityStanford University

Media assistant vs media specialist demographics

Here are the differences between media assistants' and media specialists' demographics:

Media AssistantMedia Specialist
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 38.7% Female, 61.3%Male, 52.9% Female, 47.1%
Race ratioBlack 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, 10.3% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.2% Asian, 5.3% White, 66.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage12%12%

Differences between media assistant and media specialist duties and responsibilities

Media assistant example responsibilities.

  • Manage a budget to purchase equipment and software for multimedia development and campus audio/visual needs.
  • Alter the style of animations and video material for company's YouTube channel and website.
  • Edit game footage to produce highlights that are publish on the WatchND website and WatchND YouTube account.
  • Maintain and update project checklists and PowerPoint presentations.
  • Design, configure, and operate high-end computers used for video/audio editing, and multimedia authoring.
  • Co-Authore the specifications for and supervise the successful installation of a compress video teleconferencing network used for distance learning and videoconferencing.
  • Show more

Media specialist example responsibilities.

  • Develop fresh leads to connect with by utilizing LinkedIn connections and resources.
  • Manage content for and development of the museum's Drupal website, cartermuseum.org.
  • Manage teams for film, video, animation, & multimedia creation of any kind.
  • Assign to work as a media associate at Starcom managing a portion of the Kellogg's account.
  • Develop and manage proprietary PPC support material.
  • Participate in brainstorming sessions, proofread and edit marketing materials, manage magazine inventory.
  • Show more

Media assistant vs media specialist skills

Common media assistant skills
  • Video Production, 20%
  • Audio Equipment, 6%
  • Visual Equipment, 6%
  • Photography, 5%
  • Press Releases, 5%
  • Library Materials, 3%
Common media specialist skills
  • Digital Marketing, 14%
  • Video Production, 7%
  • Customer Service, 5%
  • Web Content, 5%
  • Google Analytics, 4%
  • Google Adwords, 3%

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