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Job outlook for media associates in the United States
Media associate job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected media associate job growth rate is 8% from 2018-2028.
About 22,300 new jobs for media associates are projected over the next decade.
Media associate salaries have increased 8% for media associates in the last 5 years.
There are over 40,117 media associates currently employed in the United States.
There are 13,933 active media associate job openings in the US.
The average media associate salary is $43,646.
Are media associate jobs in demand?
Media associate job and salary trends over time
Media associate jobs over time
Media associate job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 40,117 | 0.01% |
| 2020 | 40,421 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 40,451 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 39,509 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 38,633 | 0.01% |
Average media associate salary over time
Media associate salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $43,646 | $20.98 | +2.7% |
| 2025 | $42,492 | $20.43 | +1.9% |
| 2024 | $41,693 | $20.04 | +1.2% |
| 2023 | $41,207 | $19.81 | +2.2% |
| 2022 | $40,317 | $19.38 | +2.2% |
Media associate jobs by state
Most common states for media associates
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 104 | 15% |
| 2 | Vermont | 623,657 | 55 | 9% |
| 3 | Delaware | 961,939 | 63 | 7% |
| 4 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 40 | 7% |
| 5 | Alaska | 739,795 | 44 | 6% |
| 6 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 144 | 5% |
| 7 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 55 | 5% |
| 8 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 42 | 5% |
| 9 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 38 | 5% |
| 10 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 283 | 4% |
| 11 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 76 | 4% |
| 12 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 69 | 4% |
| 13 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 59 | 4% |
| 14 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 55 | 4% |
| 15 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 47 | 4% |
| 16 | New York | 19,849,399 | 693 | 3% |
| 17 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 383 | 3% |
| 18 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 201 | 3% |
| 19 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 111 | 3% |
| 20 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 106 | 3% |
Most common cities for media associates
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hamden | 1 | 2% | $55,051 |
| 2 | Tallahassee | 1 | 1% | $33,228 |
| 3 | Vista | 1 | 1% | $45,232 |
| 4 | Chicago | 1 | 0% | $44,547 |
| 5 | Denver | 1 | 0% | $39,201 |
| 6 | Miami | 1 | 0% | $32,023 |
| 7 | New York | 1 | 0% | $54,726 |
Media Associate job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of media associate experts
Coastal Carolina University
Grand Valley State University
Bowie State University
Wartburg College
San Francisco State University
California State University - Dominguez Hills
Loyola University New Orleans
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
University of Texas at Tyler
Hope College
University of Texas at Austin
Duquesne University
Dominican University of California
Adelphi University
University of Minnesota
Davis & Elkins College
Fort Hays State University
What will help Media Associates increase their earning potential?
Dr. Joy Daggs: I have quite a bit of advice:
1. Get as much experience as an undergraduate as possible. Many programs require internships, but even if they don't, seek opportunities to get experience. Take leadership roles in student organizations. Even if it's not specifically a 'public relations' entitled position, anything where you practice your skills is helpful. Even if you need to work a job in retail or service, those jobs still provide important benefits other than a paycheck. Don't discount your experiences!
2. Don't pass up opportunities to meet professionals. Many schools and departments bring their alumni on campus or do virtual events so that you can meet and chat with professionals. Even if it's not required for class, GO. You never know when a casual conversation may lead to an internship or an important professional connection.
3. Use your LinkedIn profile to your advantage. Make sure you have a professional picture that shows you in your best light. Follow organizations that you want to work for and other professional organizations related to your interests. I know of people getting interviews based off of LinkedIn interactions. Check your other social media accounts to make sure that you are not presenting yourself poorly. Most likely, organizations will Google you or look up your personal social media. There are reports of students losing opportunities because of poor social media choices.
What Media Associate skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Alice Veksler Ph.D., BCPA: Practice your interpersonal skills and think about how what you have learned in your coursework translates to your chosen field of work. Teamwork, conflict resolution, social media savvy, and professionalism can make or break a career. Being able to articulate and demonstrate mastery of these skills with concrete examples during an interview can help land the job and then embodying the skillset of an excellent communicator will lead to professional success. Networking is also key so making sure that you do internships and engage with others in your chosen field helps with securing a job. Forging connections early in one's career can pay massive dividends down the road. We say that 'you get jobs by talking to people' and this maxim is especially true for a broad field like communication studies. Finally, I always encourage a healthy work-life balance to avoid burnout and maximize productivity.
Wendy Weinhold Ph.D.
Associate Professor of JournalismCoastal Carolina University
Communication And Media Studies
What Media Associate skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Wendy Weinhold Ph.D.: Curiosity is the most importantly thing when it comes to skill building. Your college classes have you a solid foundation, but there is always more to learn. Seek out mentors who will help you understand your strengths and weaknesses, and be open to opportunities that help you grow.
What Media Associate skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Mikhila Wildey PhD: I think the ability to engage and connect with people will be very important in the field as we shift more and more to a culture that is driven by AI. Although AI can be a useful tool, it likely won’t ever fully replace the value of human interaction and connection. In addition, employers often comment that they want to see employees with strong work ethic, and I think this will continue to be the case in 3-5 years. Having a strong work ethic can separate the people that move forward in their careers to those who remain stagnant.
What will help Media Associates increase their earning potential?
Dr. Mikhila Wildey PhD: My general advice for a graduate beginning their career in the field is to work hard, stay open-minded, and network! Most employees won’t stay in the same position for their entire career, and so I often tell graduates to not get too hung up on the first job needing to be the 'perfect' job for them. Often, the first job will be a place where they learn how to navigate the workplace, learn about their own strengths/weaknesses, and figure out what they like and don’t like. I encourage graduates to use this information to help them make decisions about the next steps in their career. And, if they are working hard and networking with people at their job, then opportunities will often times present themselves or be more available to them as they navigate their future career path.
What Media Associate skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Rochelle Daniel: My general advice to a graduate who transitions into that first professional job in the Communication field is similar to advice I give Communication students for navigating internship workspaces (Communications Internship Handbook: What HBCU Students Need to Know, 2022). Be intentional about learning the organizational or office culture, really listen to find out what is expected of you, be flexible and adaptable when there are changes in workflow, and don't be afraid to ask questions.
What Media Associate skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Penni Pier: You must be confident in the skill sets you have and negotiate for a beginning salary that is commensurate with your skills. A lot of emerging professionals shy away from negotiation (or making the right fit for that matter) because they are afraid of turning down a job. Interviews and the first series of negotiations set the tone for the relationship you will have with your employer. You also must be willing to look in geographic areas and related industries that need your skill sets to make give you the most opportunities to be choosy with your first professional position. While at your first position, it is important to make sure that your portfolio stays current, and they you are continuing to do professional development. Be proactive and learn (or enhance) any skills you find lacking. Work on client interaction and how to be a good collaborator with your colleagues. If you do these things and there is room for advancement with the organization that first hired, you this will give you a “leg up” in terms of salary potential. If there is not opportunity for advancement a first position will give you tangible work experience for your portfolio and an opportunity to practice your skills which in turn will make you more marketable if or when you decide to move on.
What will help Media Associates increase their earning potential?
Dr. Penni Pier: I wholeheartedly believe the same skills that have been important over the past 50. You need to be a good storyteller, a good writer, and a good researcher. Technology will change, the mediums will change, but the skills of being able to research, use your resources and tell a compelling story that touches the heart of your consumer or target audience remains constant.
What general advice would you give to a Media Associate?
Dr. Nick DiFrancesco: Communication- many grads lack even basic communication skills such as presenting, writing, or conversation; the industry is going to be seeking out not just the best and brightest, individuals who are personable, can relate and have rational discussions with others. The inability to engage in conversation and debate, or network with others is a serious issue among students, and these are skills that are absolutely vital to any professional.
What will help Media Associates increase their earning potential?
Dr. Nick DiFrancesco: Be reliable and willing to do different things. You don’t know where your best suited after graduation, but demonstrating that you can be counted on is not easily forgotten by most employers. Similarly, employees who decide to pigeon-hole themselves into a narrow set of tasks are rarely asked to do much beyond that, and can impede the progress in one’s career.
What Media Associate skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Geri Merrigan: Listening, empathy, and perspective-taking remain as important as ever, because change is the only certainty, and globalization connects us to people quite different from ourselves. That means skills for inclusive communication matter – analyzing an audience and crafting messages for diverse stakeholders. Finally, understanding the technology (especially AI) that is most consequential for your industry/sector, for Communication Studies majors, means understanding current events, reading about AI, and evaluating the credibility of what you read.
What will help Media Associates increase their earning potential?
Larry Hygh Jr., Ed.D.: Be open to all opportunities even if the opportunity is not something you have planned for your career trajectory. Networking is extremely crucial in the field of communications. Network, network, network, then network some more!
Jeffrey Ory
President & CEO, il Stratega Marketing & Public Relations, Adjunct ProfessorLoyola University New Orleans
Public Relations, Advertising, And Applied Communication
What will help Media Associates increase their earning potential?
Jeffrey Ory: Starting a career in public relations can be an exhilarating journey, filled with opportunities to shape perceptions and craft compelling narratives. As you embark on this path, there are a few foundational strategies that can enhance your success in the dynamic field of PR. First and foremost, cultivating a robust network is essential. The heart of public relations lies in forging strong connections. Engage actively with colleagues, journalists, and industry professionals. This can be achieved by attending industry events, participating in relevant organizations, and maintaining a vibrant presence on professional social media platforms like LinkedIn. These relationships will not only provide valuable insights and opportunities but also support your growth in the field. Equally important is honing your communication skills. In public relations, your ability to articulate ideas clearly and persuasively is paramount. Dedicate time to refining your writing and speaking abilities, ensuring you can deliver clear, concise, and compelling messages tailored to various audiences and media formats. This skill set is your toolkit, enabling you to convey your clients' messages effectively and resonate with your target audience. Staying informed cannot be overlooked. The landscape of public relations is constantly influenced by shifting industry trends, breaking news, and technological advancements. By keeping abreast of these changes, you can better anticipate and meet the needs of your clients and the media, thus solidifying your role as a knowledgeable and indispensable asset. Practical experience is another cornerstone of a successful PR career. Seek out internships or entry-level positions within PR agencies or in-house teams. These opportunities are invaluable for understanding the industry's dynamics from the inside out, providing a real-world context to the theories and strategies learned in academic settings. Lastly, embracing a proactive and creative mindset is crucial. Public relations thrive on innovation and initiative. Be ready to propose new ideas, tackle challenges with creative solutions, and manage crises with agility and poise. Your ability to think outside the box and act decisively in high-pressure situations will set you apart in the fast-paced world of public relations.
Ginger Blackstone Ph.D.
Assoc. ProfessorUniversity of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Journalism
What general advice would you give to a Media Associate?
Ginger Blackstone Ph.D.: You’ve got to start somewhere. You may not get the dream job with a dream company and a fat salary but be willing to do a smaller job just to get your foot in the door. My first jobs in TV were unpaid internships. I did three of them. When I did graduate, I took a part-time job answering phones and assisting producers. I had to wait tables to cover rent. I was in that role for several months before I took a full-time job at a smaller TV station in a small town about three hours away. My current boss was impressed with my work, but he didn’t have an opening. When a fellow manager at a nearby station called him asking for recommendations, he put in a good word for me. You never know who the lead for the next job will be. Show up, do your job, do your best, try to make a good impression, watch for opportunities, and don’t burn bridges. Media people move around a lot, and everybody knows everybody. It’s important to earn a good reputation and be reliable. Who you know and who they know matters. One other thing I recommend: finding a mentor. Sometimes this crazy business can throw surprises your way. It helps to have a seasoned individual you trust to bounce off ideas or talk through challenges. It makes all the difference.
Dr. David Scott
Associate ProfessorUniversity of Texas at Tyler
Social Sciences
What Media Associate skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. David Scott: Work hard! Do the job to the best of your ability and establish a strong work ethic. Seek as much education (postgraduate) and training as you can to become more marketable. Don't be afraid to leave the organization if your personal needs and beliefs are not being met. It is just a job. Stay on top of the current skills needed for the job market and fulfill those needs when possible. In many industries, they need you more than you need them today. Become a team player but also be investing in yourself with continuing education and training.
What will help Media Associates increase their earning potential?
Jayson Dibble Ph.D.: People who study communication as a whole study the basic processes of creating understanding between people. In other words, we work to learn how it is that you start with an idea in your head, you create some sort of stimuli that I can perceive (e.g., letters/words in a note, sounds in a telephone, body movements and gestures), and then I attach a meaning that's close enough to what you started with so that we say we 'understand' each other. This is what it means to study communication. Creating shared meaning and understanding happen in a whole bunch of contexts to include interpersonally, at work, through the mass media, through social media, and more, and some people focus on one of those specific contexts and get jobs there. Some of these jobs are more obvious, e.g., public relations experts, broadcasters, but communication experts are also found in health care, politics, conflict resolution and mediation, clergy, and more. There's no such thing as a one-size-fits-all 'communication specialist,' and their day to day work will be as unique as the setting they serve. What they have in common, though, is an emphasis on skills like listening, empathy, paraphrasing, clarifying and simplifying complex information, and creating messaging unique to the receiver. Studying communication isn't necessarily about training for a job; it's a set of knowledge and skills that benefits any job. Communication departments in universities and colleges nationwide work hard to prepare a workforce that will be adept at creating shared meaning between people, across companies, across nations, and probably even across planets (ask NASA).
What will help Media Associates increase their earning potential?
John Daly: There are so many tasks depending upon your major in Communication. For example: Communication Studies: Sales, HR, Hospitality, General Management, PR; Crisis communication Radio, Television & Film: Production, Directing, Acting, Script-writing Journalism: Writing for news outlets, Editing Advertising: Copywriting, Creative advertising, Placement; Web design Speech and Hearing Sciences: Audiology, Stuttering, Stroke recovery, Language acquisition
What skills stand out on Media Associate resumes?
Dr. Mike Dillon: Evidence (courses, internships, other experience) that demonstrates competence in communicating with a wide array of audiences across multiple platforms. Our journalism program, for instance, is multiplatform: students learn to write, edit, shoot video, create podcasts, adapt stories to fit the requirements of multiple platforms, etc. Basically, we want to send students out of here like Swiss Army Knives -- able to work in their area of proficiency, be that writing or videography, but also adept with a wide variety of other competencies.
What soft skills should all Media Associates possess?
Dr. Mike Dillon: Today, teamwork is paramount. A young professional must work with and communicate effectively with a wide array of internal constituencies. You definitely need interpersonal skills -- whether you are working in person or over Zoom or another video platform. The ability to work independently to problem-solve. Media cycles are now measured in nano-seconds, so a supervisor needs to be able to trust that you can handle what comes your way without constantly checking in. Tone -- the insight to understand how different platforms you use for planning or dealing with sources/constituents/colleagues -- who may be of different ages or from different cultures -- require mindfulness about how and what you communicate.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Media Associates?
Dr. Mike Dillon: Media is about storytelling -- whether it's an ad, a social media campaign, a magazine story, etc. Being able to use the tools of your trade, whatever they may be -- algorithms, editing suites, etc. The most important skill, though, is understanding the essence of those tools -- what is they are intended to accomplish. If you understand that, you can easily adapt when tools change -- which they frequently do.
What skills will help Media Associates earn the most?
Dr. Mike Dillon: To not think and act in a silo, to adapt and be in a position when new opportunities arise, even if they are not in a seeming linear line from where you might be at the moment. A person who is a critical thinker with technical skills is more valuable than a person who is adept at doing what they're told with technology but has no larger sense of the how or why they use tools.
Bradley Van Alstyne Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Communications, Coordinator, Online Learning and Development, Chair of the Communications and Media Studies DepartmentDominican University of California
Communication and Media Studies
What skills stand out on Media Associate resumes?
Bradley Van Alstyne Ph.D.: Experience: internships, co-curricular and extra-curricular projects, and any jobs held while in college. Those jobs may not be directly related to a media coordinator job description but could have other benefits like the team environment at a restaurant.
What soft skills should all Media Associates possess?
Bradley Van Alstyne Ph.D.: Working well with others, time management, and the ability to teach and supervise others.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Media Associates?
Bradley Van Alstyne Ph.D.: Video (shooting and editing), audio applications that allow you to produce and edit sound, and social media literacy.
What skills will help Media Associates earn the most?
Bradley Van Alstyne Ph.D.: The hard skills (audio and video) usually get you the job, but the soft skills allow you to keep it and grow!
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Media Associates?
Mark Grabowski: I'm not going to sugarcoat it: The pandemic could permanently setback the college students who graduated during it. Timing is very important in the job market. Research shows that college graduates who start their working lives during a recession really struggle for many years afterward. So, if you're graduating now, you really need to hustle to succeed.
What's a good job out of college for Media Associates?
Mark Grabowski: A good job would be one where you're happy, able to grow professionally and make enough money to get by. Your first job is probably not going to be your dream job. It may not pay great. And there will be boring days, bad days and perhaps all-nighters. But, because you're spending so much time working, you should try to find something you enjoy doing. You want to avoid taking on credit card debt or medical debt, so you may need to turn down opportunities that only provide "experience" or "exposure" over an actual salary and benefits. That said, it's hard to find an entry-level job that is both fun and pays a decent wage. So, you're going to have to strike a balance between doing what you love for peanuts versus making money but being miserable. Finally, you want to work at a place that will enable you to advance in your career or at least acquire skills that will help you in life. Otherwise, you're just wasting your time. And your first few years after college are prime years, so use them wisely.
What will help Media Associates increase their earning potential?
Mark Grabowski: In media, it's important to have multimedia skills, so that you can be an effective and compelling digital storyteller. You should know how to record sound, how to shoot video, how to edit sound and video, how to write using search engine optimization, how to create a webpage, etc. That said, being able to write and speak well remain the most important skills - and so few young people do that well because they've been isolated this past year and they primarily communicate through texting.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Media Associates?
Zhirong Zhao Ph.D.: I am the Director of Master of Public Policy Program (MPP). MPP is a professional graduate degree. The Covid condition has interrupted student internships and make it harder for students to navigate the job market in the traditional way, but I expect the market remains good for our students, who are mainly getting into public, nonprofit, or educational institutions.
What's a good job out of college for Media Associates?
Zhirong Zhao Ph.D.: Many of our students aim for a career in public or nonprofit organizations to address issues of social inequality and power imbalance. These are great jobs that align well with the skill sets of our students and their future career goals.
What will help Media Associates increase their earning potential?
Zhirong Zhao Ph.D.: People in a public or nonprofit career aims not only for the growth of personal earning potential, but also the opportunity to make positive changes to the society.
Bridget Esterhuizen
Theatre Department Head, Assistant Professor of TheatreDavis & Elkins College
Theatre Department
What's a good job out of college for Media Associates?
Bridget Esterhuizen: Even in a pre-COVID world, a good job is tricky to find right out of college. Graduates rely on the connections they've made during their time in college and the people in their circle of connection. Right now, there are work-from-home and online opportunities--which is exciting new territory that might strengthen family bonds and will create new avenues of work--that's something to take advantage of.
What will help Media Associates increase their earning potential?
Bridget Esterhuizen: Flexibility. Versatility. Creativity. Luckily, these are things we are well trained for. BUT, it's very hard to make art when you are trying to survive, which is why I'll circle back to calling on our government to think a bit like Roosevelt's administration did and put funding into governmental arts projects and initiatives.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Media Associates?
Bridget Esterhuizen: I don't think anyone knows the answer to this question. In the Theatre industry, we are doing our best to attend to "the moment," I think--which is what we try to do in our work, too. Right now, we have been given a gift that theatre artists rarely have time to reflect and prioritize. This is a time for us to look at addressing social change (such as responding to the "We See You White American Theatre" statement. This is also a time for taking action to nurture the arts in a financial way. I think MANY people in our industry would say this is a time similar to the Great Depression when programming to support the arts through government funding is essential for the survival of our arts, artists and our society. The impact on graduates will unfold in 'real time'. Graduates will face a need to be more adaptable than ever as they look for work alongside a call for making meaningful work. But, they also have an advantage right now because this is a major social event that is underway--which is a great prompt for creative work. We need art and stories more than ever right now in order to get through this together.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Media Associates?
Hsin-Yen Yang Ph.D.: Because of the trends we see in the job market, it would be wise for the students to take crisis communication and social media management courses before they graduate.
Earn certificates or at least take online courses (some of them are free) from Google analytics and social media management sites such as the Hootsuite academy.
How have salaries changed over time for Media Associates?
Hsin-Yen Yang Ph.D.: I do want to encourage students or newcomers in the field of public relations or strategic communication to build up their resumes in order to stand out in the job market.)
Even if you are graduating this year, check into the internships and scholarships that would accept May 2021 graduates and use these opportunities to strengthen your professional experience on your resume. Sometimes, you may be able to find a long-term job through the internship!
Never stop learning. Join a professional organization to keep up to date with industry developments and the field of study. Actively network with your peers and find mentors to support your personal and professional growth.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Media Associate job market given the pandemic?
Hsin-Yen Yang Ph.D.: The PR industry will look for talents who can identify credible information sources, truthfully report it to the stakeholders, and respond quickly to a crisis such as the current pandemic we are in.
The ability of using digital media to communicate and host online events effectively will become more and more important even in the post-pandemic era. For example, many events and conferences were moved to online platforms due to the pandemic in the past year and this trend is not going away anytime soon. Even when it's safe to hold face-to-face events, the demand for a safer and more affordable online option will remain significant.