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Job outlook for media center specialists in the United States
Are media center specialist jobs in demand?
Media center specialist job and salary trends over time
Media center specialist jobs over time
Media center specialist job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 77 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 77 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 77 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 76 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 74 | 0.00% |
Average media center specialist salary over time
Media center specialist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $34,162 | $16.42 | +2.7% |
| 2025 | $33,259 | $15.99 | +1.9% |
| 2024 | $32,633 | $15.69 | +1.2% |
| 2023 | $32,253 | $15.51 | +2.2% |
| 2022 | $31,557 | $15.17 | +2.2% |
Media center specialist jobs by state
Most common states for media center specialists
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 263 | 38% |
| 2 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 362 | 34% |
| 3 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 631 | 33% |
| 4 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 721 | 25% |
| 5 | Delaware | 961,939 | 206 | 21% |
| 6 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,112 | 20% |
| 7 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 338 | 20% |
| 8 | Alaska | 739,795 | 139 | 19% |
| 9 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,446 | 17% |
| 10 | Missouri | 6,113,532 | 1,042 | 17% |
| 11 | Kentucky | 4,454,189 | 774 | 17% |
| 12 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 352 | 17% |
| 13 | Vermont | 623,657 | 103 | 17% |
| 14 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 1,964 | 15% |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 1,881 | 15% |
| 16 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 893 | 15% |
| 17 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 943 | 14% |
| 18 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 188 | 14% |
| 19 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 150 | 14% |
| 20 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 79 | 14% |
Most common cities for media center specialists
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newport | 1 | 4% | $38,529 |
| 2 | Orlando | 1 | 0% | $28,599 |
Media Center Specialist job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of media center specialist experts
Duquesne University
California Baptist University
Cedar Crest College
California Lutheran University
Andrews University
West Virginia State University
Iowa State University
Temple University
Montclair State University
Heidelberg University
Rowan University
WorldatWork
North Carolina Central University
Forsyth County, Georgia
What skills stand out on Media Center Specialist 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 hard/technical skills are most important for Media Center Specialists?
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 Center Specialists 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.
What experience really stands out on Media Center Specialist resumes?
MaryAnn Pearson: Resumes that include work with student publications (newspapers, magazines, and yearbooks) and links to published articles stand out. Students who have participated in internships also stand out as they show experience.
What experience really stands out on Media Center Specialist resumes?
Dr. Jill Purdy: "This is partially answered previously. I think students found time to be more self-reliant and independent. Hopefully, not to a fault as they move into their careers.
On resumes, we may see more of the soft skills described. It may sound counterintuitive, but I think a different kind of interpersonal skill was developed. On a Zoom call, what do we have but people and we have to figure out how to get our message across, collaborate, debate, and communicate effectively without extraneous factors. "
What experience really stands out on Media Center Specialist resumes?
Dr. Gerhard Apfelthaler Ph.D.: I would say this is dependent on the type of company or industry. If graduates from big, national, or international employers, it is essential to make it past the artificial intelligence filters. These companies get thousands of resumes weekly, so everything that makes an applicant unique - internships with other large, recognizable companies, projects that show deep subject matter expertise - helps. For smaller, regional companies, it is probably more important to show that one is part of a community and has good networking skills.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Media Center Specialists?
Dr. Gerhard Apfelthaler Ph.D.: The pandemic has slowed down hiring for recent graduates in some areas, but not in all. For those recent graduates who have not found employment during the most recent months, it'll be essential to show companies how they have made the best use of that time. For instance, additional courses that they have taken, non-profit volunteering, events they have attended, such as start-up weekends, or having started innovative projects of their own.
What general advice would you give to a Media Center Specialist?
Kimberly Pichot: If connections were meaningful before, now they are more than crucial. Find ways to connect with marketing professionals, join the American Marketing Association, and join a local chapter. Take the time to build a strong portfolio, develop your brand, and stay out there, no matter how hard it is. And consider starting a side hustle that utilizes your most treasured part of marketing - starting and running a small business while you job hunt will give you some extra skills and push you to new levels.
Dr. Ali Ziyati Ph.D
ProfessorWest Virginia State University
Department of Communications & Media Studies
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Media Center Specialists?
Dr. Ali Ziyati Ph.D: Graduates are also citizens of the world. This is a global pandemic, and we are all in it. Given the political economy of the coronavirus, many organizations are going through tough times. There will be fewer job opportunities for all graduates. The field of communication, on the other hand, maybe an exception. We learned it the hard way. We had to stay home, work, teach, and learn remotely. We filled our long days with entertainment, games, etc. We shared moments with family and loved ones virtually. The opportunities for internet-based media are endless. The essential item I retain from this experience is that media and communication technologies are central and our graduates.
What type of skills will young Media Center Specialists need?
Dr. Ali Ziyati Ph.D: Media and technology literacy is of utmost importance. In communication and media studies at West Virginia State University, we do everything we can to provide our graduates with media literacy skills: video, audio, film, public relations, graphic design, etc. In general, graduates have to be excellent in computer and internet-based communication in terms of production and media content distribution. Specific skills include, but are not limited to, graphic design, editing, writing, research, and data analysis.
What experience really stands out on Media Center Specialist resumes?
Dr. Ali Ziyati Ph.D: The nature of practical experiences and where they took place always stand out in any resume. I would pay close attention to the academic aspect and align with those practical experiences to see the level of the candidate's planning, performance, and dedication to his/her dream job.
Geoffrey Sauer Ph.D.
Associate Professor; Director, ISU English Undergraduate Studies; Director, ISU Studio for New MediaIowa State University
Department of English
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Media Center Specialist job market given the pandemic?
Geoffrey Sauer Ph.D.: Today, my students are quite experienced with precarity, a word that's become popular this year (which refers to environments dominated by precarious conditions). This means that many are well-suited to changing circumstances and varying methods of working on teams. Though the high unemployment rate in the US-led to reduced job listings last summer, employers have told me that they've been very impressed with the students they do hire. Many established workers have little experience with different ways to manage distance collaboration. Still, full-time students graduating this December will have had at least 10-12 courses, and those graduating next May will have had at least 15-18 courses taught online (or mostly online). This means new graduates will have had more diverse experiences with collaboration in remote teams under different professors/supervisors, which will allow them to see an extensive range of leadership styles and techniques to manage people working together at a distance. Distance collaboration is here to stay, and today's students will have superior skills and diverse experience working in such environments.
Will there be an increase or decrease in demand for Media Center Specialists in the next 5 years?
Geoffrey Sauer Ph.D.: In the short term, this will depend enormously upon how the economy recovers from 2020. But if the US can forestall a deep recession, the job market will be quite good for graduates in the longer term. Baby Boomers are retiring, and my students are extremely hard workers-they tend to prove themselves quickly once hired. There will be a strong need for people with the skills being taught this year in technical communication. (See the BLM for data, if that's helpful.)
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Media Center Specialists to find work opportunities?
David T. Z. Mindich Ph.D.: There are two kinds of advice for young journalists. Some suggest that graduates go to small markets and make a name for themselves. Others say that larger communities, like cities, offer more high profile work. Both strategies can be successful as long as the journalist works hard and strives for excellence.
What skills stand out on Media Center Specialist resumes?
Dr. Keith Strudler Ph.D.: Particularly as organizations are planning not just for the present but also for the post-pandemic future, where employees continue to work remotely and more flexibly than before. I believe that they will continue to want new employees who know how to use digital and remote tools and practices. So those that can comfortably use tools like Slack, Google Meets, and also disciplinary-specific media tools like Studio 6, VMIX, and Frankie, the better positioned they are for a new position. I also think students who have a wide range of skills and can problem solve (as opposed to being tied to one way of doing things) are far more valuable -- which should drive the way universities teach in the future. Finally, given the continued growth of social media, I think students who know how to use social media listening, analytics, and management tools will have a strong advantage and students who can effectively create content for social and understand audience.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Media Center Specialists to find work opportunities?
Dr. Keith Strudler Ph.D.: Finally, as for place, it's tough to say -- although I'm sure others have a more informed opinion. We're in a remote work culture right now. So the place becomes less relevant, which allows companies to search more globally for talent. But as we move to the end of the pandemic and settle into a new normal, I would expect that companies will still want to create a culture and prioritize processes that come from proximity -- especially for new employees and recent graduates. So I'd expect that media hubs and headquarters will still be critical locations in recruiting new graduates -- which, for us, always centers around the New York City region.
Nathan Cutietta
Director of the Gaming, Esports & Media, Assistant Professor of Communication and MediaHeidelberg University
Communication & Media Department
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Media Center Specialists to find work opportunities?
Nathan Cutietta: The job market in Texas seems to be booming in the United States. To be successful, a graduate should be willing to go where the opportunity is. Sometimes the places with the worst economic problems have the most effective options for someone with a specialized skill, since no one wants to live there.
How do you envision technology impacting Media Center Specialists in the next 5 years?
Nathan Cutietta: COVID has changed everything, and no one knows what going back to "normal" will look like. I think we will only continue to use more and more technology as we move forward. This trend started 10,000 years ago and, with the occasional bump in the road (Dark Ages), will continue. Who knows, tomorrow's grads may be commuting to their job on SpaceX.
Dr. Kate Seltzer Ph.D.
Assistant ProfessorRowan University
Department of Language, Literacy and Sociocultural education
How would you rate the starting salaries for Media Center Specialists, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Dr. Kate Seltzer Ph.D.: Educators are not paid nearly enough. However, working in a state with strong teachers' unions helps to ensure a starting salary that recent graduates can live off of and growth opportunities, albeit modest, over their careers.
What general advice would you give to a Media Center Specialist?
Steve Boddy: Graduates should expect fewer full-time employment opportunities. In some cases these opportunities will be accompanied by enhanced well-being benefits but lower salaries. There may be more contract and seasonal opportunities in the short term, which typically will not offer highly valued benefits like health insurance, retirement, and paid time off.
Full-time employment opportunities and competitive hiring wages are expected in high growth industries like technology, health care, logistics and distribution, and other essential jobs. These are most often accompanied with full benefits, which most recently has included increased offerings in well-being, remote work opportunities, and flexible schedules. However, most other organizations will offer fewer full time employment opportunities and potentially lower wages in job offers (due to supply of jobs and abundance of grads). Other reasons for downward pressure on salaries may include the graduates willingness to accept lower rates in favor of the option to work from home or desired geography. Lastly, more college grads are taking seasonal/contract roles, and may miss out on critical benefit offerings that are reserved for employees only (which often account for ~25 - 35% of their total rewards package).
So why does it matter? In all likelihood, new graduates may not start on the career path they envisioned for themselves, and will likely see slower wage growth over time. According to the WorldatWork 2020-2021 Salary Budget Survey released in August of this year, "The national total salary budget increase average fell this year - dropping to 2.9% - notably sudden, and somewhat expected, due to economic uncertainty. This decline represents a pronounced departure from the anticipated increase to 3.3% projected for 2020 a year ago." This is a tough time to be entering the workforce. The key is to be flexible in their job search. Graduates may have to sacrifice some benefits like healthcare and retirement in order to get "their foot in the door." The current reality is new college graduates are facing the worst job market in over a decade with more competition and lower salaries.
Elisha Blankson
Program Director NCCU, Assistant ProfessorNorth Carolina Central University
Communication Disorders Department
What type of skills will young Media Center Specialists need?
Elisha Blankson: Graduates will need a skill set about the field in which they received training and additional skills useful to the job market. For example, with the changing demographics in the United States, extra skills in information technology and foreign languages will be a plus when entering the job market.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Media Center Specialists to find work opportunities?
Donna Kukarola: This one, not so sure of, the southeast continues to see options as well as mid-western states.