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Media planner vs communications coordinator

The differences between media planners and communications coordinators 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 planner and a communications coordinator. Additionally, a media planner has an average salary of $58,044, which is higher than the $47,075 average annual salary of a communications coordinator.

The top three skills for a media planner include media planning, powerpoint and campaign performance. The most important skills for a communications coordinator are customer service, web content, and event planning.

Media planner vs communications coordinator overview

Media PlannerCommunications Coordinator
Yearly salary$58,044$47,075
Hourly rate$27.91$22.63
Growth rate8%8%
Number of jobs24,12639,790
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 89%Bachelor's Degree, 75%
Average age4242
Years of experience44

What does a media planner do?

A media planner is responsible for managing market campaigns and promotions for clients' advertising needs through various social media platforms and other mediums of communications. Media planners handle the brand's media presence, strategizing its maximum appeal to the target audience. They coordinate closely with the clients for the progress updates, as well as informing them of any adjustments, especially on meeting the public's interests and concerns. A media planner develops innovative techniques, analyzes market data, and manage campaign results, ensuring to meet the clients' objectives and goals.

What does a communications coordinator do?

A communications coordinator is responsible for overseeing the communications department's operations, developing the brand image, and monitoring press releases, company articles, and other related marketing materials for business promotion and visibility. Communications coordinators actively interact with existing and potential clients, negotiate contracts, and build profitable partnerships. They also develop strategic procedures for creating the business' online presence, organizing promotional events, and media conferences. A communications coordinator must have excellent communication and organization skills to maintain a good reputation and customer satisfaction.

Media planner vs communications coordinator salary

Media planners and communications coordinators have different pay scales, as shown below.

Media PlannerCommunications Coordinator
Average salary$58,044$47,075
Salary rangeBetween $48,000 And $69,000Between $34,000 And $63,000
Highest paying CityWashington, DCWashington, DC
Highest paying stateWashingtonNew Jersey
Best paying companyRPAMicrosoft
Best paying industryProfessionalGovernment

Differences between media planner and communications coordinator education

There are a few differences between a media planner and a communications coordinator in terms of educational background:

Media PlannerCommunications Coordinator
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 89%Bachelor's Degree, 75%
Most common majorCommunicationCommunication
Most common collegeNorthwestern UniversityStanford University

Media planner vs communications coordinator demographics

Here are the differences between media planners' and communications coordinators' demographics:

Media PlannerCommunications Coordinator
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 39.2% Female, 60.8%Male, 29.4% Female, 70.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.4% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.3% Asian, 5.4% White, 66.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%Black or African American, 10.3% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.1% Asian, 5.3% White, 66.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage12%12%

Differences between media planner and communications coordinator duties and responsibilities

Media planner example responsibilities.

  • Partner with programmatic buying team to manage DSP campaign and ensure tactics maintain maximum efficiency.
  • Lead monthly meetings with each AE to discuss key accounts and strategize for revenue growth.
  • Manage multiple inboxes handling numerous RFP inquiries from top tier clients while training new employees on processes.
  • Manage multiple million dollar budgets, budget analysis and reconciliations.
  • Manage MRI research system generating specific demographic information for media recommendations.
  • Experience with Comscore, Nielsen, Kantar & Mediamind.
  • Show more

Communications coordinator example responsibilities.

  • Launch and manage the corporate Instagram account @ xcelenergy.
  • Manage and maintain the admission website by using basic knowledge of HTML and web editing templates.
  • Co-developed regional, national and international trade show strategy including logistics, management, qualifying leads, communications and ROI tracking.
  • Contribute brand appropriate content for: blog, instagram, and twitter.
  • General administrative and marketing duties including sending e-marketing campaigns, updating intranet and SharePoint sites, and publishing public relations newsletters.
  • Monitor the daily work of the travel agency booking agents.
  • Show more

Media planner vs communications coordinator skills

Common media planner skills
  • Media Planning, 11%
  • PowerPoint, 8%
  • Campaign Performance, 5%
  • MRI, 4%
  • Digital Marketing, 4%
  • Nielsen, 4%
Common communications coordinator skills
  • Customer Service, 7%
  • Web Content, 7%
  • Event Planning, 6%
  • Press Releases, 5%
  • Patients, 5%
  • Community Events, 5%

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