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The differences between media planners and communications 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 planner and a communications specialist. Additionally, a media planner has an average salary of $58,044, which is higher than the $51,023 average annual salary of a communications specialist.
The top three skills for a media planner include media planning, powerpoint and campaign performance. The most important skills for a communications specialist are customer service, powerpoint, and patients.
| Media Planner | Communications Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $58,044 | $51,023 |
| Hourly rate | $27.91 | $24.53 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 24,126 | 42,819 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 89% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
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.
A communications specialist takes charge of addressing the public by coming up with various strategic campaigns, newsletters, public correspondence, press releases, and advertisements. Their primary role focuses on promoting, shaping, and enhancing a brand's image through public relations. Furthermore, a communications specialist is responsible for handling any complaints or issues, devising and conducting damage control to resolve bad publicity should there be any. It is also essential for a communications specialist to adhere to the company's policies and regulations at all times.
Media planners and communications specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Media Planner | Communications Specialist | |
| Average salary | $58,044 | $51,023 |
| Salary range | Between $48,000 And $69,000 | Between $36,000 And $71,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Washington | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | RPA | |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Technology |
There are a few differences between a media planner and a communications specialist in terms of educational background:
| Media Planner | Communications Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 89% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Communication | Communication |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between media planners' and communications specialists' demographics:
| Media Planner | Communications Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 39.2% Female, 60.8% | Male, 42.9% Female, 57.1% |
| Race ratio | Black 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, 10.0% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 11.9% Asian, 5.3% White, 67.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 12% |