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The differences between media specialists and senior 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 specialist and a senior communications specialist. Additionally, a senior communications specialist has an average salary of $78,948, which is higher than the $50,832 average annual salary of a media specialist.
The top three skills for a media specialist include digital marketing, video production and customer service. The most important skills for a senior communications specialist are project management, powerpoint, and strategic communications.
| Media Specialist | Senior Communications Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $50,832 | $78,948 |
| Hourly rate | $24.44 | $37.96 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 39,401 | 18,973 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
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.
A senior communications specialist is primarily in charge of developing communication strategies in the company. Their responsibilities revolve around ensuring the smooth flow of internal and external communications, coordinating various departments, managing campaigns and event schedules, devising social media strategies, and supervising media relations. A senior communications specialist must also address issues and concerns, resolving them promptly. Furthermore, as a senior specialist, it is essential to lead and assist the junior specialists, all while adhering to the company's policies and regulations.
Media specialists and senior communications specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Media Specialist | Senior Communications Specialist | |
| Average salary | $50,832 | $78,948 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $73,000 | Between $56,000 And $111,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Oakland, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | BP America Inc | Analysis Group |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Technology |
There are a few differences between a media specialist and a senior communications specialist in terms of educational background:
| Media Specialist | Senior Communications Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Communication | Communication |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between media specialists' and senior communications specialists' demographics:
| Media Specialist | Senior Communications Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 52.9% Female, 47.1% | Male, 35.7% Female, 64.3% |
| Race ratio | 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% | 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% |