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Communications department head salary
Average communications department head salary
$95,503
Current Salary Insights
As of October 2025, the average salary for a Communications Department Head is $95,503 per year or approximately $46 per hour. Factors influencing this figure include geographic location, years of experience, and the specific sector of employment.
Salary Variations by State
Communications Department Heads can experience notable salary differences depending on their state of employment. States like California and New York often offer higher compensation due to the cost of living and demand for skilled professionals. For example, department heads in metropolitan areas may earn significantly more than those in rural settings.
Job Opportunities
In addition to salary, the role offers numerous opportunities for advancement. As a Communications Department Head, you can expect to oversee marketing strategies, manage public relations, and lead a team of communication professionals. Continuous professional development, such as obtaining certifications in communication or marketing strategy, can further enhance your career prospects.
Future Salary Trends
Looking ahead, the demand for skilled communications professionals is expected to grow, reflecting the increasing importance of strategic communication in organizations. Staying informed about industry trends can help you maximize your earning potential in this dynamic field.
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Where can a Communications Department Head earn more?
Average communications department head salary by state
The average communications department head salary in California, New York, and Connecticut are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average communications department head salary states are South Carolina, Oklahoma, and Florida.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for communications department heads
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | $122,843 | $59.06 |
| 2 | Washington | $121,338 | $58.34 |
| 3 | New York | $125,813 | $60.49 |
| 4 | California | $129,475 | $62.25 |
| 5 | District of Columbia | $123,361 | $59.31 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $118,777 | $57.10 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $118,140 | $56.80 |
| 8 | Virginia | $107,723 | $51.79 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $102,446 | $49.25 |
| 10 | Delaware | $100,859 | $48.49 |
| 11 | Oregon | $109,437 | $52.61 |
| 12 | Arizona | $105,352 | $50.65 |
| 13 | Alaska | $100,242 | $48.19 |
| 14 | Ohio | $110,588 | $53.17 |
| 15 | Rhode Island | $111,118 | $53.42 |
| 16 | Maryland | $106,137 | $51.03 |
| 17 | Pennsylvania | $102,374 | $49.22 |
| 18 | West Virginia | $95,764 | $46.04 |
| 19 | Wisconsin | $93,878 | $45.13 |
| 20 | Michigan | $92,710 | $44.57 |
| 21 | Vermont | $88,678 | $42.63 |
| 22 | Nevada | $95,842 | $46.08 |
| 23 | Illinois | $102,262 | $49.16 |
| 24 | North Dakota | $90,762 | $43.64 |
| 25 | Idaho | $87,044 | $41.85 |
| 26 | New Mexico | $92,587 | $44.51 |
| 27 | Kentucky | $88,969 | $42.77 |
| 28 | Arkansas | $87,713 | $42.17 |
| 29 | Minnesota | $92,439 | $44.44 |
| 30 | Indiana | $84,322 | $40.54 |
| 31 | Iowa | $76,628 | $36.84 |
| 32 | Maine | $75,904 | $36.49 |
| 33 | Wyoming | $73,574 | $35.37 |
| 34 | Colorado | $81,997 | $39.42 |
| 35 | Louisiana | $77,829 | $37.42 |
| 36 | Tennessee | $83,009 | $39.91 |
| 37 | North Carolina | $81,273 | $39.07 |
| 38 | Hawaii | $75,542 | $36.32 |
| 39 | South Dakota | $73,909 | $35.53 |
| 40 | Utah | $73,438 | $35.31 |
| 41 | Texas | $74,322 | $35.73 |
| 42 | Montana | $67,082 | $32.25 |
| 43 | Nebraska | $75,948 | $36.51 |
| 44 | Georgia | $76,497 | $36.78 |
| 45 | Alabama | $72,641 | $34.92 |
| 46 | Florida | $68,164 | $32.77 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $65,908 | $31.69 |
| 48 | South Carolina | $71,270 | $34.26 |
| 49 | Missouri | $73,240 | $35.21 |
| 50 | Kansas | $67,756 | $32.58 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $69,510 | $33.42 |
Highest paying cities for communications department heads
The highest-paying cities for communications department heads are San Francisco, CA, New York, NY, and Bellevue, WA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $149,027 | $71.65 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $130,342 | $62.66 |
| 3 | Bellevue, WA | $129,645 | $62.33 |
| 4 | Washington, DC | $127,497 | $61.30 |
| 5 | Bristol, CT | $126,193 | $60.67 |
| 6 | Brockton, MA | $123,259 | $59.26 |
| 7 | New Brunswick, NJ | $120,727 | $58.04 |
| 8 | Cranston, RI | $113,173 | $54.41 |
| 9 | Chesapeake, VA | $109,407 | $52.60 |
| 10 | Cincinnati, OH | $106,037 | $50.98 |
| 11 | Des Plaines, IL | $105,125 | $50.54 |
| 12 | Concord, NH | $102,636 | $49.34 |
| 13 | Pittsburgh, PA | $99,469 | $47.82 |
| 14 | Commerce, MI | $93,447 | $44.93 |
| 15 | Moscow, ID | $87,889 | $42.25 |
| 16 | Springdale, AR | $87,820 | $42.22 |
| 17 | Raleigh, NC | $84,069 | $40.42 |
| 18 | Baton Rouge, LA | $78,310 | $37.65 |
| 19 | Atlanta, GA | $76,838 | $36.94 |
| 20 | Austin, TX | $75,673 | $36.38 |
Communications department head salary details
A communications department head's salary ranges from $54,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $168,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a communications department head's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $168,000 | $14,000 | $81 |
| 75th Percentile | $128,000 | $10,667 | $62 |
| Average | $95,503 | $7,959 | $46 |
| 25th Percentile | $70,000 | $5,833 | $34 |
| 10th Percentile | $54,000 | $4,500 | $26 |
Highest paying communications department head jobs
The highest paying types of communications department heads are communications director, communications/senior communications manager, and communications lead.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Digital Media Internship | $32,033 | $2,669 | $15.40 | 72,449 |
| Social Media Internship | $31,145 | $2,595 | $14.97 | 79,411 |
| Account Coordinator | $39,973 | $3,331 | $19.22 | 93,480 |
| Media Coordinator | $47,471 | $3,956 | $22.82 | 35,285 |
| Public Relations | $48,383 | $4,032 | $23.26 | 22,721 |
| Public Relations Coordinator | $46,225 | $3,852 | $22.22 | 35,324 |
Top companies hiring communications department heads now:
Which companies pay communications department heads the most?
Communications department head salaries at Credit Agricole CIB and Meta are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average communications department head salary at companies like Angelo Gordon and Bulltick are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Credit Agricole CIB | $174,818 | $84.05 |
| 2 | Meta | $171,505 | $82.45 |
| 3 | Angelo Gordon | $162,112 | $77.94 |
| 4 | Bulltick | $161,198 | $77.50 |
| 5 | Hoffmann-LA Roche Inc | $154,483 | $74.27 |
| 6 | Commonwealth Fusion Systems | $149,411 | $71.83 |
| 7 | Regeneron | $138,160 | $66.42 |
| 8 | Atlassian | $132,495 | $63.70 |
| 9 | Wikimedia Foundation | $126,894 | $61.01 |
| 10 | Audible | $126,201 | $60.67 |
| 11 | Johnson & Johnson | $125,388 | $60.28 |
| 12 | NI | $124,592 | $59.90 |
| 13 | Stripe | $112,995 | $54.32 |
| 14 | PowerToFly | $112,804 | $54.23 |
| 15 | Tyson Foods | $104,664 | $50.32 |
| 16 | Global Indemnity Group | $104,094 | $50.05 |
| 17 | Harvard University | $103,741 | $49.88 |
| 18 | Siemens | $99,514 | $47.84 |
| 19 | StoneX Group | $98,948 | $47.57 |
| 20 | Peek | $92,952 | $44.69 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Communications department head salary trends
The average communications department head salary has risen by $14,627 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average communications department head earned $80,876 annually, but today, they earn $95,503 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for communications department heads over the last decade.
Compare communications department head salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average communications department head salary over time
Compare communications department head salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Communications department head salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $95,500 | $45.92 | +2.6% |
| 2025 | $93,000 | $44.70 | +1.9% |
| 2024 | $91,200 | $43.86 | +1.2% |
| 2023 | $90,200 | $43.35 | +2.2% |
| 2022 | $88,200 | $42.41 | +2.2% |
Recently added communications department head salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Servicenow | Head of Media, Entertainment & Communication Industry GTM AMS | New York, NY | 06/29/2025 | $189,100 |
| NADQ Nasdaq | Head of Financial and Enterprise Communications | New York, NY | 06/28/2025 | $120,000 |
| SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory | Storage Systems Department Head | Menlo Park, CA | 06/27/2025 | $198,998 |
| Nasdaq Omx Group, Inc. | Head of Financial and Enterprise Communications | New York, NY | 06/26/2025 | $118,400 |
| The TJX Companies, Inc. | Department Head NOW | Osage Beach, MO | 06/24/2025 | $31,305 |
| Pga Tour Superstore, Co | Retail Front Department Head | Cherry Hill, NJ | 06/21/2025 | $39,653 |
| Jordan Company | Head of Communications and Client Engagement-SF | San Francisco, CA | 06/09/2025 | $150,000 |
| Eh2 | Head of Communications | Devens, MA | 06/09/2025 | $180,000 |
| Eh2 | Head of Communications | San Jose, CA | 06/09/2025 | $210,000 |
| Penn State University | Command and Control Software Solutions Department Head | Parkesburg, PA | 06/06/2025 | $109,300 |
Communications department head salary FAQs
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