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The differences between senior communications specialists and communications managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a senior communications specialist and a communications manager. Additionally, a communications manager has an average salary of $81,304, which is higher than the $78,948 average annual salary of a senior communications specialist.
The top three skills for a senior communications specialist include project management, powerpoint and strategic communications. The most important skills for a communications manager are customer service, property management, and yardi.
| Senior Communications Specialist | Communications Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $78,948 | $81,304 |
| Hourly rate | $37.96 | $39.09 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 18,973 | 26,350 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
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.
A communications manager is responsible for overseeing a company or organization's public relations by devising various strategies and finding new opportunities. They must craft and produce marketing materials such as campaigns, advertisements, newsletters, social media engagements, and press releases to shape and improve a brand or company. Furthermore, a communications manager must accomplish administrative tasks such as preparing reports and necessary documentation, reaching out to advertisers, leading communication letters, and coordinating with marketing personnel from other departments.
Senior communications specialists and communications managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Communications Specialist | Communications Manager | |
| Average salary | $78,948 | $81,304 |
| Salary range | Between $56,000 And $111,000 | Between $53,000 And $122,000 |
| Highest paying City | Oakland, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | California |
| Best paying company | Analysis Group | McKinsey & Company Inc |
| Best paying industry | Technology | - |
There are a few differences between a senior communications specialist and a communications manager in terms of educational background:
| Senior Communications Specialist | Communications Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Communication | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | University of Southern California |
Here are the differences between senior communications specialists' and communications managers' demographics:
| Senior Communications Specialist | Communications Manager | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 35.7% Female, 64.3% | Male, 34.9% Female, 65.1% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 6.0% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 9.2% Asian, 5.1% White, 74.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 16% |