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The differences between senior communications specialists and social media 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 senior communications specialist and a social media specialist. Additionally, a senior communications specialist has an average salary of $78,948, which is higher than the $51,584 average annual salary of a social media specialist.
The top three skills for a senior communications specialist include project management, powerpoint and strategic communications. The most important skills for a social media specialist are social media marketing, instagram, and digital marketing.
| Senior Communications Specialist | Social Media Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $78,948 | $51,584 |
| Hourly rate | $37.96 | $24.80 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 18,973 | 47,228 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 79% |
| 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 social media specialist is an individual who is responsible for creating and administering content on all social media platforms to build an audience and ensure customer engagement. By using platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, social media specialists must create content that resonates with the interests of the intended audience. They are required to understand social media metrics so that they can use the information to ensure success in their social media strategy. Social media specialists must also work with industry professionals and influencers via social media to create a strong network.
Senior communications specialists and social media specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Communications Specialist | Social Media Specialist | |
| Average salary | $78,948 | $51,584 |
| Salary range | Between $56,000 And $111,000 | Between $38,000 And $68,000 |
| Highest paying City | Oakland, CA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Analysis Group | McKinsey & Company Inc |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Professional |
There are a few differences between a senior communications specialist and a social media specialist in terms of educational background:
| Senior Communications Specialist | Social Media Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 79% |
| Most common major | Communication | Communication |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between senior communications specialists' and social media specialists' demographics:
| Senior Communications Specialist | Social Media Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 35.7% Female, 64.3% | Male, 38.6% Female, 61.4% |
| 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, 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% |