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The differences between social media specialists and digital marketing specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a social media specialist, becoming a digital marketing specialist takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a digital marketing specialist has an average salary of $60,359, which is higher than the $51,584 average annual salary of a social media specialist.
The top three skills for a social media specialist include social media marketing, instagram and digital marketing. The most important skills for a digital marketing specialist are digital marketing, marketing campaigns, and email marketing.
| Social Media Specialist | Digital Marketing Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $51,584 | $60,359 |
| Hourly rate | $24.80 | $29.02 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 19% |
| Number of jobs | 47,228 | 94,029 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Average age | 42 | 37 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
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.
A digital marketing specialist is an individual who is responsible for promoting products or services of a company using appropriate technology platforms effectively. Digital marketing specialists collaborate with marketing teams to plan and execute digital programs such as online advertising, social media, and mobile. They are proficient in digital technology tools that can include web advertising, social media, and web development. Digital marketing specialists must also develop multimedia packages and present recommendations to the company's director of marketing and communications.
Social media specialists and digital marketing specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Social Media Specialist | Digital Marketing Specialist | |
| Average salary | $51,584 | $60,359 |
| Salary range | Between $38,000 And $68,000 | Between $44,000 And $81,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | California |
| Best paying company | McKinsey & Company Inc | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Finance |
There are a few differences between a social media specialist and a digital marketing specialist in terms of educational background:
| Social Media Specialist | Digital Marketing Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Most common major | Communication | Business |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | University of Georgia |
Here are the differences between social media specialists' and digital marketing specialists' demographics:
| Social Media Specialist | Digital Marketing Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 38.6% Female, 61.4% | Male, 51.1% Female, 48.9% |
| 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, 5.0% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.9% Asian, 12.3% White, 65.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 10% |