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The differences between social media specialists and marketing communications 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 marketing communications specialist takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a marketing communications specialist has an average salary of $53,993, 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 marketing communications specialist are digital marketing, project management, and graphic design.
| Social Media Specialist | Marketing Communications Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $51,584 | $53,993 |
| Hourly rate | $24.80 | $25.96 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 19% |
| Number of jobs | 47,228 | 95,444 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 79% |
| 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 marketing communications specialist is an individual who is responsible for creating all the marketing materials that are distributed to customers to increase brand awareness for the company's products or services. To create these materials, marketing communications specialists must collaborate with graphic design teams. They are required to track their marketing performance so that they can identify ways to improve their marketing strategies. Marketing communications specialists must also set up interviews and press conferences as part of their marketing campaign.
Social media specialists and marketing communications specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Social Media Specialist | Marketing Communications Specialist | |
| Average salary | $51,584 | $53,993 |
| Salary range | Between $38,000 And $68,000 | Between $36,000 And $80,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Delaware |
| Best paying company | McKinsey & Company Inc | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Technology |
There are a few differences between a social media specialist and a marketing communications specialist in terms of educational background:
| Social Media Specialist | Marketing Communications Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 79% |
| Most common major | Communication | Communication |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between social media specialists' and marketing communications specialists' demographics:
| Social Media Specialist | Marketing Communications Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 38.6% Female, 61.4% | Male, 28.0% Female, 72.0% |
| 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, 5.3% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 12.6% Asian, 9.6% White, 67.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 10% |