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The differences between social media specialists and 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 marketing specialist takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a marketing specialist has an average salary of $54,942, 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 specialist are digital marketing, marketing campaigns, and project management.
| Social Media Specialist | Marketing Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $51,584 | $54,942 |
| Hourly rate | $24.80 | $26.41 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 19% |
| Number of jobs | 47,228 | 87,145 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| 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 specialist's primary responsibility revolves around conducting thorough market research and analysis to acquire extensive knowledge and understanding of a brand and how it will work in the consumer market. They must determine and come up with strategies and utilize this to develop various programs or campaigns that would be vital in bringing more awareness to the brand, thus boosting sales and improving client base. Furthermore, a marketing specialist must also use their expertise to figure out new opportunities and trends that will work for the company.
Social media specialists and marketing specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Social Media Specialist | Marketing Specialist | |
| Average salary | $51,584 | $54,942 |
| Salary range | Between $38,000 And $68,000 | Between $36,000 And $82,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Washington |
| Best paying company | McKinsey & Company Inc | |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Technology |
There are a few differences between a social media specialist and a marketing specialist in terms of educational background:
| Social Media Specialist | Marketing Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Most common major | Communication | Business |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | University of Georgia |
Here are the differences between social media specialists' and marketing specialists' demographics:
| Social Media Specialist | Marketing Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 38.6% Female, 61.4% | Male, 35.5% Female, 64.5% |
| 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, 5.2% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 12.5% Asian, 11.2% White, 65.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 10% |