Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between strategic planners and marketing communications managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 8-10 years to become both a strategic planner and a marketing communications manager. Additionally, a strategic planner has an average salary of $88,718, which is higher than the $84,146 average annual salary of a marketing communications manager.
The top three skills for a strategic planner include project management, DOD and logistics. The most important skills for a marketing communications manager are web content, marketing campaigns, and digital marketing.
| Strategic Planner | Marketing Communications Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $88,718 | $84,146 |
| Hourly rate | $42.65 | $40.45 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 24,228 | 106,556 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 80% |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 10 | 10 |
Strategic planners are professionals who participate in the planning of business strategy for medium or large corporations as well as assess their operational and strategic performance. These planners are required to analyze financial and budget reports so that they can make strategic recommendations based on the financial health of the company. Together with the market researchers, these planners must conduct market research so that they can identify threats and opportunities. Strategic planners must also educate their senior executives in making effective decisions by constructing forecasts and analytical models.
A marketing communications manager's role is to oversee all operations involving media and public relations. They are primarily responsible for devising marketing strategies and programs to improve brand awareness, handling communications and various issues within the company, and crafting communication strategies for product launches and other events. Furthermore, they also must handle correspondence, take the lead in creating newsletters, press releases, and other mediums, ensuring that they align in the company's vision, mission, and regulations. As a marketing communications manager, it is essential to lead and encourage staff while implementing company policies and guidelines.
Strategic planners and marketing communications managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Strategic Planner | Marketing Communications Manager | |
| Average salary | $88,718 | $84,146 |
| Salary range | Between $62,000 And $126,000 | Between $60,000 And $117,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | Washington |
| Best paying company | Boston Consulting Group | |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Finance |
There are a few differences between a strategic planner and a marketing communications manager in terms of educational background:
| Strategic Planner | Marketing Communications Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 80% |
| Most common major | Business | Communication |
| Most common college | University of Georgia | University of Georgia |
Here are the differences between strategic planners' and marketing communications managers' demographics:
| Strategic Planner | Marketing Communications Manager | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 62.9% Female, 37.1% | Male, 32.3% Female, 67.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.0% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 8.7% Asian, 8.2% White, 74.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 3.0% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 8.7% Asian, 8.2% White, 74.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 10% |