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Careers›Roles›Communication Specialist
Mid-Level

Communication Specialist

An organization's words, messages, and reputation run through you — writing, editing, and shaping how it speaks to the world. Making an organization sound clear, consistent, and human.

Career Level
Junior
Mid
Senior
Director
VP
Executive
Work Personality
E
A
S
C
I
R
Enterprisingleading, persuading
Artisticcreative, expressive
Based on Holland Code framework
Industries that often hire Communication Specialists
Professional Services · 23%Consumer Services · 15%Education · 13%Government · 11%Healthcare · 8%Financial Services · 5%
Job markets for Communication Specialists
Where Communication Specialist jobs concentrate · ~361 metro areas
Based on employment in related occupations
Mapped SOC categories:
Arts & Media
BLS Occupational Employment Statistics
Jump to:What it's likeCareer pathsBy the numbers
What it's like

What it's like to be a Communication Specialist

Across several channels at once, you write, edit, and shape an organization's messaging — internal and external — on tight turnarounds, with the occasional fire to put out. Keeping a consistent voice across everything is the craft, and a lot of the job is translating jargon into something people actually understand.

The harder part is balancing creative work against strategy and approvals — your best draft isn't always the one that ships. Priorities shift, crises arrive unannounced, and the work is judged in public when it goes out. Scope ranges from pure writing to broad strategy, depending on the organization.

It tends to fit someone versatile, calm under deadline, and a strong writer. If you want full creative freedom or single-task focus, the variety can chafe. But if making an organization communicate clearly and credibly appeals, the work tends to be steadily satisfying.

What people in this role value
AchievementAbove avg
IndependenceAbove avg
Working ConditionsAbove avg
RelationshipsAbove avg
RecognitionModerate
SupportModerate
O*NET Work Values survey
✦ Editorial — written by Truest from industry research and career patterns

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Career Paths

Where this role sits in the broader career landscape — and where it can take you.

Earning potential across this track
$239K$179K$119K$60K$0KLower paying387 metro areas, sorted by salary level
All experience levels1
This level's estimated range
INDUSTRIES PAYING ABOVE AVERAGE
Technology & Information$121K+90%
Energy & Utilities$114K+80%
Professional Services$113K+77%
Financial Services$98K+54%
Wholesale & Distribution$89K+40%
Compared to Arts & Media average across all industries
1 BLS OEWS May 2024 covers all Communication Specialists (SOC 27-3031.00), not just this title · BEA RPP 2023
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.
Related rolesExplore Arts & Media →
Communication SpecialistCampaign Program ManagerAdvertising Operations Manager (Ad Operations Manager)Communications SpecialistMarketing Communications SpecialistMarketing CoordinatorContent SpecialistImage ConsultantInformation SpecialistMedia SpecialistPublic Information OfficerSpeech WriterCommunications CoordinatorConcert PromoterPolitical AdvisorLobbyistMedia BuyerMedia PlannerBrand AdvocatePublicity WriterConsumer AdvocateStudent AmbassadorPublic Affairs OfficerCommunications AssociatePublic Affairs Specialist+1 more

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✦ Editorial — career progression and interview guidance based on industry patterns
The Broader Landscape

Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape — helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.

$41K–$129K
Salary Range
10th – 90th percentile
281K
U.S. Employment
+4.8%
10yr Growth
28K
Annual Openings

How Communication Specialist pay & employment are changing

$68K$65K$62K$59K$57K201920202021202220232024$57K$68K
BLS OEWS May 2024 · BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034

Skills & Requirements

Active ListeningSpeakingReading ComprehensionSocial PerceptivenessWritingCritical ThinkingTime ManagementCoordinationPersuasionJudgment and Decision Making
O*NET OnLine · Bureau of Labor Statistics
Mapped SOC Codes
27-3031.00

Explore related roles

Roles with similar work and overlapping career paths

midCampaign Program Manager$127KmidAdvertising Operations Manager (Ad Operations Manager)$127KmidCommunications Specialist$62KseniorSenior Communications Specialist$62KmidMarketing Communications Specialist$73KseniorSenior Marketing Communications Specialist$73K
View all Arts & Media roles →

Common questions about what it's like to be a Communication Specialist

What does a Communication Specialist do?

An organization's words, messages, and reputation run through you — writing, editing, and shaping how it speaks to the world. Making an organization sound clear, consistent, and human.

How much does a Communication Specialist make?

Median pay for a Communication Specialist is about $70K nationally, with the field ranging roughly from $41K to $129K depending on experience, employer, and metro (BLS).

What skills does a Communication Specialist need?

Core skills for this role include Active Listening, Speaking, Reading Comprehension, Social Perceptiveness, and Writing.

What education do you need to be a Communication Specialist?

Most people in this role hold a bachelor's degree.

Is a Communication Specialist in demand?

Employment in this field is projected to grow about 4.8% through 2034, with roughly 280,590 people working in it today (BLS).

What jobs are similar to a Communication Specialist?

Closely related roles include Campaign Program Manager, Advertising Operations Manager (Ad Operations Manager), and Communications Specialist.

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Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) · BLS Employment Projections · O*NET OnLine
Truest editorial: Fit check, role profile, things that vary, advancement analysis, lateral moves, interview questions.

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