Written by Michael Feder
Reviewed by Kathryn Uhles, MIS, MSP, Dean, College of Business and IT
Communication specialists are comparable to public relations specialists who manage an individual’s or organization’s public image and brand reputation. They create, maintain and enhance the public perception of their clients or an employer. It’s one of many career paths available to those pursuing a degree in communication.
Communication professionals use their industry insights and broad knowledge to develop and implement strategic communication plans. Their goal is to create a clear, compelling message that speaks to their intended audience and meets them where they are.
Likewise, communication professionals can work in a range of industries outside of public relations, including advertising, healthcare, government agencies and corporate communication. As a result, their responsibilities and roles may vary, but their ultimate objective remains unchanged.
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In real-world terms, communication specialist roles may differ by the type of organization in which they’re employed. For instance, a communication specialist for a large corporation might focus on internal messaging initiatives, such as employee newsletters or training materials, while the same role for a small startup organization might involve developing and overseeing a social media strategy.
A successful communication specialist balances hard and soft skills. Soft skills are non-technical, interpersonal skills that help you effectively interact with others and navigate workplace challenges.
For a communication specialist, certain soft skills are particularly relevant, including the ability to:
Hard skills are technical abilities or knowledge specific to a job or industry that you learn through hard work and hands-on experience.
Some hard skills for this role include:
Depending on your role and company, the required skills and responsibilities may vary.Â
A successful communication specialist balances hard and soft skills. Soft skills are non-technical, interpersonal skills that help you effectively interact with others and navigate workplace challenges.
For a communication specialist, certain soft skills are particularly relevant, including the ability to:
Hard skills are technical abilities or knowledge specific to a job or industry that you learn through hard work and hands-on experience.
Some hard skills for this role include:
Depending on your role and company, the required skills and responsibilities may vary.Â
While there’s not a singular path to becoming a communication specialist, there is a general framework to follow.
You can choose from several degree paths to become a communication specialist. Depending on your career goals and interests, you may pursue a more traditional degree like communication or public relations or go for something more specialized.
According to , communication specialists and public relations specialist are comparable job titles. That said, the  reports that, as of May 2023, these specialists earned between $38,570 and $126,220, with a median wage of $66,750.
Salary ranges are not specific to students or graduates of °®ÎŰ´«Ă˝. Actual outcomes vary based on multiple factors, including prior work experience, geographic location and other factors specific to the individual. °®ÎŰ´«Ă˝ does not guarantee employment, salary level or career advancement. BLS data is geographically based. Information for a specific state/city can be researched on the BLS website.
BLS projects this role is . This roughly translates to 27,100 job openings in this field each year. Communication is vital in many roles but especially in ones such as customer relations and community outreach.
BLS Occupational Employment Projections, 2022-2032 is published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This data reflects BLS’ projections of national (not local) conditions. These data points are not specific to °®ÎŰ´«Ă˝ students or graduates.
If you’re interested in learning important communication skills or becoming a communication specialist, consider earning a Bachelor of Science in Communication at UOPX. This program prepares students to write press releases, develop sales and marketing communication, review journalism ethics, create an organizational structure plan and more.
UOPX also offers the flexibility of online classes and a fixed tuition guarantee, making it convenient for adults to earn their degree while maintaining other commitments at work and at home. Students and graduates also enjoy a range of tools and services to assist them in their careers, including career services.
A graduate of Johns Hopkins University and its Writing Seminars program and winner of the Stephen A. Dixon Literary Prize, Michael Feder brings an eye for detail and a passion for research to every article he writes. His academic and professional background includes experience in marketing, content development, script writing and SEO. Today, he works as a multimedia specialist at °®ÎŰ´«Ă˝ where he covers a variety of topics ranging from healthcare to IT.
Currently Dean of the College of Business and Information Technology, Kathryn Uhles has served °®ÎŰ´«Ă˝ in a variety of roles since 2006. Prior to joining °®ÎŰ´«Ă˝, Kathryn taught fifth grade to underprivileged youth in °®ÎŰ´«Ă˝.
This article has been vetted by °®ÎŰ´«Ă˝'s editorial advisory committee.Â
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