What does a Communications Specialist do?

How to get here

Salary (US) as of 2026-11

Sources:

• BLS OES, Public Relations Specialists (27-3031), May 2025median $74,750; 25th $56,260; 75th $100,370; 90th $135,150
• Payscale, Communications Specialist, Oct 2026 (1,633 profiles)avg base $64,610; 10th-90th $45k-$89k
• Payscale, Brand Manager, Sep 2026 (1,150 profiles) - next level upavg base $88,911; 10th-90th $60k-$131k

Mostly salary with little variable pay; agency and nonprofit roles sit at the low end, in-house tech/corporate comms at the high end. Senior IC/manager figure from Payscale Brand Manager average base: $88,911.

Experience to get here

Bachelor's in communications, public relations, journalism, marketing or English is the stated requirement in nearly all postings; BLS lists bachelor's as typical entry education. No certification is required.

Typical prior roles

Must have

• Writing and editing press releases, talking points, newsletters, blog posts in AP style
• Media relations: maintaining press lists, pitching, triaging inquiries, monitoring coverage
• Social media content and channel management with analytics reporting
• Working with executives and subject-matter experts to turn information into clear messaging
• Measuring reach and engagement and recommending improvements

Milestones people hit first

• Placed stories or secured coverage through your own pitching
• Owned a content calendar or newsletter end to end
• Drafted executive statements or crisis/issue responses under deadline
• Produced a monthly media or engagement report leadership actually used

Certifications

Training & learning

• HubSpot Academy Social Media Marketing and Content Marketing courses FREE HubSpot Academy · learning path · free · 3-8 hours eachPostings list social media management and analytics as core duties; these are free, recognized certificates.
• Google Analytics (GA4) course and certification FREE Google Skillshop · course · free · 4-6 hoursComms roles are asked to measure effectiveness; GA4 literacy lets you report web traffic from your content.
• Build a writing portfolio: press releases, bylines, social campaigns FREE self-directed · learning path · free · ongoingThe Cable One posting and others judge candidates on writing/editing across channels; samples matter more than any course.
• Online MBA or master's in communications (optional, later) University of Illinois / Coursera (example) · degree · $27,288 total · 24-36 months part-timeNot needed for specialist roles; relevant only when moving toward director/VP communications or CMO.

Figures are US, from the sources listed, and change often; verify before deciding.