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News & Publishing
The New York Times, Reuters, Gannett
Media and Communication Workers, All Other
This catch-all communications role turns updates, ideas, and announcements into copy people can actually use, whether that means a web post, newsletter, press release, or internal memo. The work stands out because it mixes writing, coordination, and deadline management across different audiences and channels. The tradeoff is that the job can be broad and reactive: priorities change fast, and success often looks like avoiding mistakes and keeping messages clear rather than getting public attention.
Also known as Communications SpecialistCommunication SpecialistCorporate Communications SpecialistMedia Relations SpecialistPublic Information Specialist
Median Salary
$71,770
Mean $84,870
U.S. Workforce
~24K
3K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+2.7%
34.3K to 35.3K
Entry Education
High school diploma or equivalent
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Media and Communication Workers, All Other sits in the Creative category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~24K workers, with a median annual pay of $71,770 and roughly 3K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 34.3 K in 2024 to 35.3K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with High school diploma or equivalent + short-term on-the-job training, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Communications Assistant and can progress toward Communications Manager. High-value skills usually include Writing, Editing & Fact-Checking, AP Style & Editorial Standards, and CMS Platforms (WordPress, Drupal & Contentful), paired with soft skills such as Clear written communication, Organization, and Deadline management.
Core Responsibilities
- Draft and revise copy for websites, emails, newsletters, press releases, and internal announcements.
- Collect facts, quotes, and approvals from managers, clients, or subject-matter experts before anything goes out.
- Adjust one message so it works for different audiences, from employees to customers to the public.
- Keep projects moving through review steps, including edits, legal checks, and brand approval.
Keep exploring: more Creative careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Draft and revise copy for websites, emails, newsletters, press releases, and internal announcements.
02 Collect facts, quotes, and approvals from managers, clients, or subject-matter experts before anything goes out.
03 Adjust one message so it works for different audiences, from employees to customers to the public.
04 Keep projects moving through review steps, including edits, legal checks, and brand approval.
05 Watch how posts, coverage, or campaigns perform and report what needs to be changed next.
06 Prepare background materials, talking points, interview notes, or event handouts for media-facing work.
Industries That Hire
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Tech & Software
Google, Microsoft, Adobe
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Healthcare & Hospitals
Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, Kaiser Permanente
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Nonprofit & Public Sector
UNICEF, Smithsonian Institution, City of New York
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Entertainment & Streaming
Disney, Netflix, Warner Bros. Discovery
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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You can get started without a long degree path: BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent plus short-term on-the-job training as the typical entry route.
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Pay is respectable for a broad communications job, with a median annual wage of $71,770 and a mean of $84,870 for stronger earners.
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The field still generates about 3.0 thousand annual openings, so there is steady replacement demand even though employment is relatively small.
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The work transfers across industries, so writing and messaging skills can move from media to tech, healthcare, nonprofits, or government.
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People who build strong portfolios can move into higher-paying specialist or manager roles, and the mean pay being above the median suggests real upside.
Challenges
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Growth is modest at 2.7% from 2024 to 2034, so this is not a fast-expanding field and competition can stay tight.
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The job title is broad and can feel vague, which sometimes makes it harder to prove a clear specialty or negotiate a faster promotion path.
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Communications teams are often among the first to face budget cuts, outsourcing, or consolidation when organizations try to reduce headcount.
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Routine writing and editing are increasingly exposed to automation and AI tools, which raises the bar for judgment, originality, and relationship skills.
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Deadlines can be unforgiving because every draft may need several rounds of review from managers, legal teams, or clients before it is approved.
Career Progression
Communications Assistant
0-2 years
$38K-$50K
Entry-level work focuses on drafting simple updates, formatting content, tracking approvals, and learning the team's style and tools.
Communications Coordinator
2-5 years
$50K-$65K
At this stage, workers manage more of the publishing calendar, handle routine requests, and keep small projects moving without much supervision.
Media and Communication Worker, All Other THIS ROLE
5-9 years
$68K-$82K
This level usually owns a mix of writing, coordination, and message planning across channels, with enough judgment to handle competing deadlines and revisions.
Senior Communications Specialist
8-12 years
$82K-$102K
Senior workers shape messaging, lead larger campaigns, and advise managers or clients on tone, timing, and risk.
Communications Manager
10+ years
$102K-$132K
Managers oversee strategy, assign work, review final copy, and handle higher-stakes messaging for teams, departments, or brands.
Education Paths
High school diploma or equivalent + short-term on-the-job training
BLS lists this as the typical entry point, with short-term on-the-job training usually used to learn the employer's tone, tools, and review process.
Associate degree in communications, marketing, journalism, or digital media
A two-year program can build writing, layout, and digital publishing skills for people who want a quicker path into the field.
Bachelor's degree in communications, public relations, journalism, English, or marketing
A four-year degree is a strong option for candidates who want broader writing, media, and campaign experience before applying.
Professional certificate in public relations, digital marketing, or content management
A certificate can help career changers show practical skills in writing, publishing, and campaign tools even without a degree.
Key Skills
Technical
Writing, Editing & Fact-Checking 95%
AP Style & Editorial Standards 88%
CMS Platforms (WordPress, Drupal & Contentful) 82%
Adobe Creative Cloud (InDesign, Photoshop & Acrobat) 76%
Social Scheduling Tools (Hootsuite, Sprout Social & Buffer) 72%
Media Monitoring & PR Databases (Cision & Meltwater) 66%
Google Analytics, Search Basics & UTM Tracking 60%
Soft Skills
Clear written communicationOrganizationDeadline managementAdaptabilityAttention to detailStakeholder coordination Job Outlook and Trends
+2.7%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
3K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 34.3K to 35.3 K over the next decade, representing 2.7% growth. Around 3 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Moderate. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.