Master's in Communication Jobs - Salary to Career Growth

There are many master’s in communications jobs for new graduates. Did you know that for decades, communications graduates have been known to be “doers.” Experts in this field conceptualize and design campaigns and then translate those concepts into writing, graphics, film, etc. Master’s degrees in communication exist to aid students in advancing their technical skills and foundational knowledge in the field. Subsequently, graduates can jump into some of the most in-demand careers, such as public relations and social media management.

Let’s get down to some of the best master’s in communication jobs. Specifically, we’ll cover academic requirements for communication programs, specializations, salaries, and more.

Communications Degrees Explained

In the first place, communications degrees explore communicating and conveying information effectively. Degree programs generally cover technical communications, multimedia, and advertising. Students will successfully learn how to craft organizational details, news, and press. The curriculum of a communications degree also equips students for careers in diverse industries.

A master's degree in communication covers critical research, theory, and practice facets. These degrees are either Master of Science (MS) or Master of Arts (MA) programs. MS and MA degrees are either applied or theoretical in context. On the other hand, MPS (master of professional studies) emphasizes applied communication. Master’s candidates generally gain a solid foundation in their subject, hone their communication abilities, and study business, culture, and multimedia.

Through a master’s, students develop a wide range of in-demand abilities valuable in every industry. Professionals with this degree tend to have higher income potential and faster career progression than undergraduates since they have the necessary postgraduate expertise.

GetEducated's Picks

Grand Canyon University Master of Arts in Communication / Education
Johns Hopkins University Master of Arts in Communication
University of West Alabama Master of Arts in Integrated Marketing Communications

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Theoretical vs. Applied Master’s in Communication Programs

Theoretical master’s in communication degrees focus on nonverbal and verbal communication and finding and processing information. In contrast, Applied master’s degrees emphasize developing students’ skills in public relations, marketing, and organizational leadership.

Acquired Skills

A master’s in communications encourages students to develop strong skills in analytics and writing, of course. But they also engage students in management, organizational, and interpersonal skills to prepare them for business settings. In addition, students gain competencies such as:

Problem-solving
Public speaking
Conflict resolution
Media relations
Decision making
Leadership

How Long Is a Master’s in Communications?

A master’s in communication typically takes two years. However, if a thesis is required, learners may need additional time to complete their degree since it includes considerable research.

Typical Admission Requirements

The major admission prerequisites in this program require/necessitate applicants to:

Hold a bachelor's degree in communications
Have a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Although some schools offer admission with a GPA within the range of 2.7 to 2.9

Master’s in Sports Communication

A few types of master’s in sports communications programs include:

Marketing communications
Public relations
eSports
Digital storytelling

What Can You Do With a Master’s in Communications?

Typical master’s in communication jobs include the following:

Journalism
Emerging media
Mass communication
Political communication
Strategic communication
Global communication
Health communication
Communication and media studies
Advertising or public relations

After earning a master’s degree in this field, graduates can choose from the following communication jobs:

1. Advertising and Promotions Managers

Annual Salary: $127,150 to $135,030
Projected Growth: 10%

Advertising and promotions managers work for media organizations that sell ad space. They also work for marketing agencies that create promotional campaigns for clients and highly advertised businesses.

Typical duties and responsibilities involve:

Determining the best medium to use for advertising initiatives, including radio, web, print, television, and billboards
Launching market research projects, then examining the results to identify consumer and market prospects for firms
Working with department leaders or staff to address issues like budgets and contracts, strategies, and the choice of media for advertising
Planning promotional initiatives like competitions, discounts, or giveaways

2. Public Relations and Fundraising Managers

Annual Salary: $100,810
Projected Growth: 8%

PR Managers are in charge of publicity, supporting and enhancing brand image, much like PR specialists. For example, fundraising managers develop organizational fundraising strategies, including cultivating relationships with donors, organizing events, and making grant applications.

Duties and responsibilities of Public Relations Manager:

Prepare and draft press releases for media
Create the corporate identity (brand image) of their customer or firm
Assisting clients with public relations and communication
Determine target audiences and the most effective means of reaching them
Decide on a suitable spokesperson or online resource for media queries

Duties and responsibilities of Fundraising Manager:

Apply for grants
Meet in person with donors
Plan and create different initiatives that can generate or attract donations
Craft fundraising strategies

3. Public Relations Specialist

Annual Salary: $62,800
Projected Growth: 8%

PR specialists serve as a company’s public face. In other words, they shape a brand’s public image through press releases, speeches, interviews, and other media engagements.

Typical duties and responsibilities of a Public Relations Specialist:

Gauging customer perception via social media
Respond to media inquiries for information
Assisting clients with public relations and communication
Analyze advertising and marketing initiatives to see if they work with the company’s public relations objectives
Helping senior executives of a client’s company with speeches and interviews
Issue press releases and gathers data for the media

4. Market Research Analysts

Annual Salary: $63,920
Projected Growth: 19%

Market research analysts analyze and gather data on various competitors and consumers. In industry, generally, their duties and responsibilities involve:

Create graphs, tables, and textual reports using the data and findings
Create accounts and provide the results to management and respective customers
Analyze the success of marketing initiatives and strategies
Track and predict sales and marketing trends
Create and assess data collection techniques, including questionnaires, surveys, and polls
Employing statistical analysis tools to analyze data
Collect information about customers, rivals, and market trends

Communication Jobs

Due to the transferable competencies inherent in this field, diverse careers with communications degrees exist for students to choose from at any time.

For fresh graduates, popular entry-level master’s in communications jobs to choose from comprise:

Journalist

A journalist gathers information and delivers it as news reports. They acquire content from various sources to produce credible news, conduct interviews and confirm all facts. In addition, they edit their underlying work for clarity and accuracy before relaying the info to the general public.

According to PayScale statistics, the median yearly wage of a Journalist as of August 2022 is $42,131.

News Reporter

News reporters write and deliver news and commentaries for newspapers, radio and television, and podcasts. Also, their work can be found in print and digital media. They conduct interviews and carry out inquiries for the most part. Candidates must possess excellent verbal communication competencies, reading, and teamwork skills for this position.

According to BLS data, the median wage of News Reporters as of May 2021 is $48,370.

Copywriter

Copywriters craft messages emphasizing the advantages of underlying goods or services to persuade and inform people to buy them. They write copy that adheres to marketing strategy in all niches. In addition, they present drafts to clients and editors for feedback and to restructure content for publishing.

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the annual wage of writers as of May 2021 is $69,510. Over the next ten years, the employment of professionals in this field will rise by 4%.

Technical Writers

Technical writers often create how-to guides, instruction manuals, journal articles, and other supporting publications to convey technical and complex information. Likewise, they develop, compile, and distribute technical data via organizational communication systems. During their day-to-day activities, their duties and responsibilities are to:

Work with technical personnel to simplify the use of products and instructions
Examine product samples and consult with developers and product designers
Identify the requirements of readers of technical documentation

Based on BLS statistics, the average annual salary of Technical Writers as of May 2021 is $78,060. From 2021 to 2031, the demand for specialists in this field will rise by 6%.

Training and Development Specialist

Training and development specialists administer and plan programs that prepare personnel and improve their knowledge and skills.

Duties and responsibilities of training and development specialists:

Determine the need for training through employee interviews, conducting surveys, or teacher consultations
Assess training contents from different sources and select the suitable materials
Design and produce course materials, training manuals, and online learning modules
Employ a range of instructional strategies to provide training to their staff

Social Media Specialist

Social Media Specialists are in charge of implementing, planning, and overseeing social media initiatives. They dedicate their work to increasing brand awareness and improving sales and marketing efforts. Other duties and responsibilities of SM professionals in this field are to:

Define the most crucial social media KPIs while managing and monitoring social media content performance
Assess each social media campaign’s effectiveness
Keep abreast with the most recent social media best techniques and initiatives
Utilize social media marketing analytic tools like Google Analytics, e.t.c.
Assist designers and copywriters in creating engaging and informative content

Based on PayScale data, the average annual income of a social media specialist as of August 2022 is $47,026.

Brand Manager

These experts plan and implement promotional campaigns, defining and monitoring an institution’s brand strategy. For instance, they conduct market research and competitor analysis and maintain external and internal communication touchpoints. In addition, brand managers must leverage their marketing skills, such as copywriting, social media management, event planning, and public relations.

Typical duties and responsibilities of Brand Managers involve:

Writing or crafting pitches for an organization and updating social media content or blog posts.
Building and maintaining relationships with media outlets, online influencers, and related groups
Engaging and Setting up meetings with clients/customers to inform them about the current brand’s products, services, or tools

According to PayScale, the median yearly pay for Brand Managers as of August 2022 is $73,052.

Human Resources Specialists

HR specialists interact with employees, develop and manage company handbooks, and assist in recruitment and orientation. This position often requires a master in communication qualification or a closely related field.

Typical duties and responsibilities of this professional involve:

Giving staff feedback using performance-management applications
Ensuring that job descriptions are current and correct
Creating educational materials for new hires
Managing the selection and termination processes for the company
Monitoring changes to labor laws depending on the business, the people that work there, and also the products the brand offers
Ensuring adequate compensation and fair wages for various vocations and tasks

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average wage of HR specialists is $62,290. The recruitment of experts for this career will increase by 8% over the next ten years.

Media Planner

A media planner is a point of contact between an advertising agency and clients. Specifically, they collaborate with the customer and account teams to comprehend the client’s target audience and business strategy to build a marketing strategy that maximizes expenditure and outcomes.

Duties and responsibilities of a Media Planner include:

Assessing how well marketing efforts perform offline
Establishing connections with customers, social media influencers, and media outlets
Analyzing the media environment and spotting social media trends
Checking on the operation of the website and providing statistics to the stakeholders
Defining the ideal media mix to achieve a company’s objectives
Sustaining connections with different groups and clients

PayScale report shows that the median annual salary of Media Planners as of August 2022 is $51,771.

Sales Representative

A sales representative promotes a company’s brand while selling its goods or services. From the initial lead engagement until the purchase, they manage client connections and function as the first point of contact.

Duties and responsibilities of a sales representative include:

Making inquiries about the wants or problems of prospective or current clients
Addressing client inquiries regarding a service or product
Identifying potential clients and creating lead creation inside a specific market to market a good or service

Based on the BLS metric, the yearly wage of a sales representative as of May 2021 is $94,840.

Note: Sales representative ranks among the high-paying jobs with a communications degree credential.

Typical Recruiters for Master’s in Communications

For those aiming to explore communication careers, typical employers in this field include:

Employer: NBCUniversal
Industry: Broadcast Media

Employer: Philips
Industry: Healthcare Services and Hospitals

Employer: Comcast
Industry: Telecommunication Services

Employer: New York University (NYU)
Industry: Colleges and Universities

Employer: Forbes
Industry: Media

Employer: Cable News Network (CNN)
Industry: Broadcast Media

How to Advance Your Communications Career

Licensing and Certifications for Communications Graduates

Certification and licenses are potent tools for demonstrating to potential employers your expertise. But not every certification is made equal. Explore some of the most prominent licenses held by communications professionals globally. Not only will these credentials provide an advantage when looking for work, but they will also raise professional self-worth:

Professional Certified Marketer (PCM)
Accredited Business Communicator (ABC)
Strategic Communication Management Professional (SCMP)
Communication Management Professional (CMP)

Continuing Education

To further deepen their knowledge, practitioners in this field can take more continuing education courses such as:

Leadership Communication Courses: The interpersonal skills necessary for effective leadership include influencing, presenting information logically, and structuring a proper communication objective.
Communicating with Tough People Course: The program explores practical strategies for enhancing interactions with challenging people in professional and personal settings. Also, students build systems to recognize the values, needs, and views of others that frequently result in problematic relationships.

How To Switch Your Career to Communications

Are you organized and skilled at planning and strategizing? Are you willing to change the status quo and be unafraid to pose probing questions? Do you enjoy interacting with new people? Can you distill technical data and identify the essential details? Do you speak and write clearly? If this attribute defines you, then you can make a career switch to communications.

Additionally, earn a master’s degree in communications and join professional associations to access more resources and industry connections.

Outlook for Communication Careers

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, from 2021 to 2031, there will be 68,600 available positions in this field. Specifically, the job growth in media and communication will grow by 6%, about as fast as the average for all occupations.

Master’s in Communication Salary

Based on the BLS report, master’s in communication jobs earn an average of $62,340 annually. However, earnings in this field depend on competencies and the nature of the organizations for which they work.

Professional Organizations and Resources

By joining professional associations, you can hone your skills, build connections, and stand out in competitive job roles. To illustrate, below is a list of various renowned organizations in this industry:

FAQs

What can I do with a master’s in communications?

After earning a graduate degree in communications, you enter virtually any industry. For example, media, education, marketing, and journalism are all industries where communications majors thrive.

Is it worth getting a master’s in communications?

Of course, earning a master’s in communication degree increases your chances of job growth and high earning potential in various competitive careers.

What is the highest paying job in communications?

Some high-paying jobs with a communications degree are Director of Public Relations, Vice President of Communications, and Corporate Communications Manager.

What kind of job can a degree in communications get you?

Notable jobs you can get with a communications credential include brand strategist, content marketing manager, news anchor, and human resources manager.

Why do I want a master’s in communication?

Generally, a master’s communications provides competencies that are in demand and valuable in every industry. In addition, employees with a master’s generally have higher income potential and experience rapid career progression.

What are the main types of communications degrees?

The major types of communications degrees include Master of Arts, Master of Science, and Master of Professional Studies. Specifically, these degrees might be applied programs or focus more heavily on theory. Some popular specializations include mass communication, interpersonal communication, and organizational communication. Also, business, media, intercultural communication, and media studies.

Are communication careers worth it?

Yes, they are worth the money and time spent.

What is a master’s degree in communication?

Above all, a master’s in communication equips students with a fundamental overview of the communication field. Then, they provide knowledge and skills applicable to integrated communication, media, and human communication.

What type of degree is communications?

Communications degree belongs to the class of Public Relations, Media studies, etc.

Find a Communications Degree Online

In short, every industry uses communication. There is an abundance of master’s in communications jobs, from media relations and journalism to marketing, human resources, and education. Because of the immense importance of communications, there will always be a demand for experts.

Keep exploring our educational resources, as GetEducated.com updates you with the latest online degrees and career tips.

Master’s in Communication Jobs – Salary to Career Growth