The following article discusses the career path of Director of Communications. Learn about how to become one, education requirements, job duties, traits and qualities, national salary outlook as well as top national employers of Director of Communications.
Job Duties
Directors of communications can work in any field, including nonprofits, the government, and private corporations. They hold responsibility for the way their organization communicates both internally and externally. Furthermore, they handle the public relations and media activities for the company. They are the ambassador and spokesperson for their brand and they ensure that the goals of the business are properly communicated. They organize and hold press conferences, speak to the press, write press releases, handle media, and so on.
Typically, they head the overall communications department. This means that they must also provide training and supervision for other staff members, ensuring they are effective, particularly in how they deal with the media. They focus on delivering a positive image of the company, which means that they also ensure that only those with the proper training and experience speak to the media. Furthermore, they build relationships with the local government, attending community meetings, developing volunteer programs, and taking part in outreach programs.
Directors of communications usually have a great deal of experience in handling crises and emergencies. Sometimes, negative press appears, or another emergency may occur, and the director must be able to deal with that as and when it happens. They have to put plans in place for these eventualities and make sure their response is immediate, effective, and appropriate.
Other job duties of directors of communications are:
- To be the primary liaison and spokesperson for the business when dealing with the media
- To implement new public relations efforts and supervise news releases
- To handle press conferences and coverage at events
- To put strategies in place and obtain the right tools and messages to build a positive brand image
Where We Work
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 31,300 advertising, promotions, and marketing managers in 2016, of which a director of communications is part. The largest employers of these professionals were:
- Advertising, public relations, and related services: 34%
- Information: 12%
- Management of companies and enterprises: 7%
- Wholesale trade: 6%
- Retail trade: 6%
How to Become
It is common for a director of communication to have a bachelor’s degree in a field such as communications, public relations, or marketing. Because they have to head a department, they often obtain master’s degrees as well, such as the master of business administration (MBA), although this is not a requirement.
Education Requirements
Directors of communications are generally required to hold a bachelor’s degree as a minimum. Usually, they will major in areas such as marketing, communication, journalism, psychology, or advertising. Those who have taken classes in photography, art history, visual arts, communication technology and methods, sales, market research, consumer behavior, and marketing are in the highest demand.
Additionally, it is often advisable to also complete courses in areas such as statistics, mathematics, computer science, finance, economics, management, and business law. This is because these courses will enable a director of communications to best understand methods of driving traffic through communication online, an integral part of modern forms of communication.
Experience is also very important. Most directors of communication completed an internship as part of their degree. They will then have taken up an entry level position, through which they can grow to director position.
Traits & Qualities
The most effective directors of communications have the following traits to some degree or other:
- Excellent communications skills, both oral and written
- Leadership qualities
- The ability to handle pressure
Minimum Education
Bachelor’s Degree
National Salary
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- Most Reported
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$16,000
$195,000
Salary by State
The following section lists Director of Communications salaries in each state around the country. The figures are based on the total number of job postings through Indeed.com. For example, Massachusetts had the largest quoted salary of $109,712 while Arkansas had the smallest quoted salary of $40,866.
Alabama – $70,047 | Rank: 19th |
The average salary ranks 19th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Auburn University.
$17,000 $158,000 Salary Distribution
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Arkansas – $40,866 | Rank: 36th |
The average salary ranks 36th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like University of Arkansas.
$15,000 $78,000 Salary Distribution
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Arizona – $67,450 | Rank: 25th |
The average salary ranks 25th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Arizona State University, University of Arizona, HUMANE SOCIETY OF SEDONA, and Genuine Concepts.
$17,000 $149,000 Salary Distribution
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California – $85,206 | Rank: 8th |
The average salary ranks 8th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Volunteers of America, The University of California, Santa Rosa Junior College, and nonda (No NDA inc).
$19,000 $197,000 Salary Distribution
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Colorado – $71,640 | Rank: 18th |
The average salary ranks 18th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Metropolitan State University of Denver, Town of Dillon, Blue Sky Bridge, and University of Colorado.
$20,000 $155,000 Salary Distribution
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DC – $90,398 | Rank: 7th |
The average salary ranks 7th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Project On Government Oversight, NACCHO, PHADA, and HumanitiesDC.
$22,000 $203,000 Salary Distribution
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Florida – $70,019 | Rank: 20th |
The average salary ranks 20th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Broward College, Broward County Public Schools, University of Miami, and Healthy Home Company.
$15,000 $165,000 Salary Distribution
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Georgia – $78,566 | Rank: 11th |
The average salary ranks 11th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Georgia State University, Emory University, FGP International, and University of West Georgia.
$17,000 $183,000 Salary Distribution
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Iowa – $68,678 | Rank: 22nd |
The average salary ranks 22nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like The University of Iowa, The Crisis Center Of Johnson Cou, and Eastern Iowa Airport.
$20,000 $144,000 Salary Distribution
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Illinois – $95,475 | Rank: 6th |
The average salary ranks 6th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Wheeling Park District, University of Illinois at Chicago, St. John Evangelical United Church of Christ, and Creative Circle.
$20,000 $228,000 Salary Distribution
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Indiana – $51,738 | Rank: 32nd |
The average salary ranks 32nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like University of Notre Dame, State of Indiana, and First United Methodist Church, Bloomington.
$14,000 $124,000 Salary Distribution
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Kansas – $56,494 | Rank: 30th |
The average salary ranks 30th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like University of Kansas and Wamego First United Methodist Church.
$15,000 $123,000 Salary Distribution
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Kentucky – $60,141 | Rank: 27th |
The average salary ranks 27th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like University of Kentucky.
$14,000 $139,000 Salary Distribution
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Massachusetts – $109,712 | Rank: 1st |
The average salary ranks 1st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CyberCoders, Beacon Hill Staffing, Affinity Executive Search, and CMD And Associates.
$34,000 $228,000 Salary Distribution
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Maryland – $78,686 | Rank: 10th |
The average salary ranks 10th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, American Fisheries Society, University of Maryland University College, and Johns Hopkins University.
$18,000 $180,000 Salary Distribution
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Maine – $100,175 | Rank: 4th |
The average salary ranks 4th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like MMS Group.
$42,000 $181,000 Salary Distribution
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Michigan – $73,612 | Rank: 15th |
The average salary ranks 15th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Oakland University, Central Michigan University, Michigan Technological University, and The University of Michigan.
$19,000 $164,000 Salary Distribution
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Minnesota – $80,015 | Rank: 9th |
The average salary ranks 9th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like City Of Minneapolis, University of Minnesota, and The Creative Group.
$20,000 $179,000 Salary Distribution
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Missouri – $64,858 | Rank: 26th |
The average salary ranks 26th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Missouri State University.
$15,000 $148,000 Salary Distribution
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North Carolina – $68,038 | Rank: 23rd |
The average salary ranks 23rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like University of North Carolina, iGrow Golf, and Wake County Government.
$14,000 $175,000 Salary Distribution
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Nebraska – $51,526 | Rank: 33rd |
The average salary ranks 33rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like University of Nebraska, First United Methodist Church, and State of Nebraska.
$15,000 $109,000 Salary Distribution
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New Jersey – $95,862 | Rank: 5th |
The average salary ranks 5th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like St. Huberts Animal Welfare Center, A Leading Medical Device Company, EPM Scientific, and Rutgers University.
$23,000 $217,000 Salary Distribution
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New York – $104,488 | Rank: 2nd |
The average salary ranks 2nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Department of Mental Health and Hygiene, City of New York, Meet Recruitment, and New York City Department of Small Business Services.
$24,000 $242,000 Salary Distribution
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Ohio – $67,846 | Rank: 24th |
The average salary ranks 24th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Columbus State Community College, Cleveland Metroparks, Kent State University, and Ohio State University.
$16,000 $155,000 Salary Distribution
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Oklahoma – $53,211 | Rank: 31st |
The average salary ranks 31st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like University of Oklahoma.
$14,000 $136,000 Salary Distribution
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Oregon – $75,663 | Rank: 13th |
The average salary ranks 13th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Oregon Bach Festival, University of Oregon, Children's Cancer Association, and Oregon Shakespeare Festival.
$20,000 $167,000 Salary Distribution
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Pennsylvania – $74,160 | Rank: 14th |
The average salary ranks 14th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Commonwealth of PA Bureau of State Employment, Harrisburg Area Community College, Morihata Intl LTD, and University of Pittsburgh.
$14,000 $184,000 Salary Distribution
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Rhode Island – $101,296 | Rank: 3rd |
The average salary ranks 3rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Brown University.
$14,000 $276,000 Salary Distribution
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South Carolina – $47,909 | Rank: 34th |
The average salary ranks 34th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON and University of South Carolina.
$14,000 $104,000 Salary Distribution
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Tennessee – $57,109 | Rank: 29th |
The average salary ranks 29th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like University of Memphis and University of Tennessee.
$14,000 $147,000 Salary Distribution
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Texas – $73,027 | Rank: 16th |
The average salary ranks 16th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Creative Circle, University of Houston, Lone Star College, and University of Texas System.
$14,000 $181,000 Salary Distribution
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Utah – $69,059 | Rank: 21st |
The average salary ranks 21st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Utah Valley University and University of Utah.
$14,000 $175,000 Salary Distribution
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Virginia – $76,815 | Rank: 12th |
The average salary ranks 12th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Stafford County Public Schools, Child Life Council, University of Virginia, and George Mason University.
$17,000 $179,000 Salary Distribution
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Washington – $72,459 | Rank: 17th |
The average salary ranks 17th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like State of Washington, Tacoma Community College, Peninsula College, and Pacific Lutheran University.
$17,000 $164,000 Salary Distribution
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Wisconsin – $59,291 | Rank: 28th |
The average salary ranks 28th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like University of Wisconsin, University of Wisconsin–Madison, The Creative Group, and YWCA.
$14,000 $134,000 Salary Distribution
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West Virginia – $42,805 | Rank: 35th |
The average salary ranks 35th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Redeemer Lutheran Church – LCMS.
$14,000 $103,000 Salary Distribution
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Top 20 National Employers
According to Indeed.com, the following states had employers looking to hire a Director of Communications. The quoted salary figure represents the average salary from all job postings by this employer.
Employer Name | Location | Average Salary |
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Brown University | Rhode Island | $250,000 |
FPC of NYC | New York | $230,549 |
CHASE Professionals | Georgia | $168,929 |
A Leading Medical Device Company | New Jersey | $163,958 |
nonda (No NDA inc) | California | $160,000 |
CyberCoders | Massachusetts | $156,537 |
Beacon Hill Staffing | Massachusetts | $155,540 |
Affinity Executive Search | Massachusetts | $155,152 |
CMD And Associates | Massachusetts | $152,197 |
Cameron Craig Group | Massachusetts | $152,160 |
Systematic business consulting | Massachusetts | $150,085 |
Ploeger Recruiting Services | Massachusetts | $149,545 |
Phillips Staffing Solutions | Massachusetts | $149,545 |
Lodestar Executive Search | Massachusetts | $149,545 |
Fowler Placement Services, Inc. | Massachusetts | $149,545 |
The Creative Group | Pennsylvania | $144,086 |
EPM Scientific | New Jersey | $138,882 |
Smithsonian Institution | DC | $130,375 |
Learn More
- Director of communications – Wikipedia
- White House Communications Director – Wikipedia
- Director of Communications
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