Communications Managers: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of communications managers about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for communications managers to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of communications managers expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for communications managers.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Communications Managers?
Do communications managers need a degree? What kind of experience do communications managers typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for communications managers to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Communications Managers
Jobs Postings for Communications Managers By Education
- Bachelor's degree: 64,033 (51%)
- No Education Listed: 31,172 (25%)
- Master's degree: 19,028 (15%)
- High School or GED: 7,945 (6%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 3,136 (3%)
A bachelor's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of communications managers. According to job data, a bachelor's degree was required for 51% of positions. In 25% of job listings no education level was listed and in 15% of postings a master's degree was required.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Communications Managers
Jobs Postings for Communications Managers By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 5,060 (7%)
- 2-3 Years: 18,713 (27%)
- 4-6 Years: 24,290 (36%)
- 7-9 Years: 10,840 (16%)
- 10+ Years: 9,171 (13%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for communications managers. In 36% of job postings for Communications Managers, employers were looking for candidates with 4-6 years of experience. In 27% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience, while 7-9 years of experience was sought in 16% of job postings for communications managers.
What Kind of Degree Do Communications Managers Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for communications managers, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 22 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective communications managers, and in 2023 a total of 134,928 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective communications managers.
Top Degree Programs for Communications Managers
Top 5 Degree Programs for Communications Managers (2023)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Speech Communication and Rhetoric. | 33,262 |
| Health/Health Care Administration/Management. | 29,623 |
| Organizational Leadership. | 15,298 |
| Communication, General. | 11,220 |
| Mass Communication/Media Studies. | 9,221 |
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Speech Communication and Rhetoric. | 33,262 |
| Health/Health Care Administration/Management. | 29,623 |
| Organizational Leadership. | 15,298 |
| Communication, General. | 11,220 |
| Mass Communication/Media Studies. | 9,221 |
| Public Relations/Image Management. | 4,513 |
| Project Management. | 4,299 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication. | 4,139 |
| Public Health Education and Promotion. | 4,086 |
| Communication and Media Studies, Other. | 2,831 |
| Non-Profit/Public/Organizational Management. | 2,481 |
| Community Health Services/Liaison/Counseling. | 2,374 |
| Communication Management and Strategic Communications. | 2,031 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services, Other. | 1,994 |
| Music Management. | 1,986 |
| Organizational Communication, General. | 1,835 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication, Other. | 1,470 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management, General. | 1,026 |
| Meeting and Event Planning. | 759 |
| Health Communication. | 416 |
| Pharmaceutical Marketing and Management. | 61 |
| Business/Corporate Communications, Other. | 3 |
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What Skills Do Communications Managers Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by communications managers to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for communications managers, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Communications Managers
Based on 103,873 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Communications Managers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Marketing | 46,183 | 44% |
| Public Relations | 25,556 | 25% |
| Project Management | 24,314 | 23% |
| Social Media | 20,080 | 19% |
| Journalism | 14,044 | 14% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Communications Managers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 77,000 | 74% |
| Leadership | 40,134 | 39% |
| Management | 39,956 | 38% |
| Writing | 37,806 | 36% |
| Planning | 27,363 | 26% |
Based on 103,873 job postings related to communications managers, marketing was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 44% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for public relations, project management, social media, journalism and media relations were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for communications managers, followed by leadership, management, writing, planning and detail oriented.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Marketing | 46,183 | 44% |
| Public Relations | 25,556 | 25% |
| Project Management | 24,314 | 23% |
| Social Media | 20,080 | 19% |
| Journalism | 14,044 | 14% |
| Media Relations | 12,425 | 12% |
| Press Releases | 12,386 | 12% |
| Newsletters | 12,172 | 12% |
| Internal Communications | 10,837 | 10% |
| Fundraising | 10,487 | 10% |
| Strategic Communication | 10,099 | 10% |
| Marketing Communications | 9,792 | 9% |
| Content Creation | 9,357 | 9% |
| Customer Relationship Management | 8,667 | 8% |
| Corporate Communications | 7,981 | 8% |
| Communication Strategies | 7,256 | 7% |
| Branding | 6,773 | 7% |
| Sales Prospecting | 6,710 | 6% |
| Thought Leadership | 6,432 | 6% |
| Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) | 6,426 | 6% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 77,000 | 74% |
| Leadership | 40,134 | 39% |
| Management | 39,956 | 38% |
| Writing | 37,806 | 36% |
| Planning | 27,363 | 26% |
| Detail Oriented | 22,766 | 22% |
| Presentations | 22,705 | 22% |
| Research | 21,866 | 21% |
| Operations | 21,620 | 21% |
| Coordinating | 18,357 | 18% |
| Customer Service | 17,686 | 17% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 15,917 | 15% |
| Problem Solving | 15,902 | 15% |
| Microsoft Office | 15,634 | 15% |
| Sales | 15,345 | 15% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 14,993 | 14% |
| Editing | 14,409 | 14% |
| Innovation | 14,093 | 14% |
| Self-Motivation | 13,840 | 13% |
| Organizational Skills | 13,574 | 13% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about communications managers? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for communications managers.
What do communications managers do?
How much do communications managers make?
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