OVERVIEW
What is a Communications Manager?
A communications manager is responsible for creating and managing an organization’s internal and external communications. They develop clear, consistent messaging that aligns with an organization’s goals, brand, and reputation.
Communications managers work in a wide range of industries, including healthcare, education, technology, finance, government, nonprofit organizations, retail, and manufacturing. Depending on the organization, they may collaborate with executives, marketing teams, human resources, PR professionals, and subject matter experts to communicate with employees, customers, stakeholders, and the media.
Although communications managers, public relations managers, and marketing managers all help organizations communicate with their audiences, their responsibilities differ. Communications managers often oversee both internal and external messaging. Public relations managers, on the other hand, primarily focus on maintaining a positive public image, while marketing managers concentrate on promoting products or services to drive customer engagement and business growth.
RESPONSIBILITIES
What Does a Communications Manager Do?
Communications managers oversee how an organization communicates with its employees, customers, stakeholders, the media, and the public. Their responsibilities often combine strategic planning, content creation, collaboration, and leadership to help ensure that every message is clear, consistent, and aligned with the organization’s goals. These managers may specialize in different areas, such as marketing communications, internal communications, and corporate communications.
Depending on the industry, role, and organization, a communications manager may have responsibilities such as:
- Developing communication strategies.
- Writing, editing, and reviewing communications.
- Managing internal communications.
- Coordinating media relations.
- Overseeing company announcements.
- Leading crisis communication efforts.
- Supporting executive presentations, speeches, and talking points.
- Collaborating with marketing teams.
- Tracking communication performance through analytics.
- Maintaining a consistent brand voice across internal and external communications.
EDUCATION & BEST DEGREES
How to Become a Communications Manager
Communications managers typically have a combination of education, hands-on experience, and leadership skills they’ve gained throughout their career. While every path is different, these steps can help prepare you for a communications management role:.
Step 1: Earn a Bachelor’s Degree
Many communications managers begin by earning a bachelor’s degree in communications or a related field. Programs in business management, marketing, journalism, public relations, or human resource management can help build skills in areas like writing, strategic communications, marketing, leadership, and business operations.
A bachelor’s degree in communications, for example, is ideal for students pursuing careers in corporate communications, internal communications, and public relations. Students interested in leadership roles and managing communication teams may benefit from a bachelor’s degree in business management.
Step 2: Develop Writing and Communication Skills
Clear, effective communication is at the heart of this role. Learning how to tailor messages for different audiences, develop communication strategies, and communicate through a variety of digital and traditional channels can help communications professionals succeed in a wide range of professional settings and situations. Understanding the difference between public relations and communications can also help aspiring professionals identify the skills and career path that best aligns with their goals.
Step 3: Gain Professional Experience
Most communications managers gain workplace experience before moving into leadership roles. Internships and entry-level positions can provide opportunities to develop practical skills while working alongside experienced professionals.
Many aspiring communications managers begin their careers in areas such as:
- Marketing
- Public relations
- Corporate communications
- Internal communications
- Content marketing
- Social media
- Communications coordination
These positions can help you build a portfolio, gain experience managing projects, and develop the communication manager skills that employers value.
Step 4: Build Leadership Experience
Aspiring communications managers should seek out opportunities to manage communication campaigns, lead projects, coordinate cross-functional initiatives, and mentor junior employees. Additional responsibilities can help a professional strengthen their decision-making, collaboration, and strategic planning skills while demonstrating their ability to guide teams and support organizational goals.
Step 5: Continue Growing Your Skills
Professional development is an important part of a communications manager career, especially in an evolving digital world. Certifications, industry conferences, and workshops can help you stay current with emerging trends and best practices in communication strategies, digital platforms, and technology.
Some professionals also choose to pursue a master's degree in marketing, management and leadership, or human resource management to prepare for advanced leadership opportunities.
What Degree Does a Communications Manager Need?
Business
Communications – B.S.
An online communications program designed for students who want real-world...
An online communications program designed for students who want real-world skills for a variety of industries.
- Time: 60% of students finish similar programs in 19 months.
- Tuition: $3850 per 6-month term
- Courses: 38 total courses in this program
Skills for your résumé you will learn in this program:
- Strategic Communications
- Crisis Communication
- Content Creation
- Value-Based Leadership
- Project Management
This degree prepares you with relevant industry skills and experience that will help you move forward in your career.
Business
Business Management – B.S.
Hone your business acumen and garner added respect:...
Hone your business acumen and garner added respect:
- Time: 61% of graduates finish within 19 months
- Tuition: $3,830 per 6-month term
- Courses: 40 total courses in this program
Skills for your résumé this program will teach you include:
- Business communication
- Product development
- Decision making models
- Project management strategies
- Budgeting for business
This online degree program is an excellent choice for kick-starting your organizational management career.
SKILLS
What Skills Does a Communications Manager Need?
Communications managers combine technical expertise with leadership and interpersonal skills to create effective messaging, build relationships, develop strategies, and lead teams.
Professional Skills
Professional skills that communications managers need include:
- Business writing: Creating audience-focused, engaging, clear communications, including emails, newsletters, reports, executive messages, and company announcements.
- Public speaking: Presenting ideas, communicating with stakeholders, and supporting leaders during presentations, interviews, or public events.
- Content strategy: Planning and developing content that supports brand objectives.
- Brand messaging: Creating consistent messaging that strengthens brand awareness and protects brand reputation.
- Media relations: Building relationships with journalists, preparing press releases, and coordinating responses to media inquiries.
- Project management: Managing communication plans, deadlines, resources, and cross-functional projects.
- Social media strategy: Developing content strategies and using social media management tools to engage audiences.
- Crisis management: Developing crisis communication plans and helping organizations respond effectively during challenging situations.
- Marketing collaboration: Partnering with marketing teams to align campaign messaging.
- Analytics and reporting: Measuring performance and using data to improve outcomes.
- Style guides: Applying rules from a style guide (such as AP and the Chicago Manual of Style) as well as company style guides to written communications.
- Productivity tools: Using productivity tools (such as Microsoft Office and Google Workspace) to create documents, presentations, and reports.
- Content management systems (CMS): Working with digital platforms to publish, update, and manage online content.
- AI writing tools: Using tools such as ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot to draft, edit, brainstorm, and refine content.
Interpersonal Skills
Strong interpersonal skills are also essential for communications managers, including:
- Leadership
- Creativity
- Organization
- Critical thinking
- Adaptability and flexibility
- Emotional intelligence
- Collaboration
- Attention to detail
- Problem- solving
- Confidence
- Relationship building
Communications Manager Career Outlook
A communications management career can offer opportunities across a wide range of industries, including business, healthcare, education, government, and nonprofit organizations.
What Is the Salary of a Communications Manager?
$138,520
Many communications management roles are classified under the broader category of public relations and fundraising managers. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual wage for public relations managers was $138,520 in May 2024. A communications manager salary can vary greatly depending on the industry, company, experience, location, education, and many other factors.
What is the Projected Job Growth for a Communications Manager?
5%
The job outlook for the broad category of public relations and fundraising managers is projected to grow by 5% from 2024 to 2034. As organizations continue to prioritize communication with employees, customers, and the public, skilled communications professionals remain an important part of many teams.
Frequently Asked Questions About Communications Managers
While communications managers and public relations managers share some responsibilities, the roles differ in scope. Communications managers often oversee internal and external messaging, while PR managers typically focus more on media relations and the general public.
A bachelor’s degree in communications is a common pathway for aspiring communications managers. Degrees in related fields such as business, marketing, journalism, public relations, or human resource management can also teach valuable skills in writing, strategy, leadership, and organizational communication.
The timeline for becoming a communications manager varies depending on your education, experience, and career goals. Many professionals earn a bachelor’s degree and gain several years of experience in areas such as communications, public relations, marketing, content creation, or corporate communications before moving into a management role.
Communications management can be a rewarding career for individuals who enjoy writing, public speaking, communications strategy, collaboration, and helping organizations connect with their audiences.
Communications managers are needed in many industries, including:
- Corporate
- Healthcare
- Education
- Technology
- Government
- Nonprofit
- Finance
- Retail
- Manufacturing
- Entertainment and media
Some communications managers work remotely, while others work in hybrid or in-person environments depending on the organization and role requirements. Because much of their work involves digital communication, content creation, collaboration tools, and virtual meetings, remote and hybrid opportunities may be available.
Communications managers develop and manage messaging that supports an organization’s relationships with employees, customers, media, and other audiences. Marketing managers typically focus more on promoting products or services, developing campaigns, and driving business growth.
Important skills for communications managers include:
- Writing and editing
- Public speaking
- Strategic communication
- Media relations
- Content strategy
- Brand messaging
- Crisis communication
- Collaboration
- Leadership
- Attention to detail
- Problem- solving
- Confidence
- Adaptability
- Relationship building
Our Online University Degree Programs Start on the First of Every Month, All Year Long
No need to wait for spring or fall semester. It's back-to-school time at WGU year-round. Get started by talking to an Enrollment Counselor today, and you'll be on your way to realizing your dream of a bachelor's or master's degree—sooner than you might think!
Next Start Date
{{startdate}}
Interested in Becoming a Communications Manager?
Learn more about degree programs that can prepare you for this meaningful career.
