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Hourly Wage for Employee Communications Manager Salary in the United States

What is the highest and lowest hourly pay for Employee Communications Manager?

As of September 01, 2026, the average hourly rate for an Employee Communications Manager in the United States is $57, which translates to an annual salary of about $118,050.

However, the hourly wage can vary significantly based on several factors. Here’s a detailed look at the typical pay range per hour:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $69 per hour
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $52 to $63 per hour
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $47 per hour
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Employee Communications Manager Salaries

An Employee Communications Manager's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Employee Communications Manager Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Employee Communications Manager's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Employee Communications Specialist V (7-10 years): $146,904
  • Employee Engagement and Communications Team Lead (10+ years): $105,443
  • Employee Communications Manager (10+ years): $118,049
  • Employee Engagement and Communications Senior Manager (10+ years): $165,770
  • Employee Communications Director (10+ years): $207,060
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Employee Communications Specialist V7-10 years$146,904
Employee Engagement and Communications Team Lead10+ years$105,443
Employee Communications Manager10+ years$118,049
Employee Engagement and Communications Senior Manager10+ years$165,770
Employee Communications Director10+ years$207,060
View as Graph

How Do Employee Communications Manager Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Employee Communications Managers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $130,710.
  • California: $130,210.
  • Massachusetts: $128,480.

Top Paying Cities for Employee Communications Managers

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $148,900
  • San Francisco: $147,270
  • Oakland: $144,170

What Skills Can Increase an Employee Communications Manager's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 7.95% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Business Administration (Mentioned in 1.67% Job Postings): It is the management of all aspects of a business's performance, decisions, and organization. It includes the day to day operations, aspects including finances and human resources, and ensures the company stays aligned to the goal or mission.
  • Public Relations (Mentioned in 0.78% Job Postings): Public relations (PR) is the practice of deliberately managing the spread of information between an individual or an organization (such as a business, government agency, or a nonprofit organization) and the public. Public relations may include an organization or individual gaining exposure to their audiences using topics of public interest and news items that do not require direct payment. This differentiates it from advertising as a form of marketing communications. Public relations is the idea of creating coverage for clients for free, rather than marketing or advertising. But now, advertising is also a part of greater PR Activities. An example of good public relations would be generating an article featuring a client, rather than paying for the client to be advertised next to the article. The aim of public relations is to inform the public, prospective customers, investors, partners, employees, and other stakeholders and ultimately persuade them to maintain a positive or favorable view about the organization, its leadership, products, or political decisions. Public relations professionals typically work for PR and marketing firms, businesses and companies, government, and public officials as PIOs and nongovernmental organizations, and nonprofit organizations. Jobs central to public relations include account coordinator, account executive, account supervisor, and media relations manager.
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 7.95%
Business Administration 1.67%
Public Relations 0.78%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an Employee Communications Manager's salary.

  • Product Marketing: Can increase your salary by up to 20%.
  • Zendesk: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Influencing: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Product Marketing $141,660
20%
Zendesk $125,133
6%
Influencing $123,953
5%
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Employee Communications Manager Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Employee Communications Manager salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $131,926. While startup companies pay approximate $111,596.

Employee Communications Manager Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $111,596
Growth Stage 51~500 $118,024
Established 501~5000 $127,391
Enterprise 5000+ $131,926

Employee Communications Manager Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Employee Communications Manager roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 50% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Retail & Wholesale and Construction sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average. In contrast, Employee Communications Manager positions in Transportation or Software & Networking typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Employee Communications Manager as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Employee Communications Manager

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Retail & Wholesale$147,562$71.025%
Construction$141,660$68.020%
Energy & Utilities$135,758$65.015%
Media$132,216$64.012%
Aerospace & Defense$129,855$62.010%

How Education impacts an Employee Communications Manager's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Employee Communications Managers enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Employee Communications Manager with a Bachelor's Degree is between $121,251 and $130,662).

Employee Communications Manager Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Employee Communications Manager
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 2.7%
High School 2.7%
Associates 4.7%
Bachelors 58.7%
Masters 32.7%
Doctorate 1.3%
View as Graph

Employee Communications Manager Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Employee Communications Manager's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$107,460
Average $118,050/year
$131,420
$8,955
Average $9,838/month
$10,952
$2,067
Average $2,270/week
$2,527
$52
Average $57/hour
$63
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $131,420 $10,952 $2,527 $63
Average $118,050 $9,838 $2,270 $57
25th Percentile $107,460 $8,955 $2,067 $52

Most common benefits for Employee Communications Manager

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Employee Communications Manager

Here are companies hiring for Employee Communications Manager and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Employee Communications Manager

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Employee Communications Manager?

The Retail & Wholesale industry offers the highest average compensation for Employee Communications Manager roles, with salaries approximately 25% above the market median.

2. Who owns employee communications?

HR is a strong candidate for owning employee communications, as it engages with every employee and department. HR plays a crucial role during recruitment and onboarding, maintaining ongoing communication throughout employment. The salary for an Employee Communications Manager typically ranges from $112,900 to $147,450, with a midpoint of $129,530, reflecting the importance of this role.

3. Is a PR manager the same as a communication manager?

A PR manager and a communications manager have distinct roles. A communications manager focuses on internal communications, reputation management, and corporate messaging, while a PR manager emphasizes brand awareness. The salary for an Employee Communications Manager typically ranges from $112,900 to $147,450, with a midpoint of $129,530.

4. What is the role of a communications manager?

A Communications Manager is responsible for developing and implementing strategic communication plans for an organization. They oversee internal and external communications, including media relations, public relations, corporate messaging, and digital communications. The salary for this role typically ranges from $112,900 to $147,450, with a midpoint of $129,530.

5. Is a Communications Manager a good career?

A career as a Communications Manager can be rewarding for those passionate about promoting an organization. With a salary range from $112,900 to $147,450, this role offers competitive compensation. Professionals who are creative, enjoy writing, and are digitally adept are likely to thrive in this position.

6. What is an employee Communications Manager?

An Employee Communications Manager is responsible for creating effective communication strategies that support senior executives in engaging with employees. This role involves sharing timely and relevant business information to foster a positive workplace culture. The salary for this position ranges from $112,900 to $147,450, with a midpoint of $129,530.

7. What is the salary range for a communications officer?

The salary range for an Employee Communications Manager is between $112,900 and $147,450, with a midpoint salary of $129,530. This reflects the competitive compensation for professionals in this role, ensuring alignment with industry standards and responsibilities.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.

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