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Communication Manager Salary in the United States

How much does a Communication Manager make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Communication Manager in the United States is $119,077 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $57.

However, a Communication Manager's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $137,083
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $106,307 to $128,502
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $94,681
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Communication Manager Salaries

A Communication 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 Communication Manager Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Communication 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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $115,488
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $150,596
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $119,964
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $177,293
  • Expert (over 8 years): $238,498
Levels Salary
Communica... Level Communication Manager$115,488
Communica... Level Communication Manager$150,596
Communica... Level Communication Manager$119,964
Communica... Level Communication Manager$177,293
VP of Com... Level Communication Manager$238,498
View as Graph

How Do Communication 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 Communication Managers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $131,842.
  • California: $131,342.
  • Massachusetts: $129,591.

Top Paying Cities for Communication 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: $150,192
  • San Francisco: $148,547
  • Oakland: $145,417

What Skills Can Increase a Communication Manager's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 7.72% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Strategic Communication (Mentioned in 3.02% Job Postings): Strategic communication refers to policy-making and guidance for consistent information activity within an organization and between organizations.
  • Executive Communications (Mentioned in 1.24% Job Postings): Exchanging of information between leadership, senior management, or an executive team, and employees in an organization.
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 7.72%
Strategic Communication 3.02%
Executive Communications 1.24%
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 a Communication Manager's salary.

  • Consulting: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Executive Communications: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Employee Engagement: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Consulting $129,794
9%
Executive Communications $125,031
5%
Employee Engagement $123,840
4%
Get Latest Data

Communication Manager Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Communication Manager roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 113% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Software & Networking and Internet sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 80% above the average. In contrast, Communication Manager positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Transportation typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Communication Manager as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Communication Manager

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking$214,339$103.080%
Internet$190,523$92.060%
Financial Services$166,708$80.040%
Biotechnology$154,800$74.030%
Pharmaceuticals$148,846$72.025%

How Education impacts a Communication Manager's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Communication 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 a Communication Manager with a Bachelor's Degree is between $121,712 and $129,458).

Communication Manager Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Communication Manager
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.5%
High School 2.4%
Associates 1.9%
Bachelors 59.8%
Masters 34.5%
Doctorate 0.9%
View as Graph

Communication Manager Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Communication 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
$106,307
Average $119,077/year
$128,502
$8,859
Average $9,923/month
$10,709
$2,044
Average $2,290/week
$2,471
$51
Average $57/hour
$62
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $128,502 $10,709 $2,471 $62
Average $119,077 $9,923 $2,290 $57
25th Percentile $106,307 $8,859 $2,044 $51

Most common benefits for Communication Manager

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

Common company salaries for Communication Manager

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

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FAQ about Communication Manager

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Communication Manager?

The Software & Networking industry offers the highest average compensation for Communication Manager roles, with salaries approximately 80% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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