Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
High school diploma or equivalent
None
Short-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
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Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Media and communication workers, all other (27-3099) are part of a broad field that combines communication skills, creativity, and technology. Nationally, this occupation has a median salary of $71,770, with about 34,000 people employed. Projected employment growth of 2.7% and around 3,000 annual openings suggest a steady flow of opportunities over time. The role emphasizes strong speaking, listening, writing, and reading abilities, along with creativity, innovation, and adaptability. Interpersonal strengths, customer service, and leadership also matter, supported by problem solving, analytical thinking, and comfort with computers and information technology. People considering this path can also explore related careers such as editors, news analysts, reporters and journalists, public relations managers, public relations specialists, and writers and authors. Overall, this career can appeal to individuals who enjoy communicating ideas, working with others, and applying critical thinking and technology skills in a variety of media and communication settings.
The national median annual salary for media and communication workers, all other is $71,770. Pay can vary significantly by location. Among the top states, California stands out with a median salary of $102,630, while New York offers $81,110. Virginia’s median is $69,420, Colorado’s is $66,830, and Washington’s is $52,590. At the metro level, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim has a median of $103,050, and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont offers $89,050. The New York-Newark-Jersey City metro reports $80,770, while Washington-Arlington-Alexandria stands at $59,070 and Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue at $56,890. These figures show that salaries can exceed the national median in several major metros and states, especially in parts of California and New York. Individuals comparing offers or planning relocations may want to weigh these differences against personal preferences and cost-of-living considerations, even though only salary data are provided here.
Media and communication workers, all other have national employment of about 34,000, with projected growth of 2.7%. This growth rate is consistent across the top states and metro areas listed, each showing a 2.7% projection. Nationally, the occupation is expected to generate around 3,000 annual openings, which reflects both new positions and turnover in existing roles. Together, the employment base, steady projected growth, and ongoing openings suggest a reasonably stable outlook. The presence of this occupation across multiple states and major metro areas indicates that opportunities are not limited to a single region. For individuals planning long-term careers, the combination of existing employment, forecasted growth, and yearly openings can support gradual career progression, transitions across employers or locations, and exploration of similar fields such as editing, public relations, or writing if interests evolve over time.
Location can make a meaningful difference for media and communication workers, all other. Among states, California combines a high median salary of $102,630 with 9,940 employed, giving it the highest opportunity score of 67.38. New York also ranks strongly with an $81,110 median, 770 employed, and an opportunity score of 65.78. Colorado, Washington, and Virginia show moderate employment levels and median salaries between $52,590 and $69,420, with opportunity scores in the mid-50s. At the metro level, New York-Newark-Jersey City has the highest opportunity score at 77.27, supported by a median salary of $80,770 and 1,010 employed. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont in California offer high median salaries of $103,050 and $89,050, respectively, and strong opportunity scores above 60. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria and Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue also present notable opportunities. These patterns highlight distinct clusters of opportunity, especially in select California and New York metros.
The typical education for media and communication workers, all other is a high school diploma or equivalent. This requirement suggests that many roles in this occupation are accessible without a college degree, while still valuing a strong foundation in core skills. The top skills emphasize effective speaking and listening, as well as writing and reading, making clear communication central to success. Creativity and innovation, together with adaptability, support work in changing media and communication environments. Customer service, leadership, and interpersonal skills indicate frequent interaction with others and potential coordination or guidance responsibilities. Problem solving, decision making, and critical and analytical thinking reflect the need to evaluate information and choose appropriate approaches. Comfort with computers and information technology rounds out the skill set, pointing to the importance of working with digital tools. Individuals can strengthen their prospects by developing these skills alongside the baseline educational requirement.
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