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Assistant director, communications vs public relations manager

The differences between assistant directors, communications and public relations managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become an assistant director, communications, becoming a public relations manager takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a public relations manager has an average salary of $91,426, which is higher than the $54,965 average annual salary of an assistant director, communications.

The top three skills for an assistant director, communications include customer service, property management and professional development. The most important skills for a public relations manager are press releases, web content, and pr campaigns.

Assistant director, communications vs public relations manager overview

Assistant Director, CommunicationsPublic Relations Manager
Yearly salary$54,965$91,426
Hourly rate$26.43$43.95
Growth rate3%8%
Number of jobs36,34035,273
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 70%Bachelor's Degree, 79%
Average age4842
Years of experience64

What does an assistant director, communications do?

An assistant communications director is responsible for managing the communicative operations across the company, handling the dissemination of information among employees, and releasing management announcements to media platforms. Assistant communications directors draft project techniques and strategies, as well as monitoring social media contents and press releases. They also identify business opportunities by analyzing recent trends that would generate more revenue resources and increase the company's profits. An assistant communications director must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in assessing business information to prevent miscommunications and negative publications.

What does a public relations manager do?

A public relations manager is responsible for monitoring the public relations department to boost its brand image and attract potential clients through press releases and media coverage. They work closely with the marketing team, developing marketing campaigns and promotional strategies for creating brand awareness. Public relations managers maintain the company's presence on various social media platforms, responding to the customers' inquiries and concerns regarding the company's goods and services. A public relations manager must have excellent communication and leadership skills, especially in identifying business opportunities to increase revenues and profitability.

Assistant director, communications vs public relations manager salary

Assistant directors, communications and public relations managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Assistant Director, CommunicationsPublic Relations Manager
Average salary$54,965$91,426
Salary rangeBetween $30,000 And $100,000Between $64,000 And $128,000
Highest paying CityBoston, MALas Vegas, NV
Highest paying stateConnecticutNevada
Best paying companyPace UniversityGoogle
Best paying industryGovernmentTechnology

Differences between assistant director, communications and public relations manager education

There are a few differences between an assistant director, communications and a public relations manager in terms of educational background:

Assistant Director, CommunicationsPublic Relations Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 70%Bachelor's Degree, 79%
Most common majorBusinessCommunication
Most common collegeUniversity of Southern CaliforniaNorthwestern University

Assistant director, communications vs public relations manager demographics

Here are the differences between assistant directors, communications' and public relations managers' demographics:

Assistant Director, CommunicationsPublic Relations Manager
Average age4842
Gender ratioMale, 34.1% Female, 65.9%Male, 34.5% Female, 65.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 8.4% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.2% Asian, 5.2% White, 64.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%Black or African American, 5.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 9.1% Asian, 5.1% White, 74.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage12%16%

Differences between assistant director, communications and public relations manager duties and responsibilities

Assistant director, communications example responsibilities.

  • Manage and develop marketing, communication, and implementation process improvements for training curricula and the department's intranet website.
  • Increase Facebook followers from 100,000 to 300,000 by identifying and engaging supporters.
  • Engineer a statewide network of local Facebook groups that enable the campaign to easily communicate with supporters across the state.
  • Create and update an eye-catching, interactive Instagram account in order to keepall families aware of all camp activities and events.
  • Serve as representative to senior management team during community events and company spokesperson for division, including to nonprofit sector clients.
  • Develop best-in-class trade show presence that always generate positive ROI, in addition.
  • Show more

Public relations manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage social media - provide content ideas, monitor FB and Instagram activity.
  • Manage events and promotions; create Christmas event, manage twitter account and make marketing plans.
  • Lead a successful rebranding effort to transition the organization into a premier corporate training provider in SoCal.
  • Lead a rebranding and revitalization of the intranet by focusing on improving internal communication, search capabilities, and branding elements.
  • Interview featured alumni, manage copywriting staff and editorial calendar, and coordinate photography.
  • Maintain strong working relationships across all departments to manage successful on-site opportunities, content and multimedia asset development and spokesperson requests.
  • Show more

Assistant director, communications vs public relations manager skills

Common assistant director, communications skills
  • Customer Service, 13%
  • Property Management, 7%
  • Professional Development, 7%
  • Alumni, 6%
  • Photoshop, 5%
  • Graphic Design, 5%
Common public relations manager skills
  • Press Releases, 20%
  • Web Content, 5%
  • Pr Campaigns, 4%
  • Marketing Campaigns, 4%
  • Digital Marketing, 4%
  • Facebook, 3%

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