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The differences between communications associates and public relations coordinators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a communications associate and a public relations coordinator. Additionally, a public relations coordinator has an average salary of $46,225, which is higher than the $44,477 average annual salary of a communications associate.
The top three skills for a communications associate include customer service, patients and powerpoint. The most important skills for a public relations coordinator are press releases, facebook, and twitter.
| Communications Associate | Public Relations Coordinator | |
| Yearly salary | $44,477 | $46,225 |
| Hourly rate | $21.38 | $22.22 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 21,721 | 35,324 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 83% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A communications associate is responsible for assisting with writing and communication projects and tasks within an organization. They are responsible for planning and implementing communication strategies, overseeing the company's media promotion, and editing and proofreading communication materials and texts. As a communications associate, you will be most likely to manage an organization's online presence by developing, updating, or revising its website and creating copy for social media. You also must cultivate and consolidate good media relations, and oversee the company's promotion campaigns and advertising.
A public relations coordinator is responsible for developing brand awareness for the organization's brand image. Public relations coordinators work closely with the marketing department to manage marketing campaigns, mainly social media platforms and events, promoting the organization. A public relations coordinator assists with press releases, media coverage, investor relations, and responding to clients' inquiries and concerns. Public relations coordinators also analyze current market trends to identify business opportunities that would meet public demands. They must have excellent communication skills, as well as be highly organized with meeting deadlines under minimal supervision.
Communications associates and public relations coordinators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Communications Associate | Public Relations Coordinator | |
| Average salary | $44,477 | $46,225 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $66,000 | Between $35,000 And $60,000 |
| Highest paying City | New Haven, CT | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | Virginia |
| Best paying company | Meta | Shiseido |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a communications associate and a public relations coordinator in terms of educational background:
| Communications Associate | Public Relations Coordinator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 83% |
| Most common major | Communication | Communication |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between communications associates' and public relations coordinators' demographics:
| Communications Associate | Public Relations Coordinator | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 32.5% Female, 67.5% | Male, 24.3% Female, 75.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.0% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 11.9% Asian, 5.3% White, 67.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | Black or African American, 10.2% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.1% Asian, 5.3% White, 66.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 12% |