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The differences between communications consultants and public affairs specialists 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 consultant and a public affairs specialist. Additionally, a communications consultant has an average salary of $91,455, which is higher than the $66,383 average annual salary of a public affairs specialist.
The top three skills for a communications consultant include powerpoint, web content and project management. The most important skills for a public affairs specialist are news stories, veterans, and fact sheets.
| Communications Consultant | Public Affairs Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $91,455 | $66,383 |
| Hourly rate | $43.97 | $31.91 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 29,942 | 19,889 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Communications consultants are responsible for preparing media releases, whether through print, video, or email. They perform varied tasks that may include working on complete projects such as media analysis and branding, creating strategies to reinforced communication among clients and employees, and providing guidance and recommendations to a company's public relations team. Communications consultants may also conduct training on best practices for other employees. Some employers prefer someone with a bachelor's degree in communications, public relations or journalism, previous work experience in a related field, and excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Psychology research assistants take charge of the operational and administrative tasks like mailing surveys, summarizing results, and managing correspondence. The research assistants identify the areas in need of improvement and score psychological tests. They prepare the interview questions and summarize test results. Their job involves responding to research-related emails and take part in project meetings. Also, they update the content of websites and prepare reports of their progress. The skills they need in carrying out this job include communication, critical thinking, attention to detail, and technical skills.
Communications consultants and public affairs specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Communications Consultant | Public Affairs Specialist | |
| Average salary | $91,455 | $66,383 |
| Salary range | Between $63,000 And $130,000 | Between $43,000 And $102,000 |
| Highest paying City | Oakland, CA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Virginia |
| Best paying company | Dell | |
| Best paying industry | Utilities | Government |
There are a few differences between a communications consultant and a public affairs specialist in terms of educational background:
| Communications Consultant | Public Affairs Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Communication | Communication |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between communications consultants' and public affairs specialists' demographics:
| Communications Consultant | Public Affairs Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 43.5% Female, 56.5% | Male, 47.2% Female, 52.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.4% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.2% Asian, 5.4% White, 66.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | Black or African American, 10.4% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.2% Asian, 5.3% White, 66.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 12% |