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The differences between communications consultants and public relations 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 relations specialist. Additionally, a communications consultant has an average salary of $91,455, which is higher than the $48,124 average annual salary of a public relations specialist.
The top three skills for a communications consultant include powerpoint, web content and project management. The most important skills for a public relations specialist are press releases, web content, and project management.
| Communications Consultant | Public Relations Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $91,455 | $48,124 |
| Hourly rate | $43.97 | $23.14 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 29,942 | 29,698 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 81% |
| 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.
A public relations specialist is an individual who creates and maintains a favorable public image of an organization by crafting media releases and developing social media programs. Public relations specialists must help their clients communicate effectively with the public as well as evaluate the public opinion of their clients through social media. They need to draft their press releases and contact people in the media who might want to broadcast their materials. Public relations specialists are also required to draft speeches and arrange interviews for the top executives of their organization.
Communications consultants and public relations specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Communications Consultant | Public Relations Specialist | |
| Average salary | $91,455 | $48,124 |
| Salary range | Between $63,000 And $130,000 | Between $33,000 And $68,000 |
| Highest paying City | Oakland, CA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Washington |
| Best paying company | Dell | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Utilities | Finance |
There are a few differences between a communications consultant and a public relations specialist in terms of educational background:
| Communications Consultant | Public Relations Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 81% |
| Most common major | Communication | Communication |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between communications consultants' and public relations specialists' demographics:
| Communications Consultant | Public Relations Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 43.5% Female, 56.5% | Male, 30.3% Female, 69.7% |
| 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, 10.3% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.2% Asian, 5.3% White, 66.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 12% |