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The differences between communications department heads 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 department head and a public relations coordinator. Additionally, a communications department head has an average salary of $95,503, which is higher than the $46,225 average annual salary of a public relations coordinator.
The top three skills for a communications department head include communications strategy, external communications and external stakeholders. The most important skills for a public relations coordinator are press releases, facebook, and twitter.
| Communications Department Head | Public Relations Coordinator | |
| Yearly salary | $95,503 | $46,225 |
| Hourly rate | $45.91 | $22.22 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 51,594 | 35,324 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 83% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A communications department head is in charge of overseeing the internal and external communication operations of a company. They manage the communications department staff, set goals and guidelines, establish budgets and timelines, liaise with key partners, coordinate with different teams to conceptualize and execute plans, and resolve issues promptly. They must also spearhead the development of media and marketing materials, monitoring the workflow and the workforce to ensure efficiency. Moreover, as the communications department head, they must lead and encourage teams to reach goals, all while implementing and promoting the company's policies and regulations.
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 department heads and public relations coordinators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Communications Department Head | Public Relations Coordinator | |
| Average salary | $95,503 | $46,225 |
| Salary range | Between $54,000 And $168,000 | Between $35,000 And $60,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | California | Virginia |
| Best paying company | Credit Agricole CIB | Shiseido |
| Best paying industry | - | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a communications department head and a public relations coordinator in terms of educational background:
| Communications Department Head | Public Relations Coordinator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 83% |
| Most common major | Business | Communication |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between communications department heads' and public relations coordinators' demographics:
| Communications Department Head | Public Relations Coordinator | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 51.9% Female, 48.1% | Male, 24.3% Female, 75.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.1% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 11.9% Asian, 5.3% White, 67.0% 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% |