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The differences between communications directors and media relations directors 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 director and a media relations director. Additionally, a media relations director has an average salary of $115,268, which is higher than the $107,700 average annual salary of a communications director.
The top three skills for a communications director include web content, press releases and customer service. The most important skills for a media relations director are web content, spokesperson, and crisis communications.
| Communications Director | Media Relations Director | |
| Yearly salary | $107,700 | $115,268 |
| Hourly rate | $51.78 | $55.42 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 27,939 | 32,391 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 84% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A communications director is responsible for monitoring and supervising the overall media relations from internal to external communications. A communications director's duties include managing campaigns, providing organizational updates to the employees, supporting social media marketing, developing effective communication strategies to build the organization's reputation, and efficiently leading team members in handling events that represent the business. Communications directors must have strong leadership and communication skills to provide support for the company's daily operations and strategies.
A Media Relations Director spearheads and oversees the brand image and overall media relations of an organization. They are responsible for making advertising and marketing decisions, setting goals and guidelines, establishing budgets and timelines, managing and coordinating directors, liaising with internal and external parties, delegating tasks among teams, and developing strategies from planning to execution. A Media Relations Director leads and encourages staff to reach goals while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
Communications directors and media relations directors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Communications Director | Media Relations Director | |
| Average salary | $107,700 | $115,268 |
| Salary range | Between $61,000 And $188,000 | Between $70,000 And $188,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Philadelphia, PA |
| Highest paying state | Nevada | Nevada |
| Best paying company | McKinsey & Company Inc | Phoenix Children's |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Professional |
There are a few differences between a communications director and a media relations director in terms of educational background:
| Communications Director | Media Relations Director | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 84% |
| Most common major | Communication | Communication |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between communications directors' and media relations directors' demographics:
| Communications Director | Media Relations Director | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 40.2% Female, 59.8% | Male, 61.2% Female, 38.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 5.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 9.0% Asian, 5.1% White, 75.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 6.0% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 9.2% Asian, 5.1% White, 74.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 16% | 16% |