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Communications director vs press secretary

The differences between communications directors and press secretaries 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 press secretary. Additionally, a communications director has an average salary of $107,700, which is higher than the $66,560 average annual salary of a press secretary.

The top three skills for a communications director include web content, press releases and customer service. The most important skills for a press secretary are press releases, press conferences, and policy issues.

Communications director vs press secretary overview

Communications DirectorPress Secretary
Yearly salary$107,700$66,560
Hourly rate$51.78$32.00
Growth rate8%8%
Number of jobs27,93918,827
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 76%Bachelor's Degree, 85%
Average age4242
Years of experience44

Communications director vs press secretary salary

Communications directors and press secretaries have different pay scales, as shown below.

Communications DirectorPress Secretary
Average salary$107,700$66,560
Salary rangeBetween $61,000 And $188,000Between $45,000 And $96,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CA-
Highest paying stateNevada-
Best paying companyMcKinsey & Company Inc-
Best paying industryHealth Care-

Differences between communications director and press secretary education

There are a few differences between a communications director and a press secretary in terms of educational background:

Communications DirectorPress Secretary
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 76%Bachelor's Degree, 85%
Most common majorCommunicationPolitical Science
Most common collegeStanford UniversityMassachusetts Institute of Technology

Communications director vs press secretary demographics

Here are the differences between communications directors' and press secretaries' demographics:

Communications DirectorPress Secretary
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 40.2% Female, 59.8%Male, 50.1% Female, 49.9%
Race ratioBlack 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, 10.3% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.1% Asian, 5.3% White, 66.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage16%12%

Differences between communications director and press secretary duties and responsibilities

Communications director example responsibilities.

  • Assist in managing the Facebook and Instagram pages.
  • Develop and manage c-level strategic client relationships to grow revenue base.
  • Create and manage corporate website, online demand gen through SEO and SEM.
  • Manage editorial content of the organization website, build and upload web pages via HTML.
  • Manage the marketing strategy and budget, including B2C acquisition campaigns focuse on out of home and DRTV.
  • Manage media relations, announcements, editorial placement, and speaking opportunities the organizations.
  • Show more

Press secretary example responsibilities.

  • Plan and manage social media efforts which generate> 22k incremental Instagram followers in four months.
  • Serve as a spokesperson on business and economic development matters.
  • Facilitate the placement of articles, columns, and editorials in support of key issues.
  • Serve as primary agency spokesperson conducting on-camera and radio interviews.
  • Foster an energetic public discussion through Facebook and videos, exciting visual displays, carefully target humor and thought-provoking questions.
  • Brief senior cabinet officers daily on local news and editorial coverage.
  • Show more

Communications director vs press secretary skills

Common communications director skills
  • Web Content, 8%
  • Press Releases, 8%
  • Customer Service, 7%
  • External Communications, 5%
  • Project Management, 4%
  • Employee Engagement, 4%
Common press secretary skills
  • Press Releases, 33%
  • Press Conferences, 10%
  • Policy Issues, 5%
  • Press Events, 3%
  • Strategic Communications, 3%
  • Opinion Pieces, 3%

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