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The differences between communications specialists and publicists 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 specialist and a publicist. Additionally, a communications specialist has an average salary of $51,023, which is higher than the $50,679 average annual salary of a publicist.
The top three skills for a communications specialist include customer service, powerpoint and patients. The most important skills for a publicist are press releases, press materials, and public relations campaigns.
| Communications Specialist | Publicist | |
| Yearly salary | $51,023 | $50,679 |
| Hourly rate | $24.53 | $24.36 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 42,819 | 7,343 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 83% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A communications specialist takes charge of addressing the public by coming up with various strategic campaigns, newsletters, public correspondence, press releases, and advertisements. Their primary role focuses on promoting, shaping, and enhancing a brand's image through public relations. Furthermore, a communications specialist is responsible for handling any complaints or issues, devising and conducting damage control to resolve bad publicity should there be any. It is also essential for a communications specialist to adhere to the company's policies and regulations at all times.
Public Relations Supervisors are responsible for implementing the media and public relations strategy of an organization. Their duties include developing public relations campaigns, organize public relations events, assist in emergency response planning, updating documentation, monitoring media, improve management of press office, and manage media databases. They are responsible for assisting with journalistic content writing, refine internal processes, and track public relations activity performance. They help prepare reports as well as undertake competitor and market research.
Communications specialists and publicists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Communications Specialist | Publicist | |
| Average salary | $51,023 | $50,679 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $71,000 | Between $30,000 And $83,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Washington |
| Best paying company | J. The Jewish News of Northern California | |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Media |
There are a few differences between a communications specialist and a publicist in terms of educational background:
| Communications Specialist | Publicist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 83% |
| Most common major | Communication | Communication |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between communications specialists' and publicists' demographics:
| Communications Specialist | Publicist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 42.9% Female, 57.1% | Male, 27.4% Female, 72.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.0% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 11.9% Asian, 5.3% White, 67.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | Black or African American, 10.1% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.0% Asian, 5.3% White, 66.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 12% |