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The differences between community relations representatives and media 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 community relations representative and a media relations specialist. Additionally, a media relations specialist has an average salary of $50,856, which is higher than the $42,421 average annual salary of a community relations representative.
The top three skills for a community relations representative include community relations, patients and community organizations. The most important skills for a media relations specialist are patients, compassion, and press releases.
| Community Relations Representative | Media Relations Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $42,421 | $50,856 |
| Hourly rate | $20.39 | $24.45 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 24,898 | 44,665 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Community Relations Representatives are ambassadors for an organization. Their purpose is to spread awareness of an organization's vision throughout community groups. Their work scope includes nurturing relationships with stakeholders for fundraising efforts, organizing community outreach programs, and coordinating for volunteers. Other duties include hosting activities, delivering speeches driving fundraising initiatives, and attending meetings. This job requires good interpersonal skills to negotiate across a broad demographic. They must have good analytical skills, such as using cost-benefit analysis in budgeting for a program. They also manage the company image and mission through social media management.
A media relations specialist's role is to help a company maintain good public relations through various forms of media, ensuring to convey their brand's purpose and message. Their responsibilities typically revolve around developing strategies and opportunities, producing newsletters and press releases, remaining updated with the latest trends, and even managing the company's social media platforms. A media relations specialist may also delegate tasks to writers and graphic designers, arrange schedules, and ensure that all goals are met within the expected deadline and budget.
Community relations representatives and media relations specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Community Relations Representative | Media Relations Specialist | |
| Average salary | $42,421 | $50,856 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $58,000 | Between $36,000 And $69,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | - | Washington |
| Best paying company | - | Edelman Financial Engines |
| Best paying industry | - | Finance |
There are a few differences between a community relations representative and a media relations specialist in terms of educational background:
| Community Relations Representative | Media Relations Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between community relations representatives' and media relations specialists' demographics:
| Community Relations Representative | Media Relations Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 26.1% Female, 73.9% | Male, 30.6% Female, 69.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.3% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 12.2% Asian, 5.3% White, 66.5% 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% |