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The differences between community relations representatives and senior communications 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 senior communications specialist. Additionally, a senior communications specialist has an average salary of $78,948, 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 senior communications specialist are project management, powerpoint, and strategic communications.
| Community Relations Representative | Senior Communications Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $42,421 | $78,948 |
| Hourly rate | $20.39 | $37.96 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 24,898 | 18,973 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| 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 senior communications specialist is primarily in charge of developing communication strategies in the company. Their responsibilities revolve around ensuring the smooth flow of internal and external communications, coordinating various departments, managing campaigns and event schedules, devising social media strategies, and supervising media relations. A senior communications specialist must also address issues and concerns, resolving them promptly. Furthermore, as a senior specialist, it is essential to lead and assist the junior specialists, all while adhering to the company's policies and regulations.
Community relations representatives and senior communications specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Community Relations Representative | Senior Communications Specialist | |
| Average salary | $42,421 | $78,948 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $58,000 | Between $56,000 And $111,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Oakland, CA |
| Highest paying state | - | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | - | Analysis Group |
| Best paying industry | - | Technology |
There are a few differences between a community relations representative and a senior communications specialist in terms of educational background:
| Community Relations Representative | Senior Communications Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Business | Communication |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between community relations representatives' and senior communications specialists' demographics:
| Community Relations Representative | Senior Communications Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 26.1% Female, 73.9% | Male, 35.7% Female, 64.3% |
| 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, 10.0% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 11.9% Asian, 5.3% White, 67.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 12% |