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The differences between community relations specialists and communications coordinators 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 specialist and a communications coordinator. Additionally, a community relations specialist has an average salary of $49,344, which is higher than the $47,075 average annual salary of a communications coordinator.
The top three skills for a community relations specialist include press releases, event planning and community events. The most important skills for a communications coordinator are customer service, web content, and event planning.
| Community Relations Specialist | Communications Coordinator | |
| Yearly salary | $49,344 | $47,075 |
| Hourly rate | $23.72 | $22.63 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 28,509 | 39,790 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A community relations specialist is responsible for handling the organization's community engagements by facilitating fundraising events, volunteering acts, and charity programs and partnerships. Community relations specialists also write content for public and media promotions to promote brand awareness and the company's mission across the community. They should also be updated with the current events and situations to identify events and strategies that will help stabilize the society's condition. Since this type of job requires interacting with community people, a community relations specialist must have excellent communication skills to respond to their inquiries and concerns.
A communications coordinator is responsible for overseeing the communications department's operations, developing the brand image, and monitoring press releases, company articles, and other related marketing materials for business promotion and visibility. Communications coordinators actively interact with existing and potential clients, negotiate contracts, and build profitable partnerships. They also develop strategic procedures for creating the business' online presence, organizing promotional events, and media conferences. A communications coordinator must have excellent communication and organization skills to maintain a good reputation and customer satisfaction.
Community relations specialists and communications coordinators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Community Relations Specialist | Communications Coordinator | |
| Average salary | $49,344 | $47,075 |
| Salary range | Between $34,000 And $70,000 | Between $34,000 And $63,000 |
| Highest paying City | Alexandria, VA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Virginia | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | City National Bank | Microsoft |
| Best paying industry | Government | Government |
There are a few differences between a community relations specialist and a communications coordinator in terms of educational background:
| Community Relations Specialist | Communications Coordinator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| Most common major | Business | Communication |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between community relations specialists' and communications coordinators' demographics:
| Community Relations Specialist | Communications Coordinator | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 25.3% Female, 74.7% | Male, 29.4% Female, 70.6% |
| Race ratio | 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% | 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 Percentage | 12% | 12% |