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The differences between community relations specialists and 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 specialist and a communications specialist. Additionally, a communications specialist has an average salary of $51,023, which is higher than the $49,344 average annual salary of a community relations specialist.
The top three skills for a community relations specialist include press releases, event planning and community events. The most important skills for a communications specialist are customer service, powerpoint, and patients.
| Community Relations Specialist | Communications Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $49,344 | $51,023 |
| Hourly rate | $23.72 | $24.53 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 28,509 | 42,819 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| 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 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.
Community relations specialists and communications specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Community Relations Specialist | Communications Specialist | |
| Average salary | $49,344 | $51,023 |
| Salary range | Between $34,000 And $70,000 | Between $36,000 And $71,000 |
| Highest paying City | Alexandria, VA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Virginia | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | City National Bank | |
| Best paying industry | Government | Technology |
There are a few differences between a community relations specialist and a communications specialist in terms of educational background:
| Community Relations Specialist | Communications Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Business | Communication |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between community relations specialists' and communications specialists' demographics:
| Community Relations Specialist | Communications Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 25.3% Female, 74.7% | Male, 42.9% Female, 57.1% |
| 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, 10.0% 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% |