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The differences between directors of alumni relations and managers of special events can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a director of alumni relations and a manager of special events. Additionally, a director of alumni relations has an average salary of $106,332, which is higher than the $56,716 average annual salary of a manager of special events.
The top three skills for a director of alumni relations include alumni relations, alumni engagement and alumni association. The most important skills for a manager of special events are customer service, event planning, and event management.
| Director Of Alumni Relations | Manager Of Special Events | |
| Yearly salary | $106,332 | $56,716 |
| Hourly rate | $51.12 | $27.27 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 23,650 | 15,818 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 79% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
The director of alumni relations is liable for relationship management between a university and its alumni. They serve as a connection between the graduates and the university community. One of the major duties of directors of alumni relations is to create engaging activities and events for alumni to participate in, such as homecoming weekends, class reunions, and dinner parties. This job requires excellent communication skills to coordinate their engagement activities with the other departments of the university, from the office of president to campus security.
A manager of special events is responsible for organizing events and programs for a company and various organizations. Managers of special events monitor the event procedures from conceptualization to the actual execution. They analyze the event purpose, manage participants' list, coordinate with suppliers for resources, allocate budget accurately, and ensure that the program outlines and agendas are polished on time. A manager of special events must have excellent communication and organizational skills to deliver a successful event and resolve complications as they arise.
Directors of alumni relations and managers of special events have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Director Of Alumni Relations | Manager Of Special Events | |
| Average salary | $106,332 | $56,716 |
| Salary range | Between $68,000 And $165,000 | Between $31,000 And $101,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Marshall University | ESPN |
| Best paying industry | Education | Non Profits |
There are a few differences between a director of alumni relations and a manager of special events in terms of educational background:
| Director Of Alumni Relations | Manager Of Special Events | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 79% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between directors of alumni relations' and managers of special events' demographics:
| Director Of Alumni Relations | Manager Of Special Events | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 35.6% Female, 64.4% | Male, 29.7% Female, 70.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 5.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 9.0% Asian, 5.1% White, 74.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 5.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 9.0% Asian, 5.1% White, 74.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 16% | 16% |