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The differences between directors of public affairs and directors of communications and marketing can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a director of public affairs, becoming a director of communications and marketing takes usually requires 8-10 years. Additionally, a director of public affairs has an average salary of $114,639, which is higher than the $87,324 average annual salary of a director of communications and marketing.
The top three skills for a director of public affairs include government affairs, public policy and external stakeholders. The most important skills for a director of communications and marketing are web content, strategic communications, and marketing campaigns.
| Director Of Public Affairs | Director Of Communications And Marketing | |
| Yearly salary | $114,639 | $87,324 |
| Hourly rate | $55.11 | $41.98 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 26,290 | 109,600 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 80% |
| Average age | 42 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 10 |
Directors of Public Affairs are executives who manage the public relations and communications initiatives of the company. They oversee all external communications that are intended for broadcast. They create guidelines on the proper crafting of communication materials that will be published or broadcasted. They also lead the public affairs department in networking activities and industry events. Directors of Public Affairs must be level-headed, calm, and creative. They should know how to communicate with the public, handle crises, and create successful brands.
A director of communications and marketing spearheads a company's marketing and communication projects in adherence with the company's vision and mission. Being the director, they have the authority to make decisions, delegate responsibilities among managers and teams, and direct the project and program cycle from planning to execution, solving issues and concerns if any would arise. They also set goals and budgets, establish timelines and requirements, and conduct regular assessments. Additionally, as a director, they must lead and empower employees in a joint effort to reach goals and industry standards.
Directors of public affairs and directors of communications and marketing have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Director Of Public Affairs | Director Of Communications And Marketing | |
| Average salary | $114,639 | $87,324 |
| Salary range | Between $70,000 And $187,000 | Between $57,000 And $133,000 |
| Highest paying City | Las Vegas, NV | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Nevada | New York |
| Best paying company | Kaiser Permanente | Paul Hastings |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | Professional |
There are a few differences between a director of public affairs and a director of communications and marketing in terms of educational background:
| Director Of Public Affairs | Director Of Communications And Marketing | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 80% |
| Most common major | Political Science | Communication |
| Most common college | Stanford University | University of Georgia |
Here are the differences between directors of public affairs' and directors of communications and marketing' demographics:
| Director Of Public Affairs | Director Of Communications And Marketing | |
| Average age | 42 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 57.6% Female, 42.4% | Male, 36.1% Female, 63.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 5.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.9% Asian, 5.1% White, 75.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 3.0% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 8.7% Asian, 8.2% White, 74.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 16% | 10% |