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The differences between directors of public affairs and directors 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 public affairs and a director of special events. Additionally, a director of public affairs has an average salary of $114,639, which is higher than the $63,671 average annual salary of a director of special events.
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 special events are event planning, alumni, and event management.
| Director Of Public Affairs | Director Of Special Events | |
| Yearly salary | $114,639 | $63,671 |
| Hourly rate | $55.11 | $30.61 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 26,290 | 23,252 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 79% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
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 special events spearheads and oversees the planning and execution of various events, ensuring everything runs smoothly and efficiently. They typically set goals and guidelines, manage schedules and timelines, outline plans and strategies, coordinate managers and different departments, and liaise with vendors and suppliers, building positive business relationships in the process. Moreover, as a director, it is essential to lead and encourage staff to reach goals while implementing and promoting the company's policies and regulations, including its vision and mission.
Directors of public affairs and directors of special events have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Director Of Public Affairs | Director Of Special Events | |
| Average salary | $114,639 | $63,671 |
| Salary range | Between $70,000 And $187,000 | Between $35,000 And $113,000 |
| Highest paying City | Las Vegas, NV | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Nevada | California |
| Best paying company | Kaiser Permanente | NRDC |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | Professional |
There are a few differences between a director of public affairs and a director of special events in terms of educational background:
| Director Of Public Affairs | Director Of Special Events | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 79% |
| Most common major | Political Science | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between directors of public affairs' and directors of special events' demographics:
| Director Of Public Affairs | Director Of Special Events | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 57.6% Female, 42.4% | Male, 25.1% Female, 74.9% |
| 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, 5.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 9.0% Asian, 5.1% White, 75.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 16% | 16% |