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The differences between directors of public affairs and public relations managers 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 public relations manager. Additionally, a director of public affairs has an average salary of $114,639, which is higher than the $91,426 average annual salary of a public relations manager.
The top three skills for a director of public affairs include government affairs, public policy and external stakeholders. The most important skills for a public relations manager are press releases, web content, and pr campaigns.
| Director Of Public Affairs | Public Relations Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $114,639 | $91,426 |
| Hourly rate | $55.11 | $43.95 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 26,290 | 35,273 |
| 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 public relations manager is responsible for monitoring the public relations department to boost its brand image and attract potential clients through press releases and media coverage. They work closely with the marketing team, developing marketing campaigns and promotional strategies for creating brand awareness. Public relations managers maintain the company's presence on various social media platforms, responding to the customers' inquiries and concerns regarding the company's goods and services. A public relations manager must have excellent communication and leadership skills, especially in identifying business opportunities to increase revenues and profitability.
Directors of public affairs and public relations managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Director Of Public Affairs | Public Relations Manager | |
| Average salary | $114,639 | $91,426 |
| Salary range | Between $70,000 And $187,000 | Between $64,000 And $128,000 |
| Highest paying City | Las Vegas, NV | Las Vegas, NV |
| Highest paying state | Nevada | Nevada |
| Best paying company | Kaiser Permanente | |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | Technology |
There are a few differences between a director of public affairs and a public relations manager in terms of educational background:
| Director Of Public Affairs | Public Relations Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 79% |
| Most common major | Political Science | Communication |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between directors of public affairs' and public relations managers' demographics:
| Director Of Public Affairs | Public Relations Manager | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 57.6% Female, 42.4% | Male, 34.5% Female, 65.5% |
| 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, 5.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 9.1% Asian, 5.1% White, 74.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 16% | 16% |