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The differences between internal communications specialists and public affairs specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both an internal communications specialist and a public affairs specialist. Additionally, a public affairs specialist has an average salary of $66,383, which is higher than the $61,999 average annual salary of an internal communications specialist.
The top three skills for an internal communications specialist include employee engagement, powerpoint and HR. The most important skills for a public affairs specialist are news stories, veterans, and fact sheets.
| Internal Communications Specialist | Public Affairs Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $61,999 | $66,383 |
| Hourly rate | $29.81 | $31.91 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 27,601 | 19,889 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
An internal communications specialist's role is to devise strategies in maintaining a clear and active line of communication and engagement within a workplace. They must manage the flow of communications across different departments, all while prioritizing timeliness and accuracy. Additionally, they must participate in writing and editing communication materials, reports, correspondence, memos, and more. There are also instances when they have to produce presentations, disseminate information, and utilize various mediums such as photos and videos. Furthermore, as an internal communications specialist, it is essential to develop action plans while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
Psychology research assistants take charge of the operational and administrative tasks like mailing surveys, summarizing results, and managing correspondence. The research assistants identify the areas in need of improvement and score psychological tests. They prepare the interview questions and summarize test results. Their job involves responding to research-related emails and take part in project meetings. Also, they update the content of websites and prepare reports of their progress. The skills they need in carrying out this job include communication, critical thinking, attention to detail, and technical skills.
Internal communications specialists and public affairs specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Internal Communications Specialist | Public Affairs Specialist | |
| Average salary | $61,999 | $66,383 |
| Salary range | Between $41,000 And $92,000 | Between $43,000 And $102,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | California | Virginia |
| Best paying company | Parsons | |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Government |
There are a few differences between an internal communications specialist and a public affairs specialist in terms of educational background:
| Internal Communications Specialist | Public Affairs Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Communication | Communication |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between internal communications specialists' and public affairs specialists' demographics:
| Internal Communications Specialist | Public Affairs Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 36.5% Female, 63.5% | Male, 47.2% Female, 52.8% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 10.4% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.2% Asian, 5.3% White, 66.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 12% |