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The differences between managers of special events and directors of public affairs can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a manager of special events and a director of public affairs. Additionally, a director of public affairs has an average salary of $114,639, which is higher than the $56,716 average annual salary of a manager of special events.
The top three skills for a manager of special events include customer service, event planning and event management. The most important skills for a director of public affairs are government affairs, public policy, and external stakeholders.
| Manager Of Special Events | Director Of Public Affairs | |
| Yearly salary | $56,716 | $114,639 |
| Hourly rate | $27.27 | $55.11 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 15,818 | 26,290 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
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 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.
Managers of special events and directors of public affairs have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Manager Of Special Events | Director Of Public Affairs | |
| Average salary | $56,716 | $114,639 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $101,000 | Between $70,000 And $187,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Las Vegas, NV |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Nevada |
| Best paying company | ESPN | Kaiser Permanente |
| Best paying industry | Non Profits | Pharmaceutical |
There are a few differences between a manager of special events and a director of public affairs in terms of educational background:
| Manager Of Special Events | Director Of Public Affairs | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Business | Political Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between managers of special events' and directors of public affairs' demographics:
| Manager Of Special Events | Director Of Public Affairs | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 29.7% Female, 70.3% | Male, 57.6% Female, 42.4% |
| 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, 5.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.9% Asian, 5.1% White, 75.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 16% | 16% |