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The differences between marketing communications specialists and media relations specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a marketing communications specialist, becoming a media relations specialist takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a marketing communications specialist has an average salary of $53,993, which is higher than the $50,856 average annual salary of a media relations specialist.
The top three skills for a marketing communications specialist include digital marketing, project management and graphic design. The most important skills for a media relations specialist are patients, compassion, and press releases.
| Marketing Communications Specialist | Media Relations Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $53,993 | $50,856 |
| Hourly rate | $25.96 | $24.45 |
| Growth rate | 19% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 95,444 | 44,665 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 37 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
A marketing communications specialist is an individual who is responsible for creating all the marketing materials that are distributed to customers to increase brand awareness for the company's products or services. To create these materials, marketing communications specialists must collaborate with graphic design teams. They are required to track their marketing performance so that they can identify ways to improve their marketing strategies. Marketing communications specialists must also set up interviews and press conferences as part of their marketing campaign.
A media relations specialist's role is to help a company maintain good public relations through various forms of media, ensuring to convey their brand's purpose and message. Their responsibilities typically revolve around developing strategies and opportunities, producing newsletters and press releases, remaining updated with the latest trends, and even managing the company's social media platforms. A media relations specialist may also delegate tasks to writers and graphic designers, arrange schedules, and ensure that all goals are met within the expected deadline and budget.
Marketing communications specialists and media relations specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Marketing Communications Specialist | Media Relations Specialist | |
| Average salary | $53,993 | $50,856 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $80,000 | Between $36,000 And $69,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Delaware | Washington |
| Best paying company | Apple | Edelman Financial Engines |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Finance |
There are a few differences between a marketing communications specialist and a media relations specialist in terms of educational background:
| Marketing Communications Specialist | Media Relations Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Communication | Business |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between marketing communications specialists' and media relations specialists' demographics:
| Marketing Communications Specialist | Media Relations Specialist | |
| Average age | 37 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 28.0% Female, 72.0% | Male, 30.6% Female, 69.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 5.3% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 12.6% Asian, 9.6% White, 67.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 10.2% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.1% Asian, 5.3% White, 66.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 12% |