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The differences between media relations directors and assistant directors, communications can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a media relations director, becoming an assistant director, communications takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a media relations director has an average salary of $115,268, which is higher than the $54,965 average annual salary of an assistant director, communications.
The top three skills for a media relations director include web content, spokesperson and crisis communications. The most important skills for an assistant director, communications are customer service, property management, and professional development.
| Media Relations Director | Assistant Director, Communications | |
| Yearly salary | $115,268 | $54,965 |
| Hourly rate | $55.42 | $26.43 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 32,391 | 36,340 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 84% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Average age | 42 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
A Media Relations Director spearheads and oversees the brand image and overall media relations of an organization. They are responsible for making advertising and marketing decisions, setting goals and guidelines, establishing budgets and timelines, managing and coordinating directors, liaising with internal and external parties, delegating tasks among teams, and developing strategies from planning to execution. A Media Relations Director leads and encourages staff to reach goals while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
An assistant communications director is responsible for managing the communicative operations across the company, handling the dissemination of information among employees, and releasing management announcements to media platforms. Assistant communications directors draft project techniques and strategies, as well as monitoring social media contents and press releases. They also identify business opportunities by analyzing recent trends that would generate more revenue resources and increase the company's profits. An assistant communications director must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in assessing business information to prevent miscommunications and negative publications.
Media relations directors and assistant directors, communications have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Media Relations Director | Assistant Director, Communications | |
| Average salary | $115,268 | $54,965 |
| Salary range | Between $70,000 And $188,000 | Between $30,000 And $100,000 |
| Highest paying City | Philadelphia, PA | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | Nevada | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | Phoenix Children's | Pace University |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Government |
There are a few differences between a media relations director and an assistant director, communications in terms of educational background:
| Media Relations Director | Assistant Director, Communications | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 84% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Communication | Business |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | University of Southern California |
Here are the differences between media relations directors' and assistant directors, communications' demographics:
| Media Relations Director | Assistant Director, Communications | |
| Average age | 42 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 61.2% Female, 38.8% | Male, 34.1% Female, 65.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.0% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 9.2% Asian, 5.1% White, 74.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 8.4% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.2% Asian, 5.2% White, 64.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 16% | 12% |