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The differences between media relations directors and communications leads 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 a communications lead takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a media relations director has an average salary of $115,268, which is higher than the $96,988 average annual salary of a communications lead.
The top three skills for a media relations director include web content, spokesperson and crisis communications. The most important skills for a communications lead are project management, strategic communications, and HR.
| Media Relations Director | Communications Lead | |
| Yearly salary | $115,268 | $96,988 |
| Hourly rate | $55.42 | $46.63 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 12% |
| Number of jobs | 32,391 | 20,413 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 84% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 42 | 45 |
| 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.
The global senior program manager acts as a coordinator for the organization's projects and performs various tasks including supervision, account management, daily staff assignments, budget planning, cost control, and tracking program expenses by collaborating with various global departments to enhance all global programs. He/she should have excellent analytical, decision-making, leadership, and organization skills and knowledge about project management to be able to oversee and organize activities to ensure its compliance with the organization's goals.
Media relations directors and communications leads have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Media Relations Director | Communications Lead | |
| Average salary | $115,268 | $96,988 |
| Salary range | Between $70,000 And $188,000 | Between $67,000 And $139,000 |
| Highest paying City | Philadelphia, PA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Nevada | California |
| Best paying company | Phoenix Children's | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Internet |
There are a few differences between a media relations director and a communications lead in terms of educational background:
| Media Relations Director | Communications Lead | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 84% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Communication | Business |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between media relations directors' and communications leads' demographics:
| Media Relations Director | Communications Lead | |
| Average age | 42 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 61.2% Female, 38.8% | Male, 41.4% Female, 58.6% |
| 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, 11.8% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 14.0% Asian, 5.1% White, 62.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 16% | 14% |