Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between media relations managers and communications directors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a media relations manager and a communications director. Additionally, a communications director has an average salary of $107,700, which is higher than the $86,031 average annual salary of a media relations manager.
The top three skills for a media relations manager include press releases, strategic communications and external communications. The most important skills for a communications director are web content, press releases, and customer service.
| Media Relations Manager | Communications Director | |
| Yearly salary | $86,031 | $107,700 |
| Hourly rate | $41.36 | $51.78 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 31,281 | 27,939 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 82% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A media relations manager is in charge of devising strategies to raise brand awareness through media communications. Their responsibilities typically revolve around creating newsletters and print materials, identify media opportunities, assist in writing communication materials such as speech and press releases, and maintain positive relationships with the media. One may also handle social networking platforms, develop new marketing concepts, and manage media campaigns. Furthermore, as a manager, it is essential to lead and encourage the staff to reach goals, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
A communications director is responsible for monitoring and supervising the overall media relations from internal to external communications. A communications director's duties include managing campaigns, providing organizational updates to the employees, supporting social media marketing, developing effective communication strategies to build the organization's reputation, and efficiently leading team members in handling events that represent the business. Communications directors must have strong leadership and communication skills to provide support for the company's daily operations and strategies.
Media relations managers and communications directors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Media Relations Manager | Communications Director | |
| Average salary | $86,031 | $107,700 |
| Salary range | Between $57,000 And $129,000 | Between $61,000 And $188,000 |
| Highest paying City | Burlingame, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Delaware | Nevada |
| Best paying company | Shearman & Sterling | McKinsey & Company Inc |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a media relations manager and a communications director in terms of educational background:
| Media Relations Manager | Communications Director | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 82% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Most common major | Communication | Communication |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between media relations managers' and communications directors' demographics:
| Media Relations Manager | Communications Director | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 44.3% Female, 55.7% | Male, 40.2% Female, 59.8% |
| 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, 5.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 9.0% Asian, 5.1% White, 75.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 16% | 16% |