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The differences between media relations managers 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 manager, becoming a communications lead takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a communications lead has an average salary of $96,988, 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 lead are project management, strategic communications, and HR.
| Media Relations Manager | Communications Lead | |
| Yearly salary | $86,031 | $96,988 |
| Hourly rate | $41.36 | $46.63 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 12% |
| Number of jobs | 31,281 | 20,413 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 82% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 42 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
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.
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 managers and communications leads have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Media Relations Manager | Communications Lead | |
| Average salary | $86,031 | $96,988 |
| Salary range | Between $57,000 And $129,000 | Between $67,000 And $139,000 |
| Highest paying City | Burlingame, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Delaware | California |
| Best paying company | Shearman & Sterling | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Internet |
There are a few differences between a media relations manager and a communications lead in terms of educational background:
| Media Relations Manager | Communications Lead | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 82% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Communication | Business |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between media relations managers' and communications leads' demographics:
| Media Relations Manager | Communications Lead | |
| Average age | 42 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 44.3% Female, 55.7% | 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% |