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The differences between media relations managers and directors of public affairs 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 director of public affairs. Additionally, a director of public affairs has an average salary of $114,639, 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 director of public affairs are government affairs, public policy, and external stakeholders.
| Media Relations Manager | Director Of Public Affairs | |
| Yearly salary | $86,031 | $114,639 |
| Hourly rate | $41.36 | $55.11 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 31,281 | 26,290 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 82% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| 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.
Directors of Public Affairs are executives who manage the public relations and communications initiatives of the company. They oversee all external communications that are intended for broadcast. They create guidelines on the proper crafting of communication materials that will be published or broadcasted. They also lead the public affairs department in networking activities and industry events. Directors of Public Affairs must be level-headed, calm, and creative. They should know how to communicate with the public, handle crises, and create successful brands.
Media relations managers and directors of public affairs have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Media Relations Manager | Director Of Public Affairs | |
| Average salary | $86,031 | $114,639 |
| Salary range | Between $57,000 And $129,000 | Between $70,000 And $187,000 |
| Highest paying City | Burlingame, CA | Las Vegas, NV |
| Highest paying state | Delaware | Nevada |
| Best paying company | Shearman & Sterling | Kaiser Permanente |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Pharmaceutical |
There are a few differences between a media relations manager and a director of public affairs in terms of educational background:
| Media Relations Manager | Director Of Public Affairs | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 82% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Communication | Political Science |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between media relations managers' and directors of public affairs' demographics:
| Media Relations Manager | Director Of Public Affairs | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 44.3% Female, 55.7% | Male, 57.6% Female, 42.4% |
| 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, 8.9% Asian, 5.1% White, 75.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 16% | 16% |