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The differences between media relations specialists and client relations specialists 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 specialist, becoming a client relations specialist takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a media relations specialist has an average salary of $50,856, which is higher than the $39,902 average annual salary of a client relations specialist.
The top three skills for a media relations specialist include patients, compassion and press releases. The most important skills for a client relations specialist are client relations, customer service, and data entry.
| Media Relations Specialist | Client Relations Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $50,856 | $39,902 |
| Hourly rate | $24.45 | $19.18 |
| Growth rate | 8% | -4% |
| Number of jobs | 44,665 | 200,766 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Average age | 42 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 12 |
A media relations specialist's role is to help a company maintain good public relations through various forms of media, ensuring to convey their brand's purpose and message. Their responsibilities typically revolve around developing strategies and opportunities, producing newsletters and press releases, remaining updated with the latest trends, and even managing the company's social media platforms. A media relations specialist may also delegate tasks to writers and graphic designers, arrange schedules, and ensure that all goals are met within the expected deadline and budget.
A client relations specialist is primarily in charge of building positive relationships with clients by providing optimal services. Although the extent of their responsibilities depends on their company of employment, it typically includes handling customer calls and correspondence, offering products or services, discussing promotions or product specifications, answering inquiries, arranging appointments, resolving issues and concerns, and processing payments or refunds. Moreover, a client relations specialist conducts market research and analysis to identify the current trends and practices, aiming for client satisfaction.
Media relations specialists and client relations specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Media Relations Specialist | Client Relations Specialist | |
| Average salary | $50,856 | $39,902 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $69,000 | Between $27,000 And $58,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Washington | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Edelman Financial Engines | McKinsey & Company Inc |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Real Estate |
There are a few differences between a media relations specialist and a client relations specialist in terms of educational background:
| Media Relations Specialist | Client Relations Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | - |
Here are the differences between media relations specialists' and client relations specialists' demographics:
| Media Relations Specialist | Client Relations Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 30.6% Female, 69.4% | Male, 30.3% Female, 69.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.2% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.1% Asian, 5.3% White, 66.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | Black or African American, 11.5% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 20.3% Asian, 6.5% White, 55.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 7% |