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The differences between media relations specialists and media relations assistants 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 specialist and a media relations assistant. Additionally, a media relations specialist has an average salary of $50,856, which is higher than the $45,450 average annual salary of a media relations assistant.
The top three skills for a media relations specialist include patients, compassion and press releases. The most important skills for a media relations assistant are press releases, athletics website, and press conferences.
| Media Relations Specialist | Media Relations Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $50,856 | $45,450 |
| Hourly rate | $24.45 | $21.85 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 44,665 | 23,773 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 80% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
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 media relations assistant is an entry-level media and public relation professional. They offer administrative support to a public relations department within an organization. They perform a number of tasks such as researching relevant trends and data that help with the company's PR campaign, helping create marketing materials, maintaining relationships with existing clients, and working to find new clients. They also have to keep accurate correspondence records and monitor social media accounts.
Media relations specialists and media relations assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Media Relations Specialist | Media Relations Assistant | |
| Average salary | $50,856 | $45,450 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $69,000 | Between $32,000 And $62,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | - |
| Highest paying state | Washington | - |
| Best paying company | Edelman Financial Engines | - |
| Best paying industry | Finance | - |
There are a few differences between a media relations specialist and a media relations assistant in terms of educational background:
| Media Relations Specialist | Media Relations Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 80% |
| Most common major | Business | Communication |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between media relations specialists' and media relations assistants' demographics:
| Media Relations Specialist | Media Relations Assistant | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 30.6% Female, 69.4% | Male, 41.8% Female, 58.2% |
| 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, 10.3% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.2% Asian, 5.3% White, 66.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 12% |