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The differences between media relations specialists and senior communications specialists 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 senior communications specialist. Additionally, a senior communications specialist has an average salary of $78,948, which is higher than the $50,856 average annual salary of a media relations specialist.
The top three skills for a media relations specialist include patients, compassion and press releases. The most important skills for a senior communications specialist are project management, powerpoint, and strategic communications.
| Media Relations Specialist | Senior Communications Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $50,856 | $78,948 |
| Hourly rate | $24.45 | $37.96 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 44,665 | 18,973 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| 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 senior communications specialist is primarily in charge of developing communication strategies in the company. Their responsibilities revolve around ensuring the smooth flow of internal and external communications, coordinating various departments, managing campaigns and event schedules, devising social media strategies, and supervising media relations. A senior communications specialist must also address issues and concerns, resolving them promptly. Furthermore, as a senior specialist, it is essential to lead and assist the junior specialists, all while adhering to the company's policies and regulations.
Media relations specialists and senior communications specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Media Relations Specialist | Senior Communications Specialist | |
| Average salary | $50,856 | $78,948 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $69,000 | Between $56,000 And $111,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Oakland, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | Edelman Financial Engines | Analysis Group |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Technology |
There are a few differences between a media relations specialist and a senior communications specialist in terms of educational background:
| Media Relations Specialist | Senior Communications Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Business | Communication |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between media relations specialists' and senior communications specialists' demographics:
| Media Relations Specialist | Senior Communications Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 30.6% Female, 69.4% | Male, 35.7% Female, 64.3% |
| 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, 10.0% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 11.9% Asian, 5.3% White, 67.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 12% |