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The differences between public affairs managers and media directors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a public affairs manager and a media director. Additionally, a media director has an average salary of $112,564, which is higher than the $84,758 average annual salary of a public affairs manager.
The top three skills for a public affairs manager include external stakeholders, press releases and government relations. The most important skills for a media director are digital marketing, video production, and media planning.
| Public Affairs Manager | Media Director | |
| Yearly salary | $84,758 | $112,564 |
| Hourly rate | $40.75 | $54.12 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 24,984 | 22,511 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Psychology associates are entry-level professionals who assist psychologists with assessing, diagnosing, and treating individuals with mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders. These associates are required to provide psychological services for children and adults who are under the supervision of a licensed psychologist. They must conduct assessments on individuals to identify psychological, emotional, and behavioral issues after they are discharged from hospitals. Psychology associates must also design and facilitate individual and group therapy programs specifically for adolescents who are involved in substance abuse.
A media director spearheads and oversees a company's entire media-related activities, including marketing and advertising campaigns. They are in charge of setting goals and guidelines, liaising and building positive relationships with external parties, conceptualizing plans for projects and campaigns, and developing strategies to optimize operations. It is also their duty to address issues and concerns, resolving them promptly and efficiently. Furthermore, as a media director, it is essential to monitor the progress of different teams, leading and encouraging them to reach goals while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
Public affairs managers and media directors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Public Affairs Manager | Media Director | |
| Average salary | $84,758 | $112,564 |
| Salary range | Between $55,000 And $129,000 | Between $73,000 And $172,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Nevada |
| Best paying company | Meta | |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | Professional |
There are a few differences between a public affairs manager and a media director in terms of educational background:
| Public Affairs Manager | Media Director | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Most common major | Communication | Communication |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between public affairs managers' and media directors' demographics:
| Public Affairs Manager | Media Director | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 48.8% Female, 51.2% | Male, 62.0% Female, 38.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.1% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 9.2% Asian, 5.1% White, 74.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 6.0% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 9.1% Asian, 5.1% White, 74.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 16% | 16% |