Post job

Public relations account executive vs publicist

The differences between public relations account executives and publicists 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 relations account executive and a publicist. Additionally, a public relations account executive has an average salary of $53,485, which is higher than the $50,679 average annual salary of a publicist.

The top three skills for a public relations account executive include press releases, digital marketing and fact sheets. The most important skills for a publicist are press releases, press materials, and public relations campaigns.

Public relations account executive vs publicist overview

Public Relations Account ExecutivePublicist
Yearly salary$53,485$50,679
Hourly rate$25.71$24.36
Growth rate8%8%
Number of jobs121,3897,343
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 86%Bachelor's Degree, 83%
Average age4242
Years of experience44

What does a public relations account executive do?

A Public Relations Account Associate is responsible for managing the brand's media relations and strategizing promotional campaigns for client accounts. They coordinate with the clients for their specifications and requirements, including their budget limitations, target audience, and timetables. They also work closely with the sales team to identify the sales performance and adjust project management plans as needed. A Public Relations Account Associate handles brand communication to various media platforms and ensure that the methods lead to client success and satisfaction.

What does a publicist do?

Public Relations Supervisors are responsible for implementing the media and public relations strategy of an organization. Their duties include developing public relations campaigns, organize public relations events, assist in emergency response planning, updating documentation, monitoring media, improve management of press office, and manage media databases. They are responsible for assisting with journalistic content writing, refine internal processes, and track public relations activity performance. They help prepare reports as well as undertake competitor and market research.

Public relations account executive vs publicist salary

Public relations account executives and publicists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Public Relations Account ExecutivePublicist
Average salary$53,485$50,679
Salary rangeBetween $36,000 And $79,000Between $30,000 And $83,000
Highest paying CityMcLean, VASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateVirginiaWashington
Best paying companyEdelman Financial EnginesJ. The Jewish News of Northern California
Best paying industryMediaMedia

Differences between public relations account executive and publicist education

There are a few differences between a public relations account executive and a publicist in terms of educational background:

Public Relations Account ExecutivePublicist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 86%Bachelor's Degree, 83%
Most common majorCommunicationCommunication
Most common collegeNorthwestern UniversityStanford University

Public relations account executive vs publicist demographics

Here are the differences between public relations account executives' and publicists' demographics:

Public Relations Account ExecutivePublicist
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 29.3% Female, 70.7%Male, 27.4% Female, 72.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.1% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.0% Asian, 5.3% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%Black or African American, 10.1% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.0% Asian, 5.3% White, 66.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage12%12%

Differences between public relations account executive and publicist duties and responsibilities

Public relations account executive example responsibilities.

  • Manage LinkedIn communications with former PRSSA members.
  • Create and effectively manage department and store/corporate events, which includes conceptual design and ROI.
  • Manage Facebook account promoting events to students across campus
  • Manage public affairs and media efforts including writing and placing op-eds and mobilizing editorial campaigns.
  • Experience with social media and blogging.
  • Handle casting, blogging and all social media.
  • Show more

Publicist example responsibilities.

  • Manage publicity plans for fiction and non-fiction trade paperback titles.
  • Manage and write copy for client social media platforms and ECPR's social media deliverable, which involve SEO streamlining.
  • Book non-fiction author media tours.
  • Photograph events for the instagram account.
  • Maintain appropriate media lists, clips and coverage reports.
  • Post on Facebook and other websites to promote events & products
  • Show more

Public relations account executive vs publicist skills

Common public relations account executive skills
  • Press Releases, 18%
  • Digital Marketing, 7%
  • Fact Sheets, 5%
  • Biographies, 5%
  • Client Accounts, 4%
  • Wine, 3%
Common publicist skills
  • Press Releases, 30%
  • Press Materials, 7%
  • Public Relations Campaigns, 5%
  • Instagram, 5%
  • Twitter, 5%
  • Writing Press Releases, 4%

Browse arts, entertainment, sports, and media jobs