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The differences between public relations associates and public affairs 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 public relations associate and a public affairs specialist. Additionally, a public affairs specialist has an average salary of $66,383, which is higher than the $48,953 average annual salary of a public relations associate.
The top three skills for a public relations associate include press releases, web content and facebook. The most important skills for a public affairs specialist are news stories, veterans, and fact sheets.
| Public Relations Associate | Public Affairs Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $48,953 | $66,383 |
| Hourly rate | $23.54 | $31.91 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 24,482 | 19,889 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 83% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A public relations associate is responsible for assisting the operations of the public relations department on developing campaigns and promotions to promote brand image on various digital platforms and other communication mediums. Public relations associates handle press releases, create digital content, organize public events, and identify business opportunities that would generate more revenue resources and attract potential clients. They also disseminate accurate information to the public regarding company news and special announcements. A public relations associate must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially on adhering to deadlines and business requirements.
Psychology research assistants take charge of the operational and administrative tasks like mailing surveys, summarizing results, and managing correspondence. The research assistants identify the areas in need of improvement and score psychological tests. They prepare the interview questions and summarize test results. Their job involves responding to research-related emails and take part in project meetings. Also, they update the content of websites and prepare reports of their progress. The skills they need in carrying out this job include communication, critical thinking, attention to detail, and technical skills.
Public relations associates and public affairs specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Public Relations Associate | Public Affairs Specialist | |
| Average salary | $48,953 | $66,383 |
| Salary range | Between $34,000 And $68,000 | Between $43,000 And $102,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Virginia |
| Best paying company | AstraZeneca | |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Government |
There are a few differences between a public relations associate and a public affairs specialist in terms of educational background:
| Public Relations Associate | Public Affairs Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 83% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Communication | Communication |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between public relations associates' and public affairs specialists' demographics:
| Public Relations Associate | Public Affairs Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 29.5% Female, 70.5% | Male, 47.2% Female, 52.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.4% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.2% Asian, 5.3% White, 66.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | Black or African American, 10.4% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.2% Asian, 5.3% White, 66.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 12% |