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The differences between public relations associates and public relations 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 relations specialist. Additionally, a public relations associate has an average salary of $48,953, which is higher than the $48,124 average annual salary of a public relations specialist.
The top three skills for a public relations associate include press releases, web content and facebook. The most important skills for a public relations specialist are press releases, web content, and project management.
| Public Relations Associate | Public Relations Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $48,953 | $48,124 |
| Hourly rate | $23.54 | $23.14 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 24,482 | 29,698 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 83% | Bachelor's Degree, 81% |
| 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.
A public relations specialist is an individual who creates and maintains a favorable public image of an organization by crafting media releases and developing social media programs. Public relations specialists must help their clients communicate effectively with the public as well as evaluate the public opinion of their clients through social media. They need to draft their press releases and contact people in the media who might want to broadcast their materials. Public relations specialists are also required to draft speeches and arrange interviews for the top executives of their organization.
Public relations associates and public relations specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Public Relations Associate | Public Relations Specialist | |
| Average salary | $48,953 | $48,124 |
| Salary range | Between $34,000 And $68,000 | Between $33,000 And $68,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Washington |
| Best paying company | AstraZeneca | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Finance |
There are a few differences between a public relations associate and a public relations specialist in terms of educational background:
| Public Relations Associate | Public Relations Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 83% | Bachelor's Degree, 81% |
| Most common major | Communication | Communication |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between public relations associates' and public relations specialists' demographics:
| Public Relations Associate | Public Relations Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 29.5% Female, 70.5% | Male, 30.3% Female, 69.7% |
| 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, 10.3% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.2% Asian, 5.3% White, 66.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 12% |