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Public relations manager vs public information officer

The differences between public relations managers and public information officers 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 manager and a public information officer. Additionally, a public relations manager has an average salary of $91,426, which is higher than the $56,725 average annual salary of a public information officer.

The top three skills for a public relations manager include press releases, web content and pr campaigns. The most important skills for a public information officer are press releases, web content, and community outreach.

Public relations manager vs public information officer overview

Public Relations ManagerPublic Information Officer
Yearly salary$91,426$56,725
Hourly rate$43.95$27.27
Growth rate8%8%
Number of jobs35,273129,237
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 79%Bachelor's Degree, 76%
Average age4242
Years of experience44

What does a public relations manager do?

A public relations manager is responsible for monitoring the public relations department to boost its brand image and attract potential clients through press releases and media coverage. They work closely with the marketing team, developing marketing campaigns and promotional strategies for creating brand awareness. Public relations managers maintain the company's presence on various social media platforms, responding to the customers' inquiries and concerns regarding the company's goods and services. A public relations manager must have excellent communication and leadership skills, especially in identifying business opportunities to increase revenues and profitability.

What does a public information officer do?

The primary job of a public information officer involves the promotion of a positive public image on social media. Public information officers offer significant information during a crisis. They collect facts and distribute them to the media and organize special events like awards ceremonies. Typically, they work for large organizations and government agencies. They maintain their online presence that can be part of the duties of public information. Also, they can work for long hours on an irregular schedule, especially when the incidents or situations affect the organization.

Public relations manager vs public information officer salary

Public relations managers and public information officers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Public Relations ManagerPublic Information Officer
Average salary$91,426$56,725
Salary rangeBetween $64,000 And $128,000Between $38,000 And $83,000
Highest paying CityLas Vegas, NVFairfield, CA
Highest paying stateNevadaDelaware
Best paying companyGoogleCity of Fairfield
Best paying industryTechnologyProfessional

Differences between public relations manager and public information officer education

There are a few differences between a public relations manager and a public information officer in terms of educational background:

Public Relations ManagerPublic Information Officer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 79%Bachelor's Degree, 76%
Most common majorCommunicationCommunication
Most common collegeNorthwestern UniversityNorthwestern University

Public relations manager vs public information officer demographics

Here are the differences between public relations managers' and public information officers' demographics:

Public Relations ManagerPublic Information Officer
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 34.5% Female, 65.5%Male, 43.7% Female, 56.3%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 5.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 9.1% Asian, 5.1% White, 74.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 5.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 9.0% Asian, 5.1% White, 75.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage16%16%

Differences between public relations manager and public information officer duties and responsibilities

Public relations manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage social media - provide content ideas, monitor FB and Instagram activity.
  • Manage events and promotions; create Christmas event, manage twitter account and make marketing plans.
  • Lead a successful rebranding effort to transition the organization into a premier corporate training provider in SoCal.
  • Lead a rebranding and revitalization of the intranet by focusing on improving internal communication, search capabilities, and branding elements.
  • Interview featured alumni, manage copywriting staff and editorial calendar, and coordinate photography.
  • Maintain strong working relationships across all departments to manage successful on-site opportunities, content and multimedia asset development and spokesperson requests.
  • Show more

Public information officer example responsibilities.

  • Manage agency's social media pages (Facebook/Twitter).
  • Manage multiple websites and associate SEO; direct all brand photography to publicize and promote the resort.
  • Serve as college spokesperson managing crisis communications.
  • Lead implementation of a robust membership database to support organization strategy and decision making.
  • Interview featured alumni, manage copywriting staff and editorial calendar, and coordinate photography.
  • Create and maintain the college's blackboard intranet site.
  • Show more

Public relations manager vs public information officer skills

Common public relations manager skills
  • Press Releases, 20%
  • Web Content, 5%
  • Pr Campaigns, 4%
  • Marketing Campaigns, 4%
  • Digital Marketing, 4%
  • Facebook, 3%
Common public information officer skills
  • Press Releases, 16%
  • Web Content, 10%
  • Community Outreach, 5%
  • Press Conferences, 4%
  • Graphic Design, 4%
  • Emergency Operations, 4%

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