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The differences between public relations specialists and media 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 specialist and a media relations specialist. Additionally, a media relations specialist has an average salary of $50,856, which is higher than the $48,124 average annual salary of a public relations specialist.
The top three skills for a public relations specialist include press releases, web content and project management. The most important skills for a media relations specialist are patients, compassion, and press releases.
| Public Relations Specialist | Media Relations Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $48,124 | $50,856 |
| Hourly rate | $23.14 | $24.45 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 29,698 | 44,665 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 81% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
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.
A media relations specialist's role is to help a company maintain good public relations through various forms of media, ensuring to convey their brand's purpose and message. Their responsibilities typically revolve around developing strategies and opportunities, producing newsletters and press releases, remaining updated with the latest trends, and even managing the company's social media platforms. A media relations specialist may also delegate tasks to writers and graphic designers, arrange schedules, and ensure that all goals are met within the expected deadline and budget.
Public relations specialists and media relations specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Public Relations Specialist | Media Relations Specialist | |
| Average salary | $48,124 | $50,856 |
| Salary range | Between $33,000 And $68,000 | Between $36,000 And $69,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Washington |
| Best paying company | Meta | Edelman Financial Engines |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Finance |
There are a few differences between a public relations specialist and a media relations specialist in terms of educational background:
| Public Relations Specialist | Media Relations Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 81% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Communication | Business |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between public relations specialists' and media relations specialists' demographics:
| Public Relations Specialist | Media Relations Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 30.3% Female, 69.7% | Male, 30.6% Female, 69.4% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 10.2% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.1% Asian, 5.3% White, 66.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 12% |