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The differences between public relations writers and communications 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 writer and a communications specialist. Additionally, a public relations writer has an average salary of $56,528, which is higher than the $51,023 average annual salary of a communications specialist.
The top three skills for a public relations writer include web content, internal newsletter and feature stories. The most important skills for a communications specialist are customer service, powerpoint, and patients.
| Public Relations Writer | Communications Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $56,528 | $51,023 |
| Hourly rate | $27.18 | $24.53 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 27,446 | 42,819 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 83% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Public relations writers and communications specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Public Relations Writer | Communications Specialist | |
| Average salary | $56,528 | $51,023 |
| Salary range | Between $42,000 And $75,000 | Between $36,000 And $71,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | - | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | - | |
| Best paying industry | - | Technology |
There are a few differences between a public relations writer and a communications specialist in terms of educational background:
| Public Relations Writer | Communications Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 83% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Communication | Communication |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between public relations writers' and communications specialists' demographics:
| Public Relations Writer | Communications Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 39.5% Female, 60.5% | Male, 42.9% Female, 57.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.4% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.3% Asian, 5.4% White, 66.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | Black or African American, 10.0% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 11.9% Asian, 5.3% White, 67.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 12% |