Publication director vs development director

The differences between publication directors and development directors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a publication director and a development director. Additionally, a development director has an average salary of $107,044, which is higher than the $87,824 average annual salary of a publication director.

The top three skills for a publication director include website content, press releases and government agencies. The most important skills for a development director are digital marketing, oversight, and patients.

Publication director vs development director overview

	Publication Director	Development Director
Yearly salary	$87,824	$107,044
Hourly rate	$42.22	$51.46
Growth rate	8%	8%
Number of jobs	14,660	63,008
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 75%	Bachelor's Degree, 72%
Average age	42	42
Years of experience	4	4

What does a publication director do?

A publication director spearheads and oversees the operations of publishing establishments, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. They have the authority to make publication decisions, set goals, establish guidelines and timelines, delegate tasks and resources among teams, and develop strategies to optimize operations. They also monitor the workflow and the performance of the workforce, addressing issues and concerns if any arise. Moreover, a publication director leads and encourages staff to reach goals, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations, developing new ones as needed.

What does a development director do?

A development director is an individual who is responsible for securing funds and sponsors for non-profit organizations. Development directors must actively seek new business partners and develop relationships with volunteers and donors. They meet with members of the development team to help advertise and promote brand awareness and funding. Development directors must possess skills and experience in managing human resources, marketing, and budgeting functions. They must also obtain a bachelor's degree in business management, public relations, or related field.

Publication director vs development director salary

Publication directors and development directors have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Publication Director	Development Director
Average salary	$87,824	$107,044
Salary range	Between $49,000 And $154,000	Between $64,000 And $177,000
Highest paying City	Carson City, NV	Jersey City, NJ
Highest paying state	Delaware	New Jersey
Best paying company	Biogen	Cornerstone Research
Best paying industry	Media	-

Differences between publication director and development director education

There are a few differences between a publication director and a development director in terms of educational background:

	Publication Director	Development Director
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 75%	Bachelor's Degree, 72%
Most common major	Communication	Business
Most common college	Massachusetts Institute of Technology	Stanford University

Publication director vs development director demographics

Here are the differences between publication directors' and development directors' demographics:

	Publication Director	Development Director
Average age	42	42
Gender ratio	Male, 44.8% Female, 55.2%	Male, 50.2% Female, 49.8%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 5.7% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 8.9% Asian, 5.0% White, 75.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%	Black or African American, 6.0% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 9.2% Asian, 5.1% White, 74.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage	16%	16%

Differences between publication director and development director duties and responsibilities

Publication director example responsibilities.

Manage media relations, announcements, editorial placement, and speaking opportunities the organizations.
Promote expansion of Medicaid coverage at the federal and state level.
Create & maintain SEAPOWER Facebook page, where all online articles are place, driving page views back to the website.
Serve as representative to senior management team during community events and company spokesperson for division, including to nonprofit sector clients.
Draft pleadings and serve subpoenas.
Complete all investigative reports including incident reports, subpoenas, arrest warrants, and witness statements.

Development director example responsibilities.

Manage CRM program for coordination and partnerships with marketing resources.
Manage website re-launch, create communications plan, co-le rebranding taskforce.
Manage clients and internal production team to meet budget and scope of contract eLearning solutions.
Help manage the CRM system with input and output for the resource development department and the entire organization.
Manage analytical method validation and method transfer to QC and CMOs for APIs, excipients, and finish products.
Hire, manage and train a team of six sourcing professionals as well as a team of 3 QA managers.

Publication director vs development director skills

Common publication director skills

Website Content, 12%
Press Releases, 11%
Government Agencies, 9%
Public Policy Issues, 6%
Government Relations, 5%
Pr Campaigns, 4%

Common development director skills

Digital Marketing, 8%
Oversight, 6%
Patients, 6%
Lead Generation, 5%
ROI, 4%
Project Management, 4%

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Publication Director
Publication Director vs Development Director

Updated January 8, 2025

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