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The differences between social media managers and public relations managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 8-10 years to become a social media manager, becoming a public relations manager takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a public relations manager has an average salary of $91,426, which is higher than the $70,287 average annual salary of a social media manager.
The top three skills for a social media manager include instagram, twitter and digital marketing. The most important skills for a public relations manager are press releases, web content, and pr campaigns.
| Social Media Manager | Public Relations Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $70,287 | $91,426 |
| Hourly rate | $33.79 | $43.95 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 105,475 | 35,273 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 79% |
| Average age | 39 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 10 | 4 |
Social media managers are responsible for representing the company's business through social media channels. They help the company grow by enhancing its presence via social networks. Primarily, they need to implement marketing plans and identify their target clients and create a content schedule. Their duties include implementing and strategizing digital marketing campaigns. They support the development of brand identity and promotional strategies. Candidates for the job must be excellent in communication skills, have in-depth knowledge of how social platforms work, and easily understand the target audience.
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.
Social media managers and public relations managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Social Media Manager | Public Relations Manager | |
| Average salary | $70,287 | $91,426 |
| Salary range | Between $50,000 And $98,000 | Between $64,000 And $128,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Las Vegas, NV |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Nevada |
| Best paying company | Microsoft | |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a social media manager and a public relations manager in terms of educational background:
| Social Media Manager | Public Relations Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 79% |
| Most common major | Communication | Communication |
| Most common college | University of Georgia | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between social media managers' and public relations managers' demographics:
| Social Media Manager | Public Relations Manager | |
| Average age | 39 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 38.9% Female, 61.1% | Male, 34.5% Female, 65.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.0% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 8.7% Asian, 8.2% White, 74.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 16% |