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The differences between social media specialists and media relations assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a social media specialist and a media relations assistant. Additionally, a social media specialist has an average salary of $51,584, which is higher than the $45,450 average annual salary of a media relations assistant.
The top three skills for a social media specialist include social media marketing, instagram and digital marketing. The most important skills for a media relations assistant are press releases, athletics website, and press conferences.
| Social Media Specialist | Media Relations Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $51,584 | $45,450 |
| Hourly rate | $24.80 | $21.85 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 47,228 | 23,773 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 80% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A social media specialist is an individual who is responsible for creating and administering content on all social media platforms to build an audience and ensure customer engagement. By using platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, social media specialists must create content that resonates with the interests of the intended audience. They are required to understand social media metrics so that they can use the information to ensure success in their social media strategy. Social media specialists must also work with industry professionals and influencers via social media to create a strong network.
A media relations assistant is an entry-level media and public relation professional. They offer administrative support to a public relations department within an organization. They perform a number of tasks such as researching relevant trends and data that help with the company's PR campaign, helping create marketing materials, maintaining relationships with existing clients, and working to find new clients. They also have to keep accurate correspondence records and monitor social media accounts.
Social media specialists and media relations assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Social Media Specialist | Media Relations Assistant | |
| Average salary | $51,584 | $45,450 |
| Salary range | Between $38,000 And $68,000 | Between $32,000 And $62,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | - |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | - |
| Best paying company | McKinsey & Company Inc | - |
| Best paying industry | Professional | - |
There are a few differences between a social media specialist and a media relations assistant in terms of educational background:
| Social Media Specialist | Media Relations Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 80% |
| Most common major | Communication | Communication |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between social media specialists' and media relations assistants' demographics:
| Social Media Specialist | Media Relations Assistant | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 38.6% Female, 61.4% | Male, 41.8% Female, 58.2% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 10.3% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.2% Asian, 5.3% White, 66.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 12% |