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The differences between social media 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 social media specialist and a media relations specialist. Additionally, a social media specialist has an average salary of $51,584, which is higher than the $50,856 average annual salary of a media relations specialist.
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 specialist are patients, compassion, and press releases.
| Social Media Specialist | Media Relations Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $51,584 | $50,856 |
| Hourly rate | $24.80 | $24.45 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 47,228 | 44,665 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| 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 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.
Social media specialists and media relations specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Social Media Specialist | Media Relations Specialist | |
| Average salary | $51,584 | $50,856 |
| Salary range | Between $38,000 And $68,000 | Between $36,000 And $69,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Washington |
| Best paying company | McKinsey & Company Inc | Edelman Financial Engines |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Finance |
There are a few differences between a social media specialist and a media relations specialist in terms of educational background:
| Social Media Specialist | Media Relations Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Communication | Business |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between social media specialists' and media relations specialists' demographics:
| Social Media Specialist | Media Relations Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 38.6% Female, 61.4% | Male, 30.6% Female, 69.4% |
| 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, 10.2% 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% |