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The differences between strategic communications consultants and public affairs 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 strategic communications consultant and a public affairs specialist. Additionally, a strategic communications consultant has an average salary of $79,405, which is higher than the $66,383 average annual salary of a public affairs specialist.
The top three skills for a strategic communications consultant include press releases, web content and linkedin. The most important skills for a public affairs specialist are news stories, veterans, and fact sheets.
| Strategic Communications Consultant | Public Affairs Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $79,405 | $66,383 |
| Hourly rate | $38.18 | $31.91 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 29,342 | 19,889 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A strategic communications consultant is involved in the preparation of media releases for a company. This professional often works as a freelancer and is often hired by a media consulting company or by industries such as finance and technology. The core skills that a strategic communications consultant should possess to accomplish his/her or her job responsibilities include strong interpersonal, organizational, and problem-solving skills. The job's education requirements include a bachelor's or master's degree in business, marketing, communication, or a related field.
Psychology research assistants take charge of the operational and administrative tasks like mailing surveys, summarizing results, and managing correspondence. The research assistants identify the areas in need of improvement and score psychological tests. They prepare the interview questions and summarize test results. Their job involves responding to research-related emails and take part in project meetings. Also, they update the content of websites and prepare reports of their progress. The skills they need in carrying out this job include communication, critical thinking, attention to detail, and technical skills.
Strategic communications consultants and public affairs specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Strategic Communications Consultant | Public Affairs Specialist | |
| Average salary | $79,405 | $66,383 |
| Salary range | Between $49,000 And $128,000 | Between $43,000 And $102,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | - | Virginia |
| Best paying company | - | |
| Best paying industry | - | Government |
There are a few differences between a strategic communications consultant and a public affairs specialist in terms of educational background:
| Strategic Communications Consultant | Public Affairs Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Communication | Communication |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between strategic communications consultants' and public affairs specialists' demographics:
| Strategic Communications Consultant | Public Affairs Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 36.3% Female, 63.7% | Male, 47.2% Female, 52.8% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 10.4% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.2% Asian, 5.3% White, 66.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 12% |