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The differences between strategic communications consultants and public 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 strategic communications consultant and a public relations specialist. Additionally, a strategic communications consultant has an average salary of $79,405, which is higher than the $48,124 average annual salary of a public relations specialist.
The top three skills for a strategic communications consultant include press releases, web content and linkedin. The most important skills for a public relations specialist are press releases, web content, and project management.
| Strategic Communications Consultant | Public Relations Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $79,405 | $48,124 |
| Hourly rate | $38.18 | $23.14 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 29,342 | 29,698 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 81% |
| 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.
A public relations specialist is an individual who creates and maintains a favorable public image of an organization by crafting media releases and developing social media programs. Public relations specialists must help their clients communicate effectively with the public as well as evaluate the public opinion of their clients through social media. They need to draft their press releases and contact people in the media who might want to broadcast their materials. Public relations specialists are also required to draft speeches and arrange interviews for the top executives of their organization.
Strategic communications consultants and public relations specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Strategic Communications Consultant | Public Relations Specialist | |
| Average salary | $79,405 | $48,124 |
| Salary range | Between $49,000 And $128,000 | Between $33,000 And $68,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | - | Washington |
| Best paying company | - | Meta |
| Best paying industry | - | Finance |
There are a few differences between a strategic communications consultant and a public relations specialist in terms of educational background:
| Strategic Communications Consultant | Public Relations Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 81% |
| Most common major | Communication | Communication |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between strategic communications consultants' and public relations specialists' demographics:
| Strategic Communications Consultant | Public Relations Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 36.3% Female, 63.7% | Male, 30.3% Female, 69.7% |
| 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, 10.3% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.2% Asian, 5.3% White, 66.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 12% |