Manages communication between a public company and its shareholders and Wall Street analysts, shaping how investors understand the business. BLS does not publish separate figures for public relations managers; it counts them within public relations manager (SOC 11-2032), whose median pay is $146,910 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
- SOC 11-2032
- Management
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Investor Relations Manager in four numbers
- Median pay
- $146,910a year, or $70.63/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $82KTop 10% $285K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +5.7%Faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+5.7%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +5.7% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 6,10080,800 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202580.8K
- Projected 203585.4K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 80.8K Projected 2035 85.4K - Typical education
- Bachelor'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
Also advertised as: Investor Relations Director, Head of Investor Relations, IR Manager, Vice President, Investor Relations, Investor Relations Officer.
Pay
How much do Public Relations Managers make?
Every investor relations manager in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$146,910
Middle half earn $106,580 to $204,520
- 10th
- $82,410
- 25th
- $106,580
- 75th
- $204,520
- 90th
- $284,990
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $82,410 |
| 25th | $106,580 |
| Median | $146,910 |
| 75th | $204,520 |
| 90th | $284,990 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $146,910
- Median hourly wage
- $70.63/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $164,760
- People employed
- 74,850
Versus all US occupations
At $146,910, Public Relations Managers earn 188% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $95,930 a year.
Versus management occupations
Inside the Management group, where the middle occupation pays $126,060, this is 17% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $284,990 or more while the bottom 10% earn $82,410, a gap of 3.5×. That is an unusually wide spread, which usually tracks specialisation, employer type and years of experience.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 92% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
District of Columbia pays the most at $197,600, and still leads at $179,798 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Public Relations Managers the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1District of Columbia | $197,600 | $179,798 | 7,410 |
| 2New York | $180,880 | $167,604 | 7,710 |
| 3Virginia | $176,340 | $174,414 | 2,610 |
| 4New Jersey | $174,980 | $160,820 | 2,420 |
| 5Massachusetts | $171,740 | $162,391 | 2,170 |
| 6California | $167,980 | $151,716 | 9,400 |
| 7Maine | $166,940 | $172,014 | N/A |
| 8Colorado | $162,870 | $158,046 | N/A |
| 9Washington | $159,440 | $148,991 | 1,610 |
| 10Rhode Island | $156,080 | $152,601 | 210 |
Job outlook
Is Investor Relations Manager a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Faster than average. +5.7% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Public Relations Managers | +5.7% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Faster than average
BLS projects employment of Public Relations Managers to change 5.7% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 4,600 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 6,100 openings are projected each year, 7.5% of the 80,800 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become an Investor Relations Manager
Investor relations professionals usually come from equity research, investment banking, corporate finance or financial communications. A bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, economics or communications is typical, and an MBA or CFA charter is common in senior roles.
The National Investor Relations Institute offers the Investor Relations Charter, a credential that tests knowledge of capital markets, disclosure and communications. Strong writing, a firm grasp of financial statements, and comfort presenting to skeptical investors are essential. Some people enter through IR advisory firms that support many companies.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Bachelor's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
5 years or more
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Medium preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
The work
What does an Investor Relations Manager do?
Investor relations managers are the bridge between a company's leadership and the investment community. They explain the company's strategy and results to shareholders, buy-side investors and sell-side analysts, and they bring investor feedback back to the CEO and CFO.
Around each quarter they prepare earnings releases, scripts and question-and-answer documents, and they run the earnings call. Between quarters they schedule investor meetings and conferences, track who owns the stock, monitor analyst models and consensus estimates, and plan investor days. They work closely with legal teams to follow disclosure rules such as Regulation Fair Disclosure.
Day-to-day tasks
- Prepare quarterly earnings releases, scripts and presentations
- Organize earnings calls and investor days
- Schedule and attend meetings with institutional investors
- Track shareholder ownership and analyst estimates
- Brief executives on investor sentiment and likely questions
- Ensure communications follow securities disclosure rules
- Maintain the investor relations website and materials
Typical tasks, researched by NueCareer from the sources below.
Working conditions and hours
IR managers work at public company headquarters and travel regularly for roadshows and investor conferences. Earnings season brings long days and tight deadlines, while the rest of the quarter is steadier. The role is visible and high stakes, since a poorly handled message can move the stock price.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeSeated for more than half the working day.
Standing
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Speaking4.3
- Reading Comprehension4.1
- Active Listening4.1
- Writing4.0
- Critical Thinking3.9
- Active Learning3.6
- Monitoring3.5
- Learning Strategies3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Speaking | 4.3 |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.1 |
| Active Listening | 4.1 |
| Writing | 4.0 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.9 |
| Active Learning | 3.6 |
| Monitoring | 3.5 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Social Perceptiveness4.0
- Persuasion3.9
- Complex Problem Solving3.9
- Coordination3.8
- Service Orientation3.6
- Judgment and Decision Making3.6
- Time Management3.6
- Negotiation3.5
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Social Perceptiveness | 4.0 |
| Persuasion | 3.9 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.9 |
| Coordination | 3.8 |
| Service Orientation | 3.6 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.6 |
| Time Management | 3.6 |
| Negotiation | 3.5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Cloud-based data access and sharing software · in demand
- Customer relationship management CRM software · in demand
- Data base management system software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Data mining software · in demand
- Desktop publishing software · in demand
- Document management software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Graphics or photo imaging software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Project management software · in demand
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits an Investor Relations Manager?
NueCareer estimate (Holland code ECA) built on O*NET's Public Relations Manager profile, scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Investor Relations Manager |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 1 |
| Investigative | 2 |
| Artistic | 4 |
| Social | 4 |
| Enterprising | 7 |
| Conventional | 5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around leading, persuading, selling and making decisions, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Enterprising7.0
- Conventional5.0
- Artistic4.3
- Social4.2
- Investigative2.3
- Realistic1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Investor Relations Manager
O*NET related occupations
- Management
- Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Management
- Business and Financial Operations
Market Research Analyst and Marketing Specialist
$78,760median a year
Most earn $43K to $155K
+7.0%Bachelor's - Business and Financial Operations
- Management
More management careers
Median annual pay, with public relations managers highlighted
- IT Manager$175,140
- Marketing Manager$166,790
- Financial Manager$166,570
- Human Resources Manager$149,280
- Sales Manager$148,270
- Investor Relations Manager$146,910
- Construction Manager$114,990
- Supply Chain Manager$107,230
- Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Manager$69,990
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| IT Manager | $175,140 |
| Marketing Manager | $166,790 |
| Financial Manager | $166,570 |
| Human Resources Manager | $149,280 |
| Sales Manager | $148,270 |
| Investor Relations Manager | $146,910 |
| Construction Manager | $114,990 |
| Supply Chain Manager | $107,230 |
| Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Manager | $69,990 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Investor Relations Manager appears on
Questions
Investor Relations Manager: frequently asked questions
How much do Public Relations Managers make?
BLS does not publish a separate wage for public relations managers. It counts them within public relations manager, whose median pay is $146,910 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of that occupation earn between $106,580 and $204,520, and the top 10% earn $284,990 or more.
Do you need a degree to become an Investor Relations Manager?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Public Relations Managers, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as medium preparation. Employers typically expect 5 years or more of related work experience first.
Is Investor Relations Manager a growing career?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 5.7% over 2025–2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 6,100 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does an Investor Relations Manager do?
Investor relations managers are the bridge between a company's leadership and the investment community. A typical task: prepare quarterly earnings releases, scripts and presentations. Employers most often ask for Cloud-based data access and sharing software, Customer relationship management CRM software, Data base management system software.
Which states pay Public Relations Managers the most?
The highest state medians for Public Relations Managers are District of Columbia ($197,600), New York ($180,880), Virginia ($176,340) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits an Investor Relations Manager?
O*NET scores Public Relations Managers highest on the Enterprising, Conventional and Artistic interest areas, so the work mixes leading, persuading, selling and making decisions with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ENFJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.