The median pay for Public Relations Specialists is $74,750 a year ($35.94/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 1.8% through 2035, with about 23,000 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
- SOC 27-3031
- Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Last updated October 15, 2026
At a glance
Public Relations Specialist in four numbers
- Median pay
- $74,750a year, or $35.94/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $44KTop 10% $135K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +1.8%Slower than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+1.8%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +1.8% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 23,000314,500 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 2025314.5K
- Projected 2035320.2K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 314.5K Projected 2035 320.2K - Typical education
- Bachelor'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Bachelor's90.9%
- Master's9.1%
Highest education held by public relations specialists Segment Value Bachelor's 90.9% Master's 9.1%
Also advertised as: Communications Specialist, Community Relations Coordinator, Corporate Communications Specialist, Information and Communications Specialist, Media Relations Specialist, Public Affairs Specialist.
Pay
How much do public relations specialists make?
Public Relations Specialists earn a median of $74,750 a year ($35.94 an hour, or about $6,230 a month); the lowest-paid 10% earn less than $44,110 and the top 10% more than $135,150 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The best-paying state is District of Columbia, with a median of $102,740. See Public relations specialist salary in District of Columbia and every other state. By city, pay is highest around San Jose ($126,860 average): salary in every city.
Every public relations specialist in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$74,750
Middle half earn $56,260 to $100,370
- 10th
- $44,110
- 25th
- $56,260
- 75th
- $100,370
- 90th
- $135,150
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $44,110 |
| 25th | $56,260 |
| Median | $74,750 |
| 75th | $100,370 |
| 90th | $135,150 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $74,750
- Median hourly wage
- $35.94/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $84,120
- People employed
- 283,380
Versus all US occupations
At $74,750, Public Relations Specialists earn 47% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $23,770 a year.
Versus arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations
Inside the Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media group, where the middle occupation pays $68,060, this is 10% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $135,150 or more while the bottom 10% earn $44,110, a gap of 3.1×. 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 50% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
District of Columbia pays the most at $102,740, and still leads at $93,484 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay public relations specialists 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 | $102,740 | $93,484 | 16,720 |
| 2Washington | $87,470 | $81,738 | 6,430 |
| 3California | $85,030 | $76,797 | 32,710 |
| 4Connecticut | $84,990 | $82,029 | 1,910 |
| 5New York | $81,250 | $75,287 | 28,250 |
| 6Colorado | $80,680 | $78,291 | 7,410 |
| 7Virginia | $80,380 | $79,502 | 9,990 |
| 8New Jersey | $80,130 | $73,646 | 4,980 |
| 9Massachusetts | $79,660 | $75,324 | 6,760 |
| 10Maryland | $79,560 | $75,801 | 4,190 |
Job outlook
Is public relations specialist a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Slower than average. +1.8% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Public Relations Specialists | +1.8% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Slower than average
BLS projects employment of Public Relations Specialists to change 1.8% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 5,700 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 23,000 openings are projected each year, 7.3% of the 314,500 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Despite limited employment growth, about 23,000 openings for public relations specialists are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Organizations emphasize community outreach and customer relations to maintain and enhance their reputation and visibility. Public opinion can change quickly, particularly because both good and bad news spread rapidly through the Internet. Consequently, public relations specialists will be needed to respond to news developments and maintain their organization’s reputation.
The use of social media is expected to create new opportunities for public relations specialists, who will help clients use these platforms effectively to reach consumers and the general public in new ways. However, artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly making inroads into data-rich social media, which may soften demand for these workers.
AI exposure: very high
BLS places this occupation in its very high relative AI exposure category, among the occupations most exposed to current AI.
Getting in
How to become a public relations specialist
Public relations specialists typically need a bachelor’s degree to enter the occupation. Employers may prefer to hire candidates who have studied a particular field, such as communications or business.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Bachelor's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Considerable preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as public relations specialists.
- Bachelor's Degree90.9%
- Master's Degree9.1%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree | 90.9% |
| Master's Degree | 9.1% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a public relations specialist do?
Promote or create an intended public image for individuals, groups, or organizations. May write or select material for release to various communications media. May specialize in using social media.
Public relations specialists create and maintain a positive public image for the individuals, groups, or organizations they represent. They craft media releases and develop social media programs to shape public perception of their clients and to increase awareness of each client’s work and goals.
Day-to-day tasks
- Respond to requests for information from the media or designate an appropriate spokesperson or information source.
- Plan or direct development or communication of programs to maintain favorable public or stockholder perceptions of an organization's accomplishments, agenda, or environmental responsibility.
- Post and update content on the company's Web site and social media outlets.
- Establish or maintain cooperative relationships with representatives of community, consumer, employee, or public interest groups.
- Confer with other managers to identify trends or key group interests or concerns or to provide advice on business decisions.
- Arrange public appearances, lectures, contests, or exhibits for clients to increase product or service awareness or to promote goodwill.
- Prepare or deliver speeches to further public relations objectives.
- Write press releases or other media communications to promote clients.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most public relations specialists work full time. Some work more than 40 hours per week.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
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 lot
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. 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.
Where public relations specialists work
Share of jobs by employer type
- Educational services; state, local, and private14%
- Advertising, public relations, and related services12%
- Government, excluding state and local education and hospitals11%
- Healthcare and social assistance7%
- Grantmaking and giving services and social advocacy organizations6%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Educational services; state, local, and private | 14% |
| Advertising, public relations, and related services | 12% |
| Government, excluding state and local education and hospitals | 11% |
| Healthcare and social assistance | 7% |
| Grantmaking and giving services and social advocacy organizations | 6% |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Active Listening4.1
- Speaking4.1
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Writing4.0
- Critical Thinking3.9
- Active Learning3.4
- Monitoring3.0
- Learning Strategies2.9
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Listening | 4.1 |
| Speaking | 4.1 |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 |
| Writing | 4.0 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.9 |
| Active Learning | 3.4 |
| Monitoring | 3.0 |
| Learning Strategies | 2.9 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Social Perceptiveness4.0
- Coordination3.9
- Time Management3.9
- Persuasion3.8
- Judgment and Decision Making3.5
- Complex Problem Solving3.4
- Negotiation3.3
- Systems Evaluation3.3
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Social Perceptiveness | 4.0 |
| Coordination | 3.9 |
| Time Management | 3.9 |
| Persuasion | 3.8 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.5 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.4 |
| Negotiation | 3.3 |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.3 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Customer relationship management CRM 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
- Operating system software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Project management software · in demand
- Sales and marketing software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
The workforce
Who works as a public relations specialist?
Women make up 65.9% of public relations specialists, against 47.1% of all employed people: more women than in the workforce as a whole.
Only 12.6% are 55 or older (23.2% across all jobs): a young workforce.
The median worker is 40.1 years old (all workers: 42.1).
- Women
- 65.9%All workers 47.1% · BLS CPS, 2025
- Median age
- 40.1All workers 42.1 · BLS CPS, 2025
- Aged 55+
- 12.6%All workers 23.2% · BLS CPS, 2025
- Employed (CPS)
- 135,000BLS CPS, 2025
| Group | Share of public relations specialists | All employed people |
|---|---|---|
| Women | 65.9% | 47.1% |
| White | 80.5% | 75.7% |
| Black or African American | 10.3% | 12.7% |
| Asian | 4.9% | 7.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 14.5% | 20.0% |
| Aged 55 and over | 12.6% | 23.2% |
| Aged 16 to 24 | 11.9% | 12.2% |
Current Population Survey annual averages, 2025 (BLS tables 11 and 11b). Race groups can overlap with Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, so they do not sum to 100%.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a public relations specialist?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Public Relations Specialist |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 1 |
| Investigative | 3 |
| Artistic | 5 |
| Social | 4 |
| Enterprising | 6 |
| Conventional | 3 |
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 creating, designing and working without a fixed set of rules.
- Enterprising5.8
- Artistic4.7
- Social3.9
- Conventional3.5
- Investigative2.7
- 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 Public Relations Specialist
O*NET related occupations
- Management
- Management
- Business and Financial Operations
Market Research Analyst and Marketing Specialist
$78,760median a year
Most earn $43K to $155K
+7.0%Bachelor's - Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Management
- Sales and Related
More arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media careers
Median annual pay, with public relations specialists highlighted
- Art Director$114,850
- Technical Writer$90,390
- Editor$77,920
- Writer and Author$76,910
- Public Relations Specialist$74,750
- Interior Designer$67,190
- Graphic Designer$62,960
- Interpreter and Translator$60,170
- Photographer$44,660
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Art Director | $114,850 |
| Technical Writer | $90,390 |
| Editor | $77,920 |
| Writer and Author | $76,910 |
| Public Relations Specialist | $74,750 |
| Interior Designer | $67,190 |
| Graphic Designer | $62,960 |
| Interpreter and Translator | $60,170 |
| Photographer | $44,660 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Specialty careers within public relations specialist
Distinct careers BLS counts inside this occupation, each with its own profile.
Lists Public Relations Specialist appears on
Questions
Public Relations Specialist: frequently asked questions
How much do public relations specialists make?
Public Relations Specialists earn a median of $74,750 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 47% above the $50,980 US median across all occupations. That works out at $35.94/hr. The middle half earn between $56,260 and $100,370. The top 10% earn $135,150 or more.
How much do public relations specialists make an hour?
The median hourly wage for public relations specialists is $35.94 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). On a full-year basis the $74,750 annual median works out to about $6,230 a month before tax.
What is the starting salary for a public relations specialist?
BLS does not publish a starting salary. The nearest measure is the low end of the pay range: the lowest-paid 10% of public relations specialists earn less than $44,110 a year and the bottom quarter less than $56,260 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). New workers often start near that end, but where a particular job starts depends on the employer, the state and the credentials you bring, so read these as the bottom of the range rather than a guaranteed entry wage.
Do public relations specialists make $100k?
Some do. $100,000 sits between the median ($74,750) and the 75th percentile ($100,370), so roughly a quarter to a half of public relations specialists earn more than that (BLS OEWS, May 2025). One state has a median above $100,000: District of Columbia ($102,740).
Which states pay public relations specialists the most?
The highest state medians for Public Relations Specialists are District of Columbia ($102,740), Washington ($87,470), California ($85,030) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What kind of public relations specialist earns the most?
BLS does not split public relations specialists' pay by specialty or employer, but its range shows how far the top end runs: the highest-paid 10% earn more than $135,150, against a median of $74,750 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Location moves pay the most in the published data: the best-paying states are District of Columbia ($102,740), Washington ($87,470), California ($85,030). BLS also counts 5 specialty careers inside this occupation (lobbyist, online community manager, public information officer, science communicator), which share its federal pay figures.
Do you need a degree to become a public relations specialist?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Public Relations Specialists, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as considerable preparation. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 90.9% hold bachelor's degree.
How long does it take to become a public relations specialist?
BLS does not publish a fixed length; it depends on the route. What it does publish: the typical way in for public relations specialists is a bachelor's degree. O*NET classes the work as needing considerable preparation.
Is public relations specialist a growing career?
It is growing, but slowly: 1.8% over 2025–2035 against 3.5% for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 23,000 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a public relations specialist do?
Public relations specialists create and maintain a positive public image for the individuals, groups, or organizations they represent. A core O*NET task: respond to requests for information from the media or designate an appropriate spokesperson or information source. Employers most often ask for Customer relationship management CRM software, Data mining software, Desktop publishing software.
Do public relations specialists work 40 hours a week?
Most work more than 40. In O*NET's survey of people in the job, 64% of public relations specialists usually work more than 40 hours a week, 36% work exactly 40 and 0% work fewer. 68% say their schedule is regular and 32% irregular. Source: O*NET 31.0 Database, Work Context.
What personality type suits a public relations specialist?
O*NET scores Public Relations Specialists highest on the Enterprising, Artistic and Social interest areas, so the work mixes leading, persuading, selling and making decisions with creating, designing and working without a fixed set of rules. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ENFJ, ENFP. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.
What percentage of public relations specialists are women?
Women make up 65.9% of public relations specialists, against 47.1% of all employed people: more women than in the workforce as a whole. Only 12.6% are 55 or older (23.2% across all jobs): a young workforce. The median worker is 40.1 years old (all workers: 42.1). Source: BLS Current Population Survey, 2025 annual averages.