Translates research for the public, writing stories, producing media and running outreach for universities, labs, museums and agencies. BLS does not publish separate figures for public relations specialists; it counts them within public relations specialist (SOC 27-3031), whose median pay is $74,750 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
- SOC 27-3031
- Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Science Communicator 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: Science Communications Specialist, Science Writer, Research Communications Manager, Science Outreach Coordinator, Public Information Officer, Science.
Pay
How much do Public Relations Specialists make?
Every science communicator 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 Science Communicator 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.
Getting in
How to become a Science Communicator
Many science communicators have a degree in a science field and add writing experience, while others come from journalism or communications and learn the science. Graduate programs in science communication or science writing exist at schools such as UC Santa Cruz, MIT and Johns Hopkins.
The AAAS Mass Media Science and Engineering Fellowship places science students in newsrooms for a summer, and the National Association of Science Writers offers workshops, mentoring and job listings. Building a portfolio through student newspapers, blogs, podcasts or university communications internships is the usual way in.
- 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)
Medium 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 Science Communicator do?
Science communicators explain research to people outside the lab. At universities, national laboratories and federal agencies, they interview scientists, write news releases and feature stories, produce videos, podcasts and social media content, and pitch stories to journalists. At museums and science centers, they develop exhibits, talks and public programs.
They also help researchers communicate directly: coaching scientists for interviews, editing grant outreach plans, and organizing public events. Some work for nonprofits, foundations or science policy groups, writing for decision makers. Accuracy matters as much as clarity, so communicators check facts with researchers and avoid overstating results.
Day-to-day tasks
- Interview researchers about new findings
- Write news releases, feature stories and web content
- Produce videos, podcasts and social media posts
- Pitch research stories to journalists
- Coach scientists for media interviews
- Plan public talks, exhibits and outreach events
- Fact-check content with researchers before publication
Typical tasks, researched by NueCareer from the sources below.
Working conditions and hours
Science communicators work in offices, often with hybrid or remote options. The job includes interviews with researchers, visits to labs and field sites, and event work. News cycles and embargoed research publications can create tight deadlines. Employers range from universities and federal labs to museums, nonprofits and science media outlets.
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
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
- 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.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Science Communicator?
NueCareer estimate (Holland code AES) built on O*NET's Public Relations Specialist profile, scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Science Communicator |
|---|---|
| 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
- Artistic5.1
- Social4.2
- 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 Science Communicator
O*NET related occupations
- Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- 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
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
- Science Communicator$74,750
- Interior Designer$67,190
- Graphic Designer$62,960
- 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 |
| Science Communicator | $74,750 |
| Interior Designer | $67,190 |
| Graphic Designer | $62,960 |
| Photographer | $44,660 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Science Communicator appears on
Questions
Science Communicator: frequently asked questions
How much do Public Relations Specialists make?
BLS does not publish a separate wage for public relations specialists. It counts them within public relations specialist, whose median pay is $74,750 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of that occupation earn between $56,260 and $100,370, and the top 10% earn $135,150 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Science Communicator?
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 medium preparation. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 90.9% hold bachelor's degree.
Is Science Communicator 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 Science Communicator do?
Science communicators explain research to people outside the lab. A typical task: interview researchers about new findings. Employers most often ask for Customer relationship management CRM software, Data mining software, Desktop publishing software.
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 personality type suits a Science Communicator?
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.