### Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Public Relations Specialists Summary
                        
            
                                                        
                                                                
                        
            
            
            
                            
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
            						
							
				                                                
                                            




            			public relations specialists imagePublic relations specialists design media releases to shape public perception of their organization.							
						Quick Facts:     Public Relations Specialists2023     Median Pay
            						$66,750     per year
										$32.09     per hourTypical Entry-Level Education
                                    Bachelor's degreeWork Experience in a Related Occupation
                                    NoneOn-the-job Training
                                    NoneNumber of Jobs, 2022
                                    297,100Job Outlook, 2022-32
                                    6% (Faster than average)Employment Change, 2022-32
                                    18,000What Public Relations Specialists Do
                                                
                        
                        
Public relations specialists create and maintain a positive public image for the clients they represent.
            
                        Work Environment
                        
Public relations specialists work for a variety of organizations, including schools, media buyers, and professional associations. They usually work in offices, but they also deliver speeches, attend meetings and community activities, and occasionally travel.
            
                                                How to Become a Public Relations Specialist
                                                
                        
Public relations specialists typically need a bachelor's degree to enter the occupation.
            
                        Pay
                        												                            																				    														The median annual wage for public relations specialists was $66,750 in May 2023.									                                					
						
            
                        Job Outlook
                        						
												Employment							of public relations specialists is projected to grow							 6 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.
						About 25,800 openings for public relations specialists are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
            			
            			 Many 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.
						State & Area Data
                       Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for public relations specialists.
            
            
						
                        Similar Occupations
                        
                                                    Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of public relations specialists with similar occupations.
            
            
                        More Information, Including Links to O*NET
                        
                                               
                        Learn more about public relations specialists by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
 What Public Relations Specialists Do 
            

			public relations specialists imagePublic relations specialists evaluate advertising and promotion programs.			
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.
Duties
Public relations specialists typically do the following:
Write press releases and prepare information for the media
Respond to information requests from the media
Help clients communicate effectively with the public
Draft speeches and arrange interviews for a client's top executives
Evaluate public opinion of clients through social media
Evaluate advertising and promotion programs to determine whether they are compatible with their organization’s public relations efforts
Help maintain their organization’s image and identityPublic relations specialists**,** also called *communications specialists*, handle an individual’s, group’s, or organization’s communication with the public, including consumers, investors, reporters, and other media specialists. In government, public relations specialists may be called *press secretaries*and**keep the public informed about the activities of government officials and agencies.
Public relations specialists write press releases and contact people in the media who might print or broadcast their material. Many radio or television special reports, newspaper stories, and magazine articles start at the desks of public relations specialists. For example, a press release might describe a public issue, such as health, energy, or the environment, and what an organization does concerning that issue.
Press releases often are adapted for announcements on social media, in addition to publication through traditional media outlets. Public relations specialists are usually in charge of monitoring and responding to social media questions and concerns.
Public relations specialists are different from advertisers in that they get their stories covered by media instead of purchasing ad space in publications and on television.
 Work Environment
			public relations specialists imagePublic relations specialists work in many different industries.			

	    
				
	
	
	
	
	
	
	    					 Public relations specialists held about 297,100 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of public relations specialists were as follows:
        Educational services; state, local, and private
                13%Advertising, public relations, and related services
                13Government
                10Healthcare and social assistance
                7Business, professional, labor, political, and similar organizations
                6Public relations specialists work for a variety of organizations, including schools, media buyers, and professional associations. They usually work in offices, but they also deliver speeches, attend meetings and community activities, and occasionally travel.
Work Schedules
Most public relations specialists work full time. Some work more than 40 hours per week.
 How to Become a Public Relations Specialist

			public relations specialists imagePublic relations specialists typically need a bachelor’s degree.			
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.
Education
Public relations specialists typically need a bachelor’s degree in public relations or another communications field, social science, or business. Through such programs, students may produce a portfolio of work that demonstrates their ability to prospective employers.
Although it is not typically required to enter the occupation, professional certification is preferred by some employers hiring candidates for public relations specialist jobs.
Other Experience
Internships at public relations firms or in the public relations departments of other businesses may be helpful in getting a job as a public relations specialist.
Some employers prefer candidates who have experience in the field through a school newspaper, social media platforms, or blogs, or through a leadership position in school or in their community.
Important Qualities
***Interpersonal skills.*** Public relations specialists deal with the public and the media regularly. They must be open and friendly in order to maintain a favorable image for their organization.
***Organizational skills.*** Public relations specialists are often in charge of managing several events or communications at the same time, which requires excellent skills in coordinating arrangements.
***Problem-solving skills.*** Public relations specialists sometimes must explain how a company or client is handling sensitive issues. They must use good judgment in what they report and how they report it.
***Speaking skills.*** Public relations specialists regularly speak on behalf of clients or their organization. When doing so, they must be able to clearly explain the client’s or the organization’s position.
***Writing skills.***Public relations specialists must be able to write well-organized and clear press releases, speeches, and social media posts. They must be able to grasp key messages and write them in a succinct but engaging way.
 Pay

			



	
 
                                                     
            
    
                Public Relations SpecialistsMedian annual wages, May 2023Public relations specialists$66,750  Media and communication workers$66,320  Total, all occupations$48,060Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
 

	
	



		
	
	
	
The median annual wage for public relations specialists was $66,750 in May 2023. 


The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $38,570, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $126,220.





		
	    					 In May 2023, the median annual wages for public relations specialists in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:	
        Government
                $76,140Advertising, public relations, and related services
                74,250Business, professional, labor, political, and similar organizations
                71,860Educational services; state, local, and private
                62,630Healthcare and social assistance
                58,390Most public relations specialists work full time. Some work more than 40 hours per week.
 Job Outlook

   
        
    
          
        
    
               Public Relations SpecialistsPercent change in employment, projected 2022-32Public relations specialists6%  Total, all occupations3%  Media and communication workers3%Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
            
            
			 
	
	
	

			Employment				of public relations specialists is projected to grow				 6 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.
			
			About 25,800 openings for public relations specialists are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
			
			 Many 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.
			Employment
	
			
Organizations will continue to emphasize community outreach and customer relations as a way 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 also is expected to create opportunities for public relations specialists as they try to appeal to consumers and the general public in new ways. Public relations specialists will be needed to help their clients use social media effectively.
			

                        Employment projections data for     public relations specialists, 2022-32
                Occupational Title
                        SOC Code
                        Employment, 2022
                        Projected Employment, 2032
                        Change, 2022-32
                        Employment by IndustryPercent
                        NumericSOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program**Public relations specialists**
			27-3031
			297,100
			315,100
			6
			18,000
			Get data
 State & Area Data **Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)** The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OES data maps for employment and wages by state and area. Public relations specialists **Projections Central** Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.com. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved. **CareerOneStop** CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.
 Similar Occupations This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of public relations specialists. Occupation
                Job Duties
                ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION
                2023     MEDIAN PAY**Advertising, Promotions, and Marketing Managers**
            Advertising, promotions, and marketing managers plan programs to generate interest in products or services.
            Bachelor's degree
            $156,580**Advertising Sales Agents**
            Advertising sales agents sell advertising space to businesses and individuals.
            High school diploma or equivalent
            $61,270**Editors**
            Editors plan, review, and revise content for publication.
            Bachelor's degree
            $75,020**Market Research Analysts**
            Market research analysts study consumer preferences, business conditions, and other factors to assess potential sales of a product or service.
            Bachelor's degree
            $74,680**Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners**
            Meeting, convention, and event planners arrange all aspects of events and professional gatherings.
            Bachelor's degree
            $56,920**Public Relations and Fundraising Managers**
            Public relations managers direct the creation of materials that will enhance the public image of their employer or client. Fundraising managers coordinate campaigns that bring in donations for their organization.
            Bachelor's degree
            $130,480**Wholesale and Manufacturing Sales Representatives**
            Wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives sell goods for wholesalers or manufacturers to businesses, government agencies, and other organizations.
            See How to Become One
            $73,080**Writers and Authors**
            Writers and authors develop written content for various types of media.
            Bachelor's degree
            $73,690
 Contacts for More Information
								
For more information about public relations specialists, visit
Public Relations Society of America
Public Relations Student Society of America
International Association of Business Communicators

                                                
                                                        
                                                                                                    O*NET
                                        Public Relations Specialists
 Suggested citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.  Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Public Relations Specialists, 
        	 at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/media-and-communication/public-relations-specialists.htm (visited *May 21, 2024*).
 **Last Modified Date:**
                        Wednesday, April 17, 2024


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