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Public relations manager: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 26, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$146,910median pay per year, or $70.63 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $82,410lowest 10% earn less
  2. $106,58025th percentile
  3. $146,910median
  4. $204,52075th percentile
  5. $284,990top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[2]

Public relations managers had a median pay of $146,910 a year, far above the median for all occupations[1][2]. Employment is projected to grow 5.7% from 2025 to 2035[3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+5.7%[3]
Openings per year
6,100[5]
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree[6]

How much do public relations managers make?

The median wage for Public Relations Managers was $146,910 a year, or $70.63 an hour, in May 2025[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The average was $164,760 a year, or $79.21 an hour[7].

The range is wide. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $82,410 a year, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $284,990[4]. The 25th percentile was $106,580 and the 75th was $204,520[4]. Hourly, the 10th percentile was $39.62 and the 90th was $137.01[8]. BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[9].

The median for all occupations was $50,980 a year[2]. The public relations manager median was higher than that figure[1][2].

These figures cover wage and salary workers. They leave out the self-employed and do not count bonuses or benefits such as health insurance[10]. Only 0.4% of these managers were self-employed in 2025[11]. About 74,850 wage and salary jobs existed in May 2025[12].

Pay by state and city

The District of Columbia had the top state median at $197,600[13]. New York followed at $180,880 and Virginia at $176,340[13]. West Virginia had the lowest listed median at $82,380[13].

California had the most jobs at 9,400[14]. Texas had 8,190, New York 7,710, the District of Columbia 7,410 and Florida 2,990[14].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara had the highest median at $213,510[15]. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria followed at $195,190 and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont at $192,720[15]. The Washington metro area had the most jobs at 9,470, and New York-Newark-Jersey City had 7,940[16].

Show median pay in 47 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
District of Columbia[13]$197,6007,410
New York$180,8807,710
Virginia$176,3402,610
New Jersey$174,9802,420
Massachusetts$171,7402,170
California$167,9809,400
Maine$166,940n/a
Colorado$162,870n/a
Washington$159,4401,610
Rhode Island$156,080210
Connecticut$154,210890
Delaware$153,010170
Maryland$149,3801,530
Minnesota$139,0401,230
Georgia$134,5001,540
Utah$132,670580
New Hampshire$132,660330
North Carolina$132,2801,510
Illinois$131,9902,770
Oregon$131,1901,410
Kansas$129,760300
Florida$127,5502,990
Tennessee$127,390700
Texas$126,6708,190
Alaska$120,920380
Iowa$120,730630
Ohio$118,6701,400
Pennsylvania$118,0502,210
Michigan$117,9001,720
New Mexico$115,260250
Indiana$114,960600
Missouri$114,710760
Arizona$114,4001,170
Nevada$114,130450
North Dakota$114,110130
Wisconsin$113,9801,010
Kentucky$112,320510
Hawaii$105,010390
South Carolina$104,920650
Nebraska$104,440330
Arkansas$104,170340
Montana$99,990180
Alabama$98,210540
Idaho$98,160n/a
Mississippi$97,160170
Oklahoma$96,030490
Louisiana$94,380320
West Virginia$82,38070

How to become a public relations manager

The training details here come from a profile covering a wider group, public relations and fundraising managers[17]. The typical path looks like this:

Some employers prefer a master's degree, particularly in public relations, journalism, fundraising or nonprofit management[18]. Courses in advertising, business, public affairs, public speaking and writing can help[20].

Certification is not mandatory. Candidates qualify through a mix of experience and education and must pass an exam[21].

O*NET places the work in Job Zone Four, which means considerable preparation is needed[22].

What public relations managers do

Public relations managers plan, direct or coordinate activities that build or maintain a favorable public image or raise awareness of an issue[23]. Typical tasks include:

O*NET job titles include communications director, communications manager and public affairs director[25]. Useful qualities include interpersonal, leadership, organizational, speaking and writing skills[26][27][28][29][30].

Where they work

Managers in the wider public relations and fundraising group usually work in offices during regular business hours, though many must travel for speeches, meetings and community activities[31]. The profile describes high-stress settings with several events at once[32].

Most managers in this group work full time, often with long workdays, and some work more than 40 hours a week[33]. Professional, scientific, and technical services employed 19% of the group in 2025[34].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 5.7% from 2025 to 2035, from about 80,800 to 85,400 jobs[3]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% over the same period[35]. These counts include self-employed workers[3].

About 6,100 openings are projected each year[5]. Openings include jobs left by workers who retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs[5]. Each year, 2.1% of workers leave the labor force and 4.7% move to a different occupation[36].

Is it a good fit?

Pay is far above the all-occupations median, with a wide spread between the lowest and highest earners[1][2][4]. Entry typically takes a bachelor's degree and 5 years or more of related experience[6]. Growth is above the all-occupations rate[3][35]. The facts for the wider group describe busy, sometimes high-stress work with long days[32][33].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[37].

Frequently asked questions

How much do public relations managers make?
The median was $146,910 a year, or $70.63 an hour, in May 2025[1].
What degree do you need to work in public relations management?
BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry education, along with 5 years or more of related experience[6].
Is public relations in demand?
Employment is projected to grow 5.7% from 2025 to 2035, with about 6,100 openings a year[3][5].
What is the highest paying state for public relations managers?
The District of Columbia had the top median at $197,600, then New York at $180,880[13].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Public Relations Managers in the US was $146,910 per year and $70.63 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Public Relations Managers is projected to grow 5.7% from 2025 to 2035, from about 80,800 to 85,400 jobs (a change of +4,600). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Public Relations Managers: 10th percentile $82,410, 25th percentile $106,580, 75th percentile $204,520, 90th percentile $284,990. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: about 6,100 openings for Public Relations Managers are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Public Relations Managers: education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree; work experience in a related occupation: 5 years or more; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Public Relations Managers was $164,760 per year and $79.21 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Public Relations Managers: 10th percentile $39.62, 25th percentile $51.24, 75th percentile $98.33, 90th percentile $137.01. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS Employment Projections: 0.4% of Public Relations Managers were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 74,850 people were employed as Public Relations Managers in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. Median annual wage for Public Relations Managers in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Public Relations Managers jobs: California 9,400; Texas 8,190; New York 7,710; District of Columbia 7,410; Florida 2,990. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Public Relations Managers (areas with at least 100 jobs): San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $213,510; Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $195,190; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $192,720; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $192,360; Trenton-Princeton, NJ $179,330; Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR $177,370; Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $176,390; Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT $174,990. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Public Relations Managers jobs: Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 9,470 (median $195,190); New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 7,940 (median $192,360); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 3,610 (median $163,830); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 2,850 (median $130,950); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 2,190 (median $133,210); San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA 1,880 (median $192,720). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Public Relations and Fundraising Managers" covers Public Relations Managers together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Work Experience in a Related Occupation. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. O*NET 11-2032.00: Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed. A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified. O*NET OnLine
  23. O*NET description of Public Relations Managers. O*NET OnLine
  24. O*NET task list for Public Relations Managers. O*NET OnLine
  25. O*NET 11-2032.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Communications Director, Communications Manager, Community Relations Director, PR Director (Public Relations Director), Public Affairs Director. O*NET OnLine
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  34. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of public relations and fundraising managers in 2025: Professional, scientific, and technical services 19%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  35. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  36. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Public Relations Managers: 2.1% of workers leave the labor force each year and 4.7% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  37. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.