CareerFacts

All careers › Public Relations Specialists

Public relations specialist: 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.

$74,750median pay per year, or $35.94 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $44,110lowest 10% earn less
  2. $56,26025th percentile
  3. $74,750median
  4. $100,37075th percentile
  5. $135,150top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

Public relations specialists earned a median of $74,750 a year[1], and the job usually starts with a bachelor's degree[2]. BLS projects employment to grow 1.8% over the decade[3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+1.8%[3]
Openings per year
23,000[6]
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree[2]

How much do public relations specialists make?

The median pay for Public Relations Specialists was $74,750 a year, or $35.94 an hour[1]. Half of the workers earned more and half earned less. The average was higher, at $84,120 a year, or $40.44 an hour[7].

For comparison, the median for all occupations was $50,980 a year[5].

The range is wide. The table shows annual wage points for May 2025.

Point Annual wage Hourly wage
10th percentile[4][8] $44,110 $21.21
25th percentile[4][8] $56,260 $27.05
Median[1] $74,750 $35.94
75th percentile[4][8] $100,370 $48.25
90th percentile[4][8] $135,150 $64.98

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $44,110[4]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS publishes percentile wages rather than a starting salary[9].

These figures cover wage and salary workers only. They leave out the self-employed, nonproduction bonuses and the cost of benefits[10].

Pay by state and city

The District of Columbia had the highest median wage at $102,740, followed by Washington at $87,470 and California at $85,030[11]. Connecticut ($84,990) and New York ($81,250) came next[11].

The most jobs were in California (32,710), New York (28,250), Texas (25,220), Florida (17,820) and the District of Columbia (16,720)[12].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA had the highest median at $117,620[13]. Kennewick-Richland, WA ($103,030) and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA ($102,520) followed[13]. The New York metro area had the most jobs at 24,820, and its median was $84,130[14].

Show median pay in 50 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
District of Columbia[11]$102,74016,720
Washington$87,4706,430
California$85,03032,710
Connecticut$84,9901,910
New York$81,25028,250
Colorado$80,6807,410
Virginia$80,3809,990
New Jersey$80,1304,980
Massachusetts$79,6606,760
Maryland$79,5604,190
Rhode Island$77,5401,140
Illinois$76,3806,200
Delaware$76,120930
Oregon$74,9004,510
Nevada$73,8401,600
New Hampshire$73,2801,140
Georgia$73,2006,860
North Dakota$70,280640
Alaska$70,050640
New Mexico$68,7001,130
Minnesota$68,6208,260
Wyoming$67,490480
Wisconsin$67,2404,410
North Carolina$67,2309,910
Arizona$66,7105,350
Vermont$66,0601,260
Michigan$65,3007,510
Texas$65,16025,220
Arkansas$65,000980
Oklahoma$64,9202,280
Indiana$64,9003,750
Kansas$64,8602,340
Ohio$64,8406,670
South Dakota$64,520210
Hawaii$63,8801,800
Montana$63,7801,760
Florida$63,66017,820
Iowa$62,9702,890
South Carolina$62,7302,950
Utah$62,6701,800
Maine$62,4501,400
Nebraska$61,7801,590
Alabama$61,7102,410
Missouri$61,1304,820
Idaho$61,1101,220
Tennessee$60,9003,380
Louisiana$60,4701,710
Kentucky$60,1502,580
Mississippi$59,810950
Pennsylvania$57,46011,180
West Virginia$56,730350

How to become a public relations specialist

BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical education for entry. It lists no related work experience and no on-the-job training as typical[2].

Professional certification is not typically required to enter the job. Some employers prefer it[19].

In an ONET survey of 22 workers, 91% said a bachelor's degree is required and 9% said a master's degree[20]. ONET places the job in Job Zone Four, which calls for considerable preparation[21].

The facts here do not say how many years the path takes.

What public relations specialists do

O*NET describes the work as creating or promoting a public image for people, groups or organizations[22]. Common tasks include:

On the job, speaking and writing skills matter, as do organizational and problem-solving skills[24][25][26][27][28]. O*NET sample titles include Media Relations Specialist, Public Affairs Specialist and Public Information Officer[29].

Where they work

Employers include schools, media buyers and professional associations[30]. Educational services (state, local and private) was the largest employer group, at 14% of jobs[31].

The work is usually done in offices. It also involves speeches, meetings, community events and some travel[30]. Most specialists work full time, and some work more than 40 hours a week[32].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 1.8% between 2025 and 2035, rising from about 314,500 to 320,200 jobs[3]. Across all occupations, projected growth is 3.5%[33]. These projection counts include self-employed workers, and 1.1% of specialists were self-employed in 2025[34].

About 23,000 openings are projected each year[6]. Openings include jobs left by people who retire or switch occupations, not only new jobs[6]. Each year, 2.3% of workers leave the labor force and 4.8% move to a different occupation[35].

BLS names AI as a factor. Specialists increasingly use AI tools for social media content, and generative AI can produce some content on its own, so less involvement from specialists is needed[36].

Is it a good fit?

The pay is above the all-occupations median, and the range is wide[1][5][4]. Entry typically takes a bachelor's degree but no related work experience[2]. Growth is projected below the all-occupations rate, and BLS points to AI tools as a pressure on demand[3][33][36]. Openings still arise each year as people leave the job[6]. The work leans heavily on writing and speaking[27][28].

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

Frequently asked questions

How much does a public relations specialist make an hour?
The median was $35.94 an hour in May 2025, and the average was $40.44[1][7].
What degree do you need to be a public relations specialist?
BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry education[2]. Fields named include public relations, other communications fields, social science and business[15].
Is public relations in demand?
BLS projects 1.8% growth from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations[3][33]. About 23,000 openings are projected each year[6].
What is the highest paying state for public relations specialists?
The District of Columbia had the highest median at $102,740[11]. Among the 50 states, Washington came first at $87,470[11].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Public Relations Specialists in the US was $74,750 per year and $35.94 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Public Relations Specialists: education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Public Relations Specialists is projected to grow 1.8% from 2025 to 2035, from about 314,500 to 320,200 jobs (a change of +5,700). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Public Relations Specialists: 10th percentile $44,110, 25th percentile $56,260, 75th percentile $100,370, 90th percentile $135,150. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 23,000 openings for Public Relations Specialists 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
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Public Relations Specialists was $84,120 per year and $40.44 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Public Relations Specialists: 10th percentile $21.21, 25th percentile $27.05, 75th percentile $48.25, 90th percentile $64.98. 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. Median annual wage for Public Relations Specialists in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Public Relations Specialists jobs: California 32,710; New York 28,250; Texas 25,220; Florida 17,820; District of Columbia 16,720. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Public Relations Specialists (areas with at least 100 jobs): San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $117,620; Kennewick-Richland, WA $103,030; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $102,520; Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $101,680; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $96,000; Bloomington, IL $91,630; New Haven, CT $91,530; Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $89,640. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Public Relations Specialists jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 24,820 (median $84,130); Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 22,810 (median $101,680); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 11,910 (median $79,860); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 7,300 (median $69,280); San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA 6,290 (median $102,520); Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI 6,170 (median $73,780). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  16. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Other Experience. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Other Experience. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. O*NET 27-3031.00 survey of workers (22 respondents), education level they say is required: Bachelor's Degree 91%, Master's Degree 9% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  21. O*NET 27-3031.00: 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
  22. O*NET description of Public Relations Specialists. O*NET OnLine
  23. O*NET task list for Public Relations Specialists. O*NET OnLine
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  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. O*NET 27-3031.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Communications Specialist, Community Relations Coordinator, Corporate Communications Specialist, Information and Communications Specialist, Media Relations Specialist, Public Affairs Specialist, Public Information Officer, Public Information Specialist. O*NET OnLine
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of public relations specialists in 2025: Educational services; state, local, and private 14%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  34. BLS Employment Projections: 1.1% of Public Relations Specialists were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  35. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Public Relations Specialists: 2.3% of workers leave the labor force each year and 4.8% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  36. BLS Employment Projections, factor affecting employment of Public Relations Specialists: Productivity change, capital/labor substitution - share decreases as public relations specialists increasingly use artificial intelligence (AI) tools for social media content. Generative artificial intelligence (AI) is also increasingly used in public relations to produce some content on its own, requiring less involvement of public relations specialists. 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.

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.