Public relations specialists held about 270,000 jobs in 2018. The largest employers of public relations specialists were as follows:
| Advertising, public relations, and related services | 13% |
| Educational services; state, local, and private | 12 |
| Government | 9 |
| Business, professional, labor, political, and similar organizations | 8 |
Public relations specialists 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 during regular business hours. Long workdays are common, as is overtime.
Public relations specialists typically need a bachelor’s degree. Employers prefer candidates who have studied public relations, journalism, communications, English, or business.
Education
Public relations specialists typically need a bachelor’s degree in public relations, journalism, communications, English, or business. Through such programs, students produce a portfolio of work that demonstrates their ability to prospective employers.
Other Experience
Internships at public relations firms or in the public relations departments of other businesses can be helpful in getting a job as a public relations specialist.
Some employers prefer candidates who have experience communicating with others through a school newspaper or a leadership position in school or in their community.
Public relations specialists typically have an interest in the Creating, Helping and Persuading interest areas, according to the Holland Code framework. The Creating interest area indicates a focus on being original and imaginative, and working with artistic media. The Helping interest area indicates a focus on assisting, serving, counseling, or teaching other people. The Persuading interest area indicates a focus on influencing, motivating, and selling to other people.
If you are not sure whether you have a Creating or Helping or Persuading interest which might fit with a career as a public relations specialist, you can take a career test to measure your interests.
Public relations specialists should also possess the following specific qualities:
Interpersonal skills. Public relations specialists deal with the public and the media regularly; therefore, they must be open and friendly to maintain a favorable image for their organization.
Organizational skills. Public relations specialists are often in charge of managing several events at the same time, requiring superior organizational skills.
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 their organization. When doing so, they must be able to clearly explain the organization’s position.
Writing skills. Public relations specialists must be able to write well-organized and clear press releases and speeches. They must be able to grasp the key messages they want to get across and write them in a short, succinct way to get the attention of busy readers or listeners.
The median annual wage for public relations specialists was $61,150 in May 2019. 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 $34,590, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $115,430.
In May 2019, the median annual wages for public relations specialists in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
| Business, professional, labor, political, and similar organizations | $66,340 |
| Government | 65,310 |
| Advertising, public relations, and related services | 64,230 |
| Educational services; state, local, and private | 57,940 |
Most public relations specialists work full time during regular business hours. Long workdays are common, as is overtime.
Employment of public relations specialists is projected to grow 6 percent from 2018 to 2028, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
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 these new types of social media effectively.
Job Prospects
Because many college graduates apply for a limited amount of public relations positions each year, candidates can expect strong competition for jobs.
Candidates can expect particularly strong competition at advertising firms, organizations with large media exposure, and prestigious public relations firms.
For more information about public relations managers, including professional certification in public relations, visit
Public Relations Society of America
Public Relations Student Society of America
International Association of Business Communicators