Public Relations Specialists Career, Salary and Skills
Public Relations Specialists have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $74,750 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 283,380. Wage data is published for 417 locations.
Occupation description
Promote or create an intended public image for individuals, groups, or organizations. May write or select material for release to various communications media. May specialize in using social media.
O*NET code
27-3031.00
Job zone
4
Typical education
Bachelor's Degree
Experience
Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
National salary and employment
Median annual
$74,750
Hourly median
$35.94
Employment
283,380
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Active Listening | 4.12 | 4.12 |
| Speaking | 4.12 | 4.25 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 4.00 | 4.12 |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Writing | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.88 | 4.12 |
| Coordination | 3.88 | 4.00 |
| Time Management | 3.88 | 3.88 |
| Persuasion | 3.75 | 4.12 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.50 | 4.00 |
Typical tasks
- Write press releases or other media communications to promote clients.
- Respond to requests for information from the media or designate an appropriate spokesperson or information source.
- Plan or direct development or communication of programs to maintain favorable public or stockholder perceptions of an organization's accomplishments, agenda, or environmental responsibility.
- Establish or maintain cooperative relationships with representatives of community, consumer, employee, or public interest groups.
- Confer with other managers to identify trends or key group interests or concerns or to provide advice on business decisions.
- Coach client representatives in effective communication with the public or with employees.
- Study the objectives, promotional policies, or needs of organizations to develop public relations strategies that will influence public opinion or promote ideas, products, or services.
- Post and update content on the company's Web site and social media outlets.
Technology
- 3M Post-it App
- Adobe Acrobat
- Adobe Acrobat Reader
- Adobe Acrobat Writer
- Adobe ActionScript
- Adobe After Effects
- Adobe Creative Cloud software
- Adobe Dreamweaver
- Adobe Illustrator
- Adobe InDesign
- Adobe Photoshop
- Airtable
- Apple Final Cut Express
- Apple Final Cut Pro
Public Relations Specialists salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Public Relations Specialists Salary in CAMedian $85,030 · Employment 32,710
- Public Relations Specialists Salary in NYMedian $81,250 · Employment 28,250
- Public Relations Specialists Salary in TXMedian $65,160 · Employment 25,220
- Public Relations Specialists Salary in New York, NYMedian $84,130 · Employment 24,820
- Public Relations Specialists Salary in Washington, DCMedian $101,680 · Employment 22,810
- Public Relations Specialists Salary in FLMedian $63,660 · Employment 17,820
- Public Relations Specialists Salary in DCMedian $102,740 · Employment 16,720
- Public Relations Specialists Salary in Los Angeles, CAMedian $79,860 · Employment 11,910
- Public Relations Specialists Salary in PAMedian $57,460 · Employment 11,180
- Public Relations Specialists Salary in VAMedian $80,380 · Employment 9,990
- Public Relations Specialists Salary in NCMedian $67,230 · Employment 9,910
- Public Relations Specialists Salary in MNMedian $68,620 · Employment 8,260
Related careers
- Meeting, Convention, and Event PlannersNational median $61,160
- Communications Teachers, PostsecondaryNational median $78,580
- Business Teachers, PostsecondaryNational median $99,080
- TelemarketersNational median $35,450
- Sales ManagersNational median $148,270
- Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsNational median $76,590
- Search Marketing StrategistsNational median $78,760
- Chief ExecutivesNational median $213,990
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.