What is the Typical Salary of PR Majors?
Public relations (PR) is a growing and competitive field. PR majors can become PR specialists, and with experience, they can advance to management positions. Read on to find out how salaries for these professionals depend on education, experience, employer and location.
Salary Information
According to the BLS, the median annual wage for salaried PR specialists was $62,800 as of May 2021. The lowest ten percent came in at $37,020 or less, and the top ten percent pulled in $124,620 or more.
In addition, PayScale.com reported that workers in relevant jobs with a Bachelor of Science in PR earned entry-level PR specialists earned a median wage of $60,000 at that time.
<h3 id="section---ImportantFactsAboutThisOccupation">Important Facts About This Occupation</h3><p></p><table border="1"><tr><td>On-the-Job Training</td><td> None</td></tr>
<tr><td>Key Skills</td><td> Interpersonal, organizational, speaking and writing skills</td></tr>
<tr><td>Work Environment</td><td> Office setting, often with long work days</td></tr>
<tr><td>Similar Occupations</td><td> Advertising and marketing managers, editors, event planners</td></tr>
</table><h3 id="section---SalaryByIndustry">Salary by Industry</h3><p>The following is a list of industries (and average yearly earnings) that employed the bulk of PR specialists in May 2021, as reported by the BLS:
</p><ul><li>Advertising, public relations and related services: $85,840
</li><li>Business, professional, labor, political and similar organizations: $77,520
</li><li>Local government: $67,510
</li><li>Colleges, universities and professional schools: $66,050
</li></ul><p>In contrast, the top-paying industries employed fewer workers. The federal executive branch had the highest average salary of $95,980.
</p><h3 id="section---Location">Location</h3><p>According to May 2021 BLS figures, California employed the highest number of PR specialists and offered average wages of $73,250 annually. Average wages for other states employing many PR specialists were $63,540 for Texas and $83,460 for New York.
</p><p>The District of Columbia had the highest wage of any state in the country, and it offered these professionals an average wage of $106,040, reported the BLS in May 2021. Other states with top average pay were Washington ($85,300), New York ($83,460), Virginia ($82,080), and California ($81,840). If you worked in states that included Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Okhlama, Louisana, and Mississippi, you would have earned the lowest average wages ranging from $39,960-$58,850.
</p><h3 id="section---CareerOverview">Career Overview</h3><p>The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that public relations specialists are expected to have about average employment growth (8%) and fierce competition from 2021-2031, especially for entry-level positions (<i>www.bls.gov</i>). A number of factors can play a role in determining salaries of PR majors, such as education, experience, location and employer.
</p><p>Those who combine degrees in public relations with a strong background in journalism and media in addition to experience are likely to see good job prospects. Advancement opportunities are available to those who pursue graduate degrees in PR or who belong to the Public Relations Society of America and have sought certification by the Universal Accreditation Board. They must also take part in the process of Examination for Accreditation in Public Relations, according to the BLS.
</p><h3 id="section---Advancement">Advancement</h3><p>With work experience, PR specialists can become PR and fundraising managers. The BLS expects 8% job growth for these professionals from 2021-2031, although there will be strong competition. As of May 2021, the median wage for PR and fundraising managers was $119,860, according to the BLS.</p>