How to Become a Public Relations Manager
Own an organization's public image: lead communications strategy, media relations, and crisis response. It typically requires a bachelor's degree, with a median salary of $146,910 per year and faster than average projected job growth.
Median pay
$146,910/yr
Middle half
$106,580 to $204,520
Job growth
Faster than average
Openings / yr
6,600
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- Media Relations
- Communications Strategy
- Crisis Management
- Writing
- Storytelling
Helpful certifications
- APR (Accreditation in Public Relations)
Related careers
- Marketing Manager$166,790 median
- Advertising Manager$133,660 median
- Market Research Analyst$78,760 median
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Public Relations Manager make?
The median pay for a Public Relations Manager is $146,910 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $106,580 and $204,520 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become a Public Relations Manager?
The usual entry point is a bachelor's degree. Common majors are Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, and Marketing.
Is Public Relations Manager a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is faster than average (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 6,600 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does a Public Relations Manager use most?
Common skills for this role are Media Relations, Communications Strategy, Crisis Management, Writing, and Storytelling.
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).