How to Become a Public Relations Specialist
Create and maintain a favorable public image for the organization they represent. It typically requires a bachelor's degree, with a median salary of $74,750 per year and faster than average projected job growth.
Median pay
$74,750/yr
Middle half
$56,260 to $100,370
Job growth
Faster than average
Openings / yr
27,600
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- Media Relations
- Writing
- Social Media Management
- Crisis Communication
- Event Planning
Helpful certifications
- APR (Accreditation in Public Relations)
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
62/100
Work-life balance
52/100
Stress level
55/100
Satisfaction
68/100
Related careers
- Technical Writer$90,390 median
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Public Relations Specialist make?
The median pay for a Public Relations Specialist is $74,750 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $56,260 and $100,370 (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 Specialist?
The usual entry point is a bachelor's degree. Common majors are Public Relations, Communications, Journalism, Marketing, English, Creative Writing, Liberal Arts and General Studies, and Advertising.
Is Public Relations Specialist a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is faster than average (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 27,600 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does a Public Relations Specialist use most?
Common skills for this role are Media Relations, Writing, Social Media Management, Crisis Communication, and Event Planning.
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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).