How much does a PR specialist make?
a year · about $36 an hour
A typical PR specialist in the United States makes $74,750 a year, about $36 an hour, about 1.5× a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
They check current news and online reactions, then write a press release or answer a reporter’s question. They may update social posts, arrange an interview, and meet with a team to plan what to tell the public.
Did you know? Some radio, TV, and newspaper stories begin at a PR specialist’s desk: they share information with journalists, who decide whether to cover it.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $44,110 and $135,150How do you become one?
Most U.S. PR specialists earn a bachelor’s in PR, communications, social science, or business; internships help. There’s no fixed starting age, and a license or entry exam is not usually needed; certification is optional.
School needed: Usually a bachelor's degree
Good for people who like leading and selling and creating
Why does pay differ?
In the United States, experience, useful specialist skills, and professional certification can affect PR pay, though certification is not usually required. Pay also varies by employer or industry, location, responsibility, and hours worked.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in District of Columbia ($102,740), lowest in Pennsylvania ($57,460).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $44,110 | $74,750 | $135,150 | about 283,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $102,740 | about 17,000 |
| Washington | $87,470 | about 6,000 |
| California | $85,030 | about 33,000 |
| Connecticut | $84,990 | about 2,000 |
| New York | $81,250 | about 28,000 |
Official definition: 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.
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/media-and-communication/public-relations-specialists.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/27-3031.00
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes273031.htm
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY