What are the three media categories with which public relations practitioners work?

Public Relations Specialists

  • Summary
  • What They Do
  • Work Environment
  • How to Become One
  • Pay
  • Job Outlook
  • State & Area Data
  • Similar Occupations
  • More Info

Summary

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Quick Facts: Public Relations Specialists
2021 Median Pay $62,800 per year
$30.19 per hour
Typical Entry-Level Education Bachelor's degree
Work Experience in a Related Occupation None
On-the-job Training None
Number of Jobs, 2021 276,800
Job Outlook, 2021-318% (Faster than average)
Employment Change, 2021-31 22,300

What Public Relations Specialists Do

Public relations specialists create and maintain a positive public image for the clients they represent.

Work Environment

Public relations specialists work for a variety of organizations, including schools, media buyers, and professional associations. They usually work in offices, but they also deliver speeches, attend meetings and community activities, and occasionally travel.

How to Become a Public Relations Specialist

Public relations specialists typically need a bachelor's degree to enter the occupation.

Pay

The median annual wage for public relations specialists was $62,800 in May 2021.

Job Outlook

Employment of public relations specialists is projected to grow 8 percent from 2021 to 2031, faster than the average for all occupations.

About 27,400 openings for public relations specialists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

State & Area Data

Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for public relations specialists.

Similar Occupations

Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of public relations specialists with similar occupations.

Learn more about public relations specialists by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.

What Public Relations Specialists Do About this section

What are the three media categories with which public relations practitioners work?

Public relations specialists evaluate advertising and promotion programs.

Public relations specialists create and maintain a positive public image for the individuals, groups, or organizations they represent. They craft media releases and develop social media programs to shape public perception of their clients and to increase awareness of each client’s work and goals.

Duties

Public relations specialists typically do the following:

  • Write press releases and prepare information for the media
  • Respond to information requests from the media
  • Help clients communicate effectively with the public
  • Draft speeches and arrange interviews for a client's top executives
  • Evaluate public opinion of clients through social media
  • Evaluate advertising and promotion programs to determine whether they are compatible with their organization’s public relations efforts
  • Help maintain their organization’s image and identity

Public relations specialists, also called communications specialists and social media specialists, handle an individual’s, group’s, or organization’s communication with the public, including consumers, investors, reporters, and other media specialists. In government, public relations specialists may be called press secretaries andkeep the public informed about the activities of government officials and agencies.

Public relations specialists write press releases and contact people in the media who might print or broadcast their material. Many radio or television special reports, newspaper stories, and magazine articles start at the desks of public relations specialists. For example, a press release might describe a public issue, such as health, energy, or the environment, and what an organization does concerning that issue.

Press releases often are adapted for announcements on social media, in addition to publication through traditional media outlets. Public relations specialists are usually in charge of monitoring and responding to social media questions and concerns.

Public relations specialists are different from advertisers in that they get their stories covered by media instead of purchasing ad space in publications and on television.

Work Environment About this section

What are the three media categories with which public relations practitioners work?

Public relations specialists work in many different industries.

Public relations specialists held about 276,800 jobs in 2021. The largest employers of public relations specialists were as follows:

Educational services; state, local, and private 14%
Advertising, public relations, and related services 13
Government 10
Business, professional, labor, political, and similar organizations 7

Public relations specialists work for a variety of organizations, including schools, media buyers, and professional associations. They usually work in offices, but they also deliver speeches, attend meetings and community activities, and occasionally travel.

Work Schedules

Most public relations specialists work full time. Some work more than 40 hours per week.

How to Become a Public Relations Specialist About this section

What are the three media categories with which public relations practitioners work?

Public relations specialists typically need a bachelor’s degree.

Public relations specialists typically need a bachelor’s degree to enter the occupation. Employers may prefer to hire candidates who have studied a particular field, such as communications or business.

Education

Public relations specialists typically need a bachelor’s degree in public relations or another communications field, social science, or business. Through such programs, students may produce a portfolio of work that demonstrates their ability to prospective employers.

Although it is not typically required to enter the occupation, professional certification is preferred by some employers hiring candidates for public relations specialist jobs.

Other Experience

Internships at public relations firms or in the public relations departments of other businesses may be helpful in getting a job as a public relations specialist.

Some employers prefer candidates who have experience in the field through a school newspaper, social media platforms, or blogs, or through a leadership position in school or in their community.

Important Qualities

Interpersonal skills. Public relations specialists deal with the public and the media regularly. They must be open and friendly in order to maintain a favorable image for their organization.

Organizational skills. Public relations specialists are often in charge of managing several events or communications at the same time, which requires excellent skills in coordinating arrangements.

Problem-solving skills. Public relations specialists sometimes must explain how a company or client is handling sensitive issues. They must use good judgment in what they report and how they report it.

Speaking skills. Public relations specialists regularly speak on behalf of clients or their organization. When doing so, they must be able to clearly explain the client’s or the organization’s position.

Writing skills. Public relations specialists must be able to write well-organized and clear press releases, speeches, and social media posts. They must be able to grasp key messages and write them in a succinct but engaging way.

Pay About this section

Public Relations Specialists

Median annual wages, May 2021

Public relations specialists Media and communication workers Total, all occupations  

The median annual wage for public relations specialists was $62,800 in May 2021. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $37,020, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $124,620.

In May 2021, the median annual wages for public relations specialists in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:

Advertising, public relations, and related services $69,170
Government 67,270
Business, professional, labor, political, and similar organizations 64,430
Educational services; state, local, and private 61,860

Most public relations specialists work full time. Some work more than 40 hours per week.

Job Outlook About this section

Public Relations Specialists

Percent change in employment, projected 2021-31

Public relations specialists Total, all occupations Media and communication workers  

Employment of public relations specialists is projected to grow 8 percent from 2021 to 2031, faster than the average for all occupations.

About 27,400 openings for public relations specialists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Employment

Organizations will continue to emphasize community outreach and customer relations as a way to maintain and enhance their reputation and visibility. Public opinion can change quickly, particularly because both good and bad news spread rapidly through the Internet. Consequently, public relations specialists will be needed to respond to news developments and maintain their organization’s reputation.

The use of social media also is expected to create opportunities for public relations specialists as they try to appeal to consumers and the general public in new ways. Public relations specialists will be needed to help their clients use social media effectively.

Employment projections data for public relations specialists, 2021-31
Occupational Title SOC Code Employment, 2021 Projected Employment, 2031 Change, 2021-31 Employment by Industry
Percent Numeric

SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program

Public relations specialists

27-3031 276,800 299,200 8 22,300 Get data

State & Area Data About this section

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)

The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OEWS data maps for employment and wages by state and area.

  • Public relations specialists

Projections Central

Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.com. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved.

CareerOneStop

CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.

Similar Occupations About this section

This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of public relations specialists.

Occupation Job Duties ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION
What are the three media categories with which public relations practitioners work?
2021 MEDIAN PAY
What are the three media categories with which public relations practitioners work?
What are the three media categories with which public relations practitioners work?
Advertising, Promotions, and Marketing Managers

Advertising, promotions, and marketing managers plan programs to generate interest in products or services.

Bachelor's degree $133,380
What are the three media categories with which public relations practitioners work?
Advertising Sales Agents

Advertising sales agents sell advertising space to businesses and individuals.

High school diploma or equivalent $52,340
What are the three media categories with which public relations practitioners work?
Editors

Editors plan, review, and revise content for publication.

Bachelor's degree $63,350
What are the three media categories with which public relations practitioners work?
Market Research Analysts

Market research analysts study consumer preferences, business conditions, and other factors to assess potential sales of a product or service.

Bachelor's degree $63,920
What are the three media categories with which public relations practitioners work?
Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners

Meeting, convention, and event planners arrange all aspects of events and professional gatherings.

Bachelor's degree $49,470
What are the three media categories with which public relations practitioners work?
Public Relations and Fundraising Managers

Public relations managers direct the creation of materials that will enhance the public image of their employer or client. Fundraising managers coordinate campaigns that bring in donations for their organization.

Bachelor's degree $119,860
What are the three media categories with which public relations practitioners work?
Wholesale and Manufacturing Sales Representatives

Wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives sell goods for wholesalers or manufacturers to businesses, government agencies, and other organizations.

See How to Become One $62,890
What are the three media categories with which public relations practitioners work?
Writers and Authors

Writers and authors develop written content for various types of media.

Bachelor's degree $69,510

Last Modified Date: Tuesday, October 4, 2022

Why are the print media important to public relations professionals quizlet?

Print media remains an important medium for public relations professionals because ________. It informs them of what journalists write, comment, and blog about. Why is it important for public relations professionals to read and understand the news? It informs them of what journalists write, comment, and blog about.

Which types of media are considered uncontrolled?

Uncontrolled communication comes from the news media and publicity. It consists of messages about your company originating from media outlets (both mass and specialized) and includes feature stories, captioned photos, news conferences, PSAs and letters to the editor.

Why is it obligatory to begin any public relations campaign with research?

Why is it obligatory to begin any public relations campaign with research? Managers want proof that what we advise is based on logic and clear thinking. It creates a much better story to tell opinion leaders in media interviews. Failure to conduct research might lead competitors to spin your campaign messages.

What is the biggest benefit of offering a website?

What is the biggest benefit of offering a website? The organizations website is its most important interface with the public. They provide information the public is looking for 24x7, inexpensively, and allows the organization to speak in their own voice, unfettered by third party intermediary.