Public Relations Managers: Career Overview
Plan, direct, or coordinate activities designed to create or maintain a favorable public image or raise issue awareness for their organization or client.
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What Tasks Do Public Relations Managers Perform?
The core tasks performed by public relations managers cover:
- Assign, supervise, and review the activities of public relations staff.
- Confer with labor relations managers to develop internal communications that keep employees informed of company activities.
- Design and edit promotional publications, such as brochures.
- Develop and maintain the company's corporate image and identity, which includes the use of logos and signage.
- Develop, implement, or maintain crisis communication plans.
- Direct activities of external agencies, establishments, or departments that develop and implement communication strategies and information programs.
- Draft speeches for company executives and arrange interviews and other forms of contact for them.
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, government officials, and media representatives and use these relationships to develop new business opportunities.
Other Public Relations Managers Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Business Development Director
- Campaign Manager
- Communications Director
- Communications Manager
- Community Director
- Community Engagement Manager
- Community Manager
- Community Relations Director
Employment and Demand
There are about 314,951 public relations managers working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +7.0% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Public Relations Managers Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $139,736 |
| Hourly median | $67.18 |
| 10th percentile | $88,301 |
| 25th percentile | $114,018 |
| 75th percentile | $165,454 |
| 90th percentile | $191,172 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Public Relations Managers Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $185,810 |
| Virginia | $173,880 |
| New York | $173,780 |
| Massachusetts | $169,760 |
| New Jersey | $169,510 |
| Washington | $159,510 |
| Colorado | $157,150 |
| California | $156,340 |
| Delaware | $154,200 |
| Connecticut | $152,450 |
| Rhode Island | $146,180 |
| Maryland | $144,590 |
| Arkansas | $140,970 |
| Utah | $133,440 |
| Vermont | $131,780 |
| Georgia | $131,590 |
| New Hampshire | $128,600 |
| North Carolina | $123,800 |
| Illinois | $122,950 |
| Minnesota | $120,550 |
| Texas | $120,210 |
| Ohio | $120,200 |
| Pennsylvania | $119,400 |
| Maine | $119,110 |
| Oregon | $119,040 |
| Kansas | $117,080 |
| Tennessee | $116,340 |
| Michigan | $114,970 |
| Florida | $112,710 |
| New Mexico | $112,490 |
| Indiana | $110,200 |
| Wisconsin | $106,580 |
| Iowa | $106,470 |
| Missouri | $106,000 |
| Hawaii | $105,980 |
| Arizona | $105,360 |
| Nevada | $105,340 |
| Alaska | $103,780 |
| North Dakota | $103,200 |
| Kentucky | $102,690 |
| Montana | $101,700 |
| Nebraska | $101,600 |
| South Carolina | $98,620 |
| Louisiana | $96,920 |
| Alabama | $93,040 |
| Idaho | $92,590 |
| Mississippi | $90,630 |
| Puerto Rico | $89,990 |
| Oklahoma | $85,970 |
| West Virginia | $85,290 |
Where Public Relations Managers Earn the Most
Pay for public relations managers shift depending on where you work. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Atlantic | $170,520 | 31.2% | 10.35 |
| New England | $156,760 | 6.1% | 1.29 |
| Far Western US | $147,338 | 19.6% | 1.20 |
| Rocky Mountains | $121,914 | 1.2% | 0.62 |
| Great Lakes | $117,559 | 9.9% | 0.74 |
| Southwest | $116,789 | 14.2% | 1.12 |
| Southeast | $114,687 | 12.7% | 0.57 |
| Plains States | $112,021 | 4.8% | 0.73 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Public Relations Managers
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $218,460 | 910 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | DC | $185,760 | 11,140 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $184,080 | 7,760 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | AR | $183,590 | 150 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $178,850 | 2,040 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | CT | $176,730 | 260 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | NJ | $172,640 | 450 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $169,250 | 1,280 |
Which Industries Hire Public Relations Managers
The largest employers of public relations managers are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 17,700 | $168,400 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 11,900 | $130,800 |
| Educational Services | 9,230 | $108,920 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 7,060 | $172,810 |
| Finance and Insurance | 4,610 | $163,840 |
| Information | 4,050 | $171,350 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 3,990 | $105,770 |
| Wholesale Trade | 2,170 | $171,100 |
Below are examples of industries where public relations managers work:
Software Public Relations Managers Use
- Document management software: Adobe Acrobat (hot technology)
- Video creation and editing software: Adobe After Effects (hot technology)
- Graphics or photo imaging software: Adobe Creative Cloud software (hot technology)
- Graphics or photo imaging software: Adobe Illustrator (hot technology)
- Desktop publishing software: Adobe InDesign (hot technology)
- Graphics or photo imaging software: Adobe Photoshop (hot technology)
- Graphics or photo imaging software: Canva (hot technology)
- Web page creation and editing software: Facebook (hot technology)
- Data mining software: Google Analytics (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Google Docs (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Google Workspace software (hot technology)
- Sales and marketing software: HubSpot software (hot technology)
Education and Training
This occupation sits in Considerable Preparation Needed (Job Zone 4), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Human Resources Managers (Primary-Long)
- Social and Community Service Managers (Primary-Long)
- Human Resources Specialists (Supplemental)
- Labor Relations Specialists (Supplemental)
- Management Analysts (Primary-Short)
- Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists (Primary-Short)
- Search Marketing Strategists (Primary-Long)
- Business Intelligence Analysts (Supplemental)
Where to Study
Aspiring public relations managers often complete programs in:
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs
8 programs across 2 majors
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
2 programs across 1 majors
Sources
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 11-2032.00 (Public Relations Managers).
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