Item saved to your backpack!

Public relations (PR) specialists commonly serve as a crucial link between private and publicly held businesses and a range of media outlets, the general public, and other key groups such as investors or consumers. Public relations specialists, also called communications or media specialists depending on their job focus, work on a client's behalf to draft press releases and correspond with media members to promote their client's brand or image. Many of the stories seen on television or in newspapers begin with the efforts of reporters contacting PR specialists. Their work often involves writing press releases, coordinating interviews and evaluating the effectiveness of client advertising campaigns.

Public relations specialist salary 2011

Wages for PR specialists typical vary by job duties, time on the job, education, strength of client interaction and the market in which they work. Public relations specialists earned a national median salary of $53,190 in 2011, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (bls.gov, 2012) reports. The bottom 10 percent of PR specialists earned up to $30,860, while the top 10 percent earned up to $96,880.

The following areas offered public relations specialists the highest mean wages in 2011, according to bls.gov (2012):

• District of Columbia: $83,050 mean
• California: $70,990 mean
• Maryland: $70,680 mean

These areas tend to have a higher cost of living, however. PR specialists earned the following annual wage in 2011 in areas with a lower cost of living than average:

• Michigan: $57,310 mean
• Ohio: $50,020 mean
• Indiana: $51,210 mean

Salaries for public relations specialists can also vary depending on the industry. The top-paying industry for PR specialists in 2011 was the water, sewage and other public works industry, with a national mean wage of $94,390, according to bls.gov (2012). Based on bls.gov (2012) findings, other 2011 national top-paying industries for this field include:

• Postal service: $89,450 mean
• Executive branch of the federal government: $87,130 mean

Public relations specialist schools

Many PR and communications specialists have completed a bachelor's degree program in college, according to bls.gov. Some public relations professionals major in broader fields such as communications, English, journalism or business. Bls.gov suggests that some public relations professionals may choose to advance their careers by earning master's degrees in the field, or by completing certification courses through the Public Relations Society of America. One-quarter of PR managers earned their master's degrees in 2010, bls.gov reports.

Public relations specialists career outlook

Because public opinion can change so quickly in this day and age, some companies may begin placing a growing emphasis on community outreach and customer relations. As a result, public relations and corporate communications is a field that's expected to grow by as much as 23 percent from 2010 to 2020, for a total of 316,200 jobs nationwide, bls.gov (2012) reports. Growth is expected for PR professionals who have mastered the use of social media to promote their clients brand and image and to increase corporate visibility to the public, bls.gov notes.