What Does it Take to Be a Public Relations Specialist?
Position Description Engage in promoting or creating an intended public image for individuals, groups, or organizations. May write or select material for release to various communications media.
Daily Life Of a PR Specialist
- Develop marketing campaigns for environmental technologies or services.
- Confer with production or support personnel to produce or coordinate production of advertisements or promotions.
- Prepare or edit organizational publications, such as employee newsletters or stockholders’ reports, for internal or external audiences.
- Establish or maintain cooperative relationships with representatives of community, consumer, employee, or public interest groups.
- Update and maintain content posted on the Web.
- Coordinate public responses to environmental management incidents or conflicts.
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What Skills Do You Need to Work as a PR Specialist?
Below is a list of the skills most Public Relations Specialists say are important on the job.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
Time Management: Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Communications Manager
- Event Promoter
- Public Relations Representative
- Publications Manager
- Publicity Writer
PR Specialist Employment Estimates
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 259,600 jobs in the United States for Public Relations Specialist. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 8.9% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 23,000 new jobs for Public Relations Specialist by 2026. There will be an estimated 28,200 positions for PR Specialist per year.
The states with the most job growth for PR Specialist are Utah, Nevada, and Colorado. Watch out if you plan on working in Maine, West Virginia, or Mississippi. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Average Public Relations Specialists Salary
The typical yearly salary for Public Relations Specialists is somewhere between $33,690 and $112,310.
Public Relations Specialists who work in District of Columbia, Virginia, or New Jersey, make the highest salaries.
How much do Public Relations Specialists make in different U.S. states?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $53,890 |
| Alaska | $70,070 |
| Arizona | $62,500 |
| Arkansas | $60,470 |
| California | $72,910 |
| Colorado | $66,510 |
| Connecticut | $73,600 |
| Delaware | $60,390 |
| District of Columbia | $107,490 |
| Florida | $60,920 |
| Georgia | $62,070 |
| Hawaii | $64,830 |
| Idaho | $64,380 |
| Illinois | $66,220 |
| Indiana | $53,870 |
| Iowa | $56,880 |
| Kansas | $56,170 |
| Kentucky | $50,580 |
| Louisiana | $53,390 |
| Maine | $57,510 |
| Maryland | $71,030 |
| Massachusetts | $68,610 |
| Michigan | $61,760 |
| Minnesota | $61,540 |
| Mississippi | $52,840 |
| Missouri | $59,940 |
| Montana | $56,720 |
| Nebraska | $51,300 |
| Nevada | $62,550 |
| New Hampshire | $59,970 |
| New Jersey | $75,670 |
| New Mexico | $58,350 |
| New York | $74,000 |
| North Carolina | $64,450 |
| North Dakota | $62,260 |
| Ohio | $62,740 |
| Oklahoma | $51,060 |
| Oregon | $66,800 |
| Pennsylvania | $61,510 |
| Rhode Island | $67,480 |
| South Carolina | $54,860 |
| South Dakota | $51,240 |
| Tennessee | $64,170 |
| Texas | $60,600 |
| Utah | $64,180 |
| Vermont | $58,200 |
| Virginia | $78,410 |
| Washington | $72,510 |
| West Virginia | $62,310 |
| Wisconsin | $61,060 |
| Wyoming | $58,430 |
What Tools & Technology do Public Relations Specialists Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Public Relations Specialists may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Hypertext markup language HTML
- JavaScript
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Web browser software
- Data entry software
- Microsoft Project
- Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop
- Microsoft Dynamics
- Microsoft Publisher
- Google Docs
- FileMaker Pro
- Adobe Systems Adobe Illustrator
- Adobe Systems Adobe InDesign
How to Become a PR Specialist
What kind of Public Relations Specialist requirements are there?
What work experience do I need to become a PR Specialist?
Who Employs Public Relations Specialists?
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Those thinking about becoming a Public Relations Specialist might also be interested in the following careers:
- Self-Enrichment Education Teachers
- First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers
- Clergy
- Medical and Health Services Managers
Are you already one of the many Public Relations Specialist in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:
References:
Image Credit: UNU-WIDER from Helsinki, Finland via Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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