Public Relations Specialists in South Carolina
Want to work as a Public Relations Specialists in South Carolina? Here’s what you need to know. 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.
What do Public Relations Specialists Make in South Carolina?
For a public relations specialists working in South Carolina, the typical annual salary is $60,550 per year (or roughly $29.11/hour).Annual wages span from $36,990 at the 10th percentile to $129,670 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $36,990 | $17.78 |
| 25th percentile | $46,420 | $22.32 |
| Median (50th) | $60,550 | $29.11 |
| 75th percentile | $81,470 | $39.17 |
| 90th percentile | $129,670 | $62.34 |
Location quotient — how concentrated this career is in South Carolina compared to the national average — is 0.68, suggesting fewer public relations specialists per worker than the national average.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, public relations specialists earn a median of $103,749 per year ($49.88/hour), below the South Carolina median.
Employment Outlook
National employment for 299,402 public relations specialists in the U.S.. In South Carolina alone, about 2,820 people work in this role. That puts the state above the typical state, which employs around 2,620 public relations specialists.
Top South Carolina Metros for Public Relations Specialists
These are the South Carolina metros with the most public relations specialists in South Carolina.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Columbia, SC | 780 | $60,550 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | 540 | $63,450 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | 420 | $60,720 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | 110 | $58,220 |
| Spartanburg, SC | 110 | $65,830 |
| Florence, SC | 90 | $45,750 |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | 90 | $63,450 |
Top States for Public Relations Specialists Employment
The table below shows the states where the most public relations specialists work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| California | 31,070 |
| New York | 25,780 |
| Texas | 25,270 |
| Florida | 18,500 |
| District of Columbia | 18,110 |
| Virginia | 9,580 |
| North Carolina | 9,290 |
| Pennsylvania | 9,260 |
| Michigan | 8,610 |
| Massachusetts | 8,080 |
| Colorado | 7,050 |
| Minnesota | 6,970 |
| Washington | 6,650 |
| Ohio | 6,580 |
| Illinois | 6,360 |
| Georgia | 6,130 |
| Arizona | 5,960 |
| New Jersey | 5,820 |
| Missouri | 5,790 |
| Maryland | 4,760 |
Highest-Paying States for Public Relations Specialists
The highest-paying states for public relations specialists.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $97,800 |
| Washington | $85,500 |
| Connecticut | $83,620 |
| California | $81,490 |
| New York | $78,510 |
| Virginia | $77,800 |
| Colorado | $77,120 |
| Utah | $75,700 |
| New Jersey | $75,640 |
| Delaware | $75,540 |
Skills
Top public relations specialists skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Core knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
Key abilities for public relations specialists, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Public Relations Specialists typically:
- Respond to requests for information from the media or designate an appropriate spokesperson or information source.
- Plan or direct development or communication of programs to maintain favorable public or stockholder perceptions of an organization's accomplishments, agenda, or environmental responsibility.
- Post and update content on the company's Web site and social media outlets.
- Write press releases or other media communications to promote clients.
- Establish or maintain cooperative relationships with representatives of community, consumer, employee, or public interest groups.
- Confer with other managers to identify trends or key group interests or concerns or to provide advice on business decisions.
- Coach client representatives in effective communication with the public or with employees.
- Study the objectives, promotional policies, or needs of organizations to develop public relations strategies that will influence public opinion or promote ideas, products, or services.
- Prepare or edit organizational publications, such as employee newsletters or stockholders' reports, for internal or external audiences.
- Arrange public appearances, lectures, contests, or exhibits for clients to increase product or service awareness or to promote goodwill.
- Plan or conduct market or public opinion research to test products or determine potential for product success, communicating results to client or management.
- Develop plans or materials to communicate organizational activities that are beneficial to the environment, public safety, or other important social issues.
Work Activities
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Communicating with People Outside the Organization
- Getting Information
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
- Developing Objectives and Strategies
- Thinking Creatively
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
- Working with Computers
- Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
- Providing Consultation and Advice to Others
Tools & Technology
Common tools and software used in this occupation include: Hot technologies: Adobe Acrobat, Adobe After Effects, Adobe Creative Cloud software, Adobe Illustrator In-demand technologies: Adobe Creative Cloud software, Adobe InDesign
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Several college majors map to this occupation:
- Communication & Media Studies
- Public Relations & Advertising
- Corporate Communications
- Human Sciences Business Services
Featured schools near , edit
Related Careers
Other careers like public relations specialists include:
- Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes
- Management Analysts
- Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners
- Fundraisers
- Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists
- Search Marketing Strategists
Also Known As
Audience Coordinator, Brand Advocate, Communication Specialist, Communications Associate, Communications Coordinator, Communications Specialist, Community Liaison, Community Relations Coordinator, Concert Promoter, Consumer Advocate, Content Marketing Specialist, Content Specialist, Content Strategist, Corporate Communications Specialist, Customer Specialist.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 27-3031.00