Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Bachelor's degree
5 years or more
None
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
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Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
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Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Public relations managers oversee how organizations communicate with the public, using strong communication and leadership skills to guide messaging and reputation. Nationally, this occupation employs about 83,000 people and offers a median annual salary of $138,520, indicating substantial earning potential for experienced professionals. Employment for public relations managers is projected to grow by 5.0%, with about 7,000 annual openings, suggesting ongoing demand from both new positions and turnover. The role draws heavily on speaking and listening, writing and reading, creativity and innovation, and interpersonal skills, as well as project management and problem solving. People who enjoy leading teams, handling complex communication challenges, and adapting to fast-changing situations may find this career appealing. For those exploring related paths, similar occupations include public relations specialists, clergy, area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers (postsecondary), media and communication workers (all other), and lawyers, offering options along a spectrum of communication-focused careers.
Public relations managers earn a national median annual salary of $138,520, reflecting strong compensation for this occupation. Pay levels vary significantly by location. Among the top states by CareerGPS opportunity score, median salaries range from $159,440 in Washington to $180,880 in New York, with California, Massachusetts, and Virginia also offering median pay well above the national median. At the metro level, earnings can be even higher. Median salaries reach $213,510 in the San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA area and hover near or above $190,000 in the New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ; San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CA; and Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WV metros. Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NH also offers a median salary of $176,390. Overall, salary prospects are strong, with the highest-paying opportunities concentrated in several large metro areas and select states.
Public relations managers have a national employment base of about 83,000 workers and are projected to see 5.0% employment growth. This projected growth, combined with approximately 7,000 annual openings, indicates a steady flow of opportunities for both new entrants and experienced professionals seeking advancement or career moves. The consistent 5.0% growth rate also appears across several top states and metro areas highlighted by CareerGPS, suggesting broadly similar growth expectations in those locations. For job seekers, the combination of current employment size, projected expansion, and recurring openings points to an occupation with ongoing hiring needs. Individuals considering this field can factor in both the growth outlook and the relatively large number of annual openings when evaluating long‑term career prospects, potential mobility between employers, and opportunities for progression into higher-level roles within public relations and related communication fields.
Location plays a major role in opportunity for public relations managers. At the state level, California, Massachusetts, New York, Washington, and Virginia stand out with strong CareerGPS opportunity scores. New York shows a median salary of $180,880 with employment of 7,710, while Virginia offers a median salary of $176,340 and 2,610 employed. California combines a median salary of $167,980 with the highest state employment among these top states at 9,400. Massachusetts and Washington also provide solid combinations of pay and employment, with median salaries of $171,740 and $159,440 respectively. Metro areas show even more pronounced differences. The San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA metro leads with a median salary of $213,510 and the highest opportunity score (77.42). New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ follows closely with a median salary of $192,360 and employment of 7,940. San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CA; Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WV; and Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NH all pair high salaries with notable employment levels, offering multiple strong geographic options.
Public relations managers typically need a bachelor’s degree, making this role accessible to those who complete a four-year college program. Beyond formal education, success in this occupation depends on a broad mix of communication, leadership, and problem‑solving skills. Key strengths include speaking and listening, writing and reading, and strong interpersonal abilities, all of which support managing messages and relationships. Creativity and innovation are also important, helping managers develop effective communication strategies. Project management skills enable them to coordinate complex efforts, while leadership supports guiding teams and initiatives. Problem solving and decision making, adaptability, and critical and analytical thinking round out the core profile, helping managers respond to changing circumstances and evaluate options. Together, a bachelor’s degree and these skill areas form the foundation for entry and advancement in public relations management, and can guide students and career changers in planning their education and skill development paths.
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