What is 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.
PR Specialist Responsibilities
- Confer with production or support personnel to produce or coordinate production of advertisements or promotions.
- Write press releases or other media communications to promote clients.
- Arrange public appearances, lectures, contests, or exhibits for clients to increase product or service awareness or to promote goodwill.
- Establish or maintain cooperative relationships with representatives of community, consumer, employee, or public interest groups.
- Coach client representatives in effective communication with the public or with employees.
- Confer with other managers to identify trends or key group interests or concerns or to provide advice on business decisions.
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PR Specialist Required Skills
These are the skills Public Relations Specialists say are the most useful in their careers:
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.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Time Management: Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
Other PR Specialist Job Titles
- Media Relations Specialist
- Public Relations Manager
- Lobbyist
- Communications Coordinator
- Public Relations Representative
Job Demand for Public Relations Specialists
In the United States, there were 259,600 jobs for Public Relations Specialist in 2016. 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.
PR Specialist Average Salary
The average yearly salary of a PR Specialist ranges 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 each U.S. state?
| 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 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Public Relations Specialists
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Public Relations Specialists:
- 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?
How many years of work experience do I need?
Who Employs Public Relations Specialists?
Public Relations Specialists work in the following industries:
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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