What You Need to Know About Public Relations Specialist
PR Specialist Job 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.
- Confer with other managers to identify trends or key group interests or concerns or to provide advice on business decisions.
- Plan or direct development or communication of programs to maintain favorable public or stockholder perceptions of an organization’s accomplishments, agenda, or environmental responsibility.
- Consult with advertising agencies or staff to arrange promotional campaigns in all types of media for products, organizations, or individuals.
- Develop marketing campaigns for environmental technologies or services.
- Respond to requests for information from the media or designate an appropriate spokesperson or information source.
Things a PR Specialist Should Know How to Do
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.
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
- Content Specialist
- Marketing Specialist
- Press Secretary
- Motivational Speaker
- Public Relations Assistant
Job Demand for Public Relations Specialists
There were about 259,600 jobs for Public Relations Specialist in 2016 (in the United States). 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. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 28,200 job openings in this field each 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 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.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Public Relations Specialists 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?
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
Learn what Public Relations Specialist education requirements there are.
What work experience do I need to become a PR Specialist?
Where do Public Relations Specialists Work?
Below are examples of industries where Public Relations Specialists work:
You May Also 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
Those who work as a Public Relations Specialist sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
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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