What Public Relations Positions Are Available?
Public relations positions span entry-level coordinators to C-suite executives, organized across media relations, corporate communications, digital PR, crisis management, and public affairs departments. The field employs over 315,900 professionals in the United States with roles ranging from $40,750 to $129,480 annually.
Entry-Level PR Positions
Entry-level positions provide the foundation for a PR career, typically requiring a bachelor’s degree and offering hands-on experience across multiple PR functions.
PR Coordinator
PR coordinators handle day-to-day administrative tasks that keep campaigns running smoothly. They maintain media lists, schedule interviews, track coverage, and coordinate logistics for events and press conferences. The role demands strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
Salary range: $45,000-$62,000 annually
Key responsibilities: Managing media databases, drafting press releases, monitoring news coverage, coordinating event logistics, and supporting senior team members with research and administrative tasks.
Communications Assistant
Communications assistants support internal and external messaging efforts. They help draft employee newsletters, update company websites, manage content calendars, and assist with social media scheduling. This role offers exposure to both internal communications and external PR functions.
Salary range: $42,000-$58,000 annually
Typical tasks: Content creation for multiple channels, inbox management for general communications, proofreading materials, maintaining communication archives, and assisting with employee engagement initiatives.
Social Media Coordinator
Social media coordinators manage daily posting, community engagement, and basic analytics across platforms. They respond to comments, schedule content, and flag potential issues for senior staff. The position requires understanding platform best practices and audience behavior.
Salary range: $44,000-$61,000 annually
Core duties: Creating and scheduling posts, engaging with followers, monitoring brand mentions, reporting on metrics, and staying current with platform changes and trends.
Mid-Level Specialist Positions
Mid-level positions require 3-7 years of experience and involve greater strategic responsibility alongside tactical execution.
Public Relations Specialist
Public relations specialists develop and execute PR campaigns independently. They pitch stories to journalists, write various PR materials, manage client accounts, and track campaign performance. This role bridges tactical work and strategic planning.
Salary range: $64,000-$106,000 annually (median: $69,780 in 2024)
Primary responsibilities: Media pitching and relationship building, press release writing, campaign execution, tracking media coverage, preparing client reports, and managing multiple projects simultaneously.
Media Relations Manager
Media relations managers own the relationship between organizations and journalists. They build reporter networks, coordinate press activities, handle media inquiries, and serve as primary media contacts. Success requires deep understanding of newsrooms and strong journalist relationships.
Salary range: $68,000-$98,000 annually
Key functions: Developing media strategies, pitching exclusive stories, organizing press events, training spokespersons, managing crisis communications, and maintaining comprehensive media contact databases.
Account Executive
Account executives manage client relationships at PR agencies. They oversee campaign development, lead client meetings, manage budgets, and supervise junior staff. The position requires balancing client satisfaction with team management and campaign delivery.
Salary range: $58,000-$87,000 annually
Main duties: Client account management, campaign strategy development, budget oversight, team coordination, presenting results to clients, and identifying growth opportunities within accounts.
Management and Leadership Roles
Management positions involve team leadership, strategic planning, and significant organizational impact, typically requiring 7-12 years of experience.
PR Manager
PR managers lead PR teams and oversee departmental operations. They set strategic direction, allocate resources, mentor staff, and report on departmental performance. The role demands both people management skills and PR expertise.
Salary range: $110,000-$133,000 annually
Leadership responsibilities: Team management and development, budget planning and allocation, campaign oversight, stakeholder communication, vendor management, and departmental goal setting.
Communications Director
Communications directors develop organizational communication strategies encompassing PR, internal communications, and executive communications. They align messaging across departments, advise senior leadership, and manage crisis response.
Salary range: $95,000-$145,000 annually
Strategic duties: Creating communication strategies, advising C-suite executives, managing crisis communications, overseeing internal and external messaging, coordinating cross-functional initiatives, and measuring communication effectiveness.
Social Media Manager
Social media managers develop comprehensive social strategies and lead social teams. They set platform priorities, manage budgets, analyze performance data, and ensure brand consistency across channels. This role has evolved into a critical leadership position.
Salary range: $71,000-$98,000 annually
Core accountabilities: Strategy development, team leadership, campaign planning, budget management, performance analysis, platform selection, and cross-department collaboration.
Senior and Executive Positions
Senior positions shape organizational strategy and require 12+ years of experience with proven leadership track records.
Director of Public Relations
PR directors set departmental vision and strategy while managing substantial teams and budgets. They report to C-level executives, represent PR in strategic planning, and bear ultimate responsibility for the organization’s public image.
Salary range: $120,000-$175,000 annually
Executive responsibilities: Strategic planning, senior team leadership, executive advising, major stakeholder relationships, crisis management leadership, budget oversight, and measuring PR’s business impact.
Vice President of Communications
VPs of Communications oversee all communication functions including PR, internal communications, investor relations, and public affairs. They participate in executive decision-making and shape corporate strategy.
Salary range: $155,000-$225,000 annually
Leadership scope: Multi-department oversight, corporate strategy contribution, board reporting, major crisis leadership, executive team membership, and organizational reputation management.
Chief Communications Officer (CCO)
CCOs hold the highest communications role, reporting directly to the CEO. They shape corporate narrative, manage all communication functions, and play key roles in major corporate decisions. The position exists primarily in large corporations.
Salary range: $200,000-$400,000+ annually
Top-level duties: Corporate communication leadership, CEO advisory, board presentations, major stakeholder management, M&A communications, reputation strategy, and crisis leadership.
Specialized PR Positions
Specialized positions focus on specific PR domains and exist at various experience levels.
Crisis Communications Manager
Crisis managers prepare organizations for potential crises and lead response efforts during actual incidents. They develop crisis plans, conduct scenario training, monitor threats, and coordinate response teams during emergencies.
Salary range: $85,000-$130,000 annually
Specialized focus: Crisis plan development, media training, scenario planning, real-time crisis management, stakeholder communication during incidents, and post-crisis analysis.
Public Affairs Specialist
Public affairs specialists manage relationships with government entities, advocacy groups, and community organizations. They monitor legislation, organize grassroots campaigns, and coordinate lobbying efforts alongside external counsel.
Salary range: $72,000-$115,000 annually
Government relations work: Legislative monitoring, stakeholder engagement, coalition building, advocacy campaign management, community relations, and regulatory communication.
Corporate Social Responsibility Manager
CSR managers develop and communicate corporate sustainability and social impact initiatives. They partner with operations teams, measure impact, report on ESG metrics, and share stories about corporate citizenship efforts.
Salary range: $78,000-$118,000 annually
Impact focus: CSR strategy development, impact measurement, stakeholder reporting, community partnership management, employee volunteering programs, and sustainability communications.
Digital PR Specialist
Digital PR specialists focus on online reputation, influencer partnerships, and digital content distribution. They monitor online conversations, coordinate with digital marketing teams, and manage blogger and influencer relationships.
Salary range: $62,000-$92,000 annually
Digital expertise: Online reputation monitoring, influencer outreach, SEO-driven PR, content syndication, digital crisis management, and social listening analysis.
Industry-Specific Positions
Certain industries have specialized PR roles with unique requirements.
Healthcare Communications Manager
Healthcare communicators work in hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, or healthcare agencies. They translate complex medical information, ensure regulatory compliance, and manage sensitive patient-related communications.
Salary range: $75,000-$115,000 annually
Healthcare focus: Medical writing, regulatory compliance, physician relations, patient communications, clinical trial publicity, and healthcare policy communications.
Technology PR Manager
Tech PR managers work in software, hardware, or tech agencies, requiring technical knowledge to effectively communicate complex products. They coordinate product launches, manage analyst relations, and handle technology media.
Salary range: $85,000-$135,000 annually
Tech specialization: Product launch management, analyst relations, technical media relations, developer community engagement, and technology trend positioning.
Entertainment Publicist
Entertainment publicists represent actors, musicians, authors, or entertainment companies. They coordinate interviews, manage red carpet appearances, handle tabloid issues, and build celebrity brands.
Salary range: $55,000-$150,000 annually (highly variable)
Entertainment work: Celebrity representation, media tour coordination, awards campaign management, personal brand building, and entertainment media relations.
Choosing the Right PR Position
The right PR position depends on your interests, strengths, and career goals rather than simply moving up a hierarchy.
Consider media relations roles if you enjoy building journalist relationships, have strong news judgment, and thrive on the unpredictability of news cycles. These positions suit outgoing personalities comfortable with frequent outreach.
Explore corporate communications if you prefer strategic planning, enjoy working with senior executives, and want to shape organizational direction. These roles suit analytical thinkers who excel at connecting communication to business outcomes.
Investigate digital and social media positions if you’re energized by rapidly changing platforms, enjoy data analysis, and understand online communities. Success requires combining creativity with analytical skills.
Pursue agency roles if you want exposure to multiple industries, fast-paced environments, and diverse clients. Agency work builds broad skills quickly but typically demands longer hours.
Target in-house positions if you prefer deep expertise in one organization, better work-life balance, and consistent focus. In-house roles offer stability and the chance to build long-term strategies.
Location significantly impacts both available positions and compensation. Major markets like New York, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., San Francisco, and Chicago offer more opportunities and higher salaries but also higher living costs and greater competition.
Career Path Considerations
PR career paths rarely follow straight lines. Many professionals move between agencies and in-house roles, shift between industries, or transition to adjacent fields like marketing or investor relations.
The typical progression starts with coordinator or assistant roles where you learn PR fundamentals and build foundational skills. After 2-4 years, most advance to specialist or account executive positions with greater independence and responsibility.
Around year 5-8, professionals typically move into management roles leading small teams or managing significant accounts. This transition requires developing people management skills alongside PR expertise.
Senior roles come at 10-15 years, involving strategic leadership, substantial teams, and major budget responsibility. Not everyone pursues this path—many find fulfillment as expert practitioners without management duties.
Salary growth follows experience but varies significantly by organization size, industry, and location. Entry-level positions in major markets now start at $45,000-$55,000, mid-level roles reach $70,000-$110,000, and senior positions exceed $150,000.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, PR employment will grow 5% from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations. This growth creates approximately 27,600 annual openings, driven by organizational needs for reputation management, digital communication, and stakeholder engagement.
The profession increasingly requires digital skills, data analysis capabilities, and understanding of emerging platforms. Traditional PR skills like writing and media relations remain fundamental, but they’re now complemented by social listening, analytics, and content marketing knowledge.
Remote work has expanded opportunities beyond major markets, though many organizations still prefer hybrid arrangements. This shift allows professionals to access opportunities regardless of location while maintaining some in-person collaboration.
Frequently Asked Questions
What degree do you need for PR positions?
Most PR positions require a bachelor’s degree in public relations, communications, journalism, marketing, or related fields. Entry-level roles occasionally accept degrees in other areas with relevant internship experience. Advanced positions may prefer or require master’s degrees, particularly in corporate communications or public affairs roles.
How long does it take to become a PR manager?
Most professionals reach PR manager positions after 7-10 years of experience. The timeline depends on performance, organization size, and whether you work agency-side (typically faster advancement) or in-house. Some high performers reach management in 5-6 years, while others take 12-15 years.
Do PR positions require media contacts?
Entry-level positions don’t require existing media contacts—you’ll build them on the job. Mid-level and senior roles increasingly value established media relationships, though they’re not always mandatory. Strong pitching skills and persistence matter more than existing contacts for most positions.
What’s the difference between agency and in-house PR positions?
Agency positions involve working with multiple clients across different industries, typically with faster pace and longer hours but broader experience. In-house positions focus on one organization, usually offering better work-life balance, deeper strategic involvement, and often higher stability but potentially narrower experience.
The PR field offers diverse positions suited to various interests and strengths. Whether you’re drawn to media relations, strategic communications, digital engagement, or specialized areas like crisis management, positions exist across experience levels and industries. The key is matching your skills and interests to the right role rather than simply chasing titles or advancement. With employment growing faster than average and digital transformation creating new specializations, PR offers expanding opportunities for those with strong communication skills, strategic thinking, and adaptability.