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Public Relations Specialists

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.

Watch this work See majors and colleges
Other titles employers use

Communications Specialist · Community Relations Coordinator · Corporate Communications Specialist · Information and Communications Specialist · Media Relations Specialist · Public Affairs Specialist · Public Information Officer · Public Information Specialist

Inside the work

What you would actually do.

6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.

  • 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.

Who it suits

Would this work hold your attention?

This career often appeals to people drawn to persuading, creative and helping work.

Persuading
Leading, selling, starting projects, or making a case
Creative
Making, designing, writing, or performing without one set answer

Skills and strengths

What you would get good at.

Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.

Core skills

  • Active Listening
  • Speaking
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Writing
  • Social Perceptiveness
  • Critical Thinking

Subjects to know

  • Communications and Media
  • English Language
  • Administration and Management
  • Customer and Personal Service
  • Sales and Marketing

Useful strengths

  • Oral Comprehension
  • Oral Expression
  • Written Expression
  • Speech Recognition
  • Speech Clarity

Working day

Picture yourself doing it.

These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.

How this job scores on four measures of working conditions, out of five
MeasureOut of 5What that means here
Close to other people2.8 Largely your own space
On your feet2.3 Mostly seated
Talking face to face4.8 Continuous — the job is conversations
Working with your hands1.7 Little of the day

Preparation

How people prepare for this work.

Employers usually ask for a bachelor's degree. Other routes may also lead into the field.

  • A four-year degree 91%
  • A master's degree 9%

Tools of the work

Technology you may use.

  • Graphics or photo imaging software
  • Web platform development software
  • Web page creation and editing software
  • Word processing software
  • Document management software
  • Sales and marketing software
  • Video creation and editing software
  • Presentation software

Opportunity near you

See where this work is growing.

Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.

Selected stateNew York
People doing this work
34,060
Job openings each year
420
Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
14.2%
Compare every available state
State People doing it Job openings each year Expected change
New York 34,060 420 14.2%
California 32,400 2,670 7.3%
Texas 32,190 2,790 16.0%
Florida 24,450 2,110 15.1%
Colorado 19,200 1,630 12.3%
District of Columbia 18,940 1,560 7.3%
Missouri 10,620 880 8.7%
Illinois 9,100 740 4.8%
Wisconsin 8,920 740 9.0%
Michigan 8,860 720 4.7%
Virginia 8,550 710 7.3%
North Carolina 8,390 720 14.5%
Washington 7,900 840 20.1%
Ohio 7,850 630 4.0%
Minnesota 7,800 640 6.0%
Pennsylvania 7,760 630 5.4%
New Jersey 7,040 570 5.5%
Arizona 6,120 530 14.8%
Georgia 6,000 510 13.2%
Maryland 5,030 420 9.3%
Indiana 4,790 390 6.9%
South Carolina 4,150 360 14.3%
Oregon 4,100 350 14.5%
Tennessee 3,730 330 19.9%
Iowa 3,680 310 10.2%
Oklahoma 2,970 240 5.3%
Massachusetts 2,920 240 8.1%
Kentucky 2,910 240 6.6%
Kansas 2,790 230 5.7%
Mississippi 2,770 230 9.9%
Alabama 2,560 210 5.8%
Connecticut 2,470 200 8.3%
Utah 2,130 190 21.0%
Nebraska 2,010 170 8.1%
Arkansas 1,870 170 19.9%
Maine 1,600 130 —
New Mexico 1,420 120 15.4%
New Hampshire 1,390 110 6.9%
Vermont 1,370 120 12.3%
Rhode Island 1,350 110 8.0%
Montana 1,300 110 15.0%
Delaware 1,210 100 6.1%
Nevada 1,020 90 10.9%
Louisiana 980 80 6.5%
Idaho 860 80 14.7%
Puerto Rico 730 60 12.3%
North Dakota 550 50 3.8%
Wyoming 410 30 10.8%
West Virginia 370 30 5.7%
Alaska 340 30 6.3%
South Dakota 290 20 3.6%
Guam 100 10 25.0%
Virgin Islands 50 0 —

Career to college

Build a path toward this work.

Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.

CareerPublic Relations Specialists
Most direct field Public relations and advertising Related field Communication and media Related field Business/Corporate Communications Related field Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services

Where to study

Colleges with strong activity in these fields.

Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.

NH

Southern New Hampshire University

Degrees each year
608
Admit rate
96%
Annual cost after aid
$37,000

Program entryOpen major

Open college MI

Michigan State University

Degrees each year
792
Admit rate
84%
Annual cost after aid
$17,000

Program entryOpen major

Open college TX

The University of Texas at Austin

Degrees each year
690
Admit rate
29%
Annual cost after aid
$17,000

Program entryFirst-year program admission

Open college CO

University of Colorado Boulder

Degrees each year
612
Admit rate
83%
Annual cost after aid
$19,000

Program entryFirst-year program admission

Open college OR

University of Oregon

Degrees each year
439
Admit rate
85%
Annual cost after aid
$18,000

Program entryOpen major

Open college FL

University of Florida

Degrees each year
381
Admit rate
24%
Annual cost after aid
$7,000

Program entryOpen major

Open college PA

Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus

Degrees each year
442
Admit rate
54%
Annual cost after aid
$26,000

Program entryApply after enrollment

Open college TX

Texas State University

Degrees each year
448
Admit rate
89%
Annual cost after aid
$14,000

Program entryApply after enrollment

Open college

Compare every college offering public relations, advertising, and applied communication

Keep exploring

Careers with something in common.

Compare paths that use similar training and strengths.

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