# 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/public-relations-specialists
- SOC code: 27-3031.00
- Career family: Arts, design and media
- Median annual pay: $74,750 (10th percentile $44,110, 90th percentile $135,150)
- Projected growth: Slower than average, +1.8%
- Openings a year: 23,000
- Typical entry education: Bachelor's degree
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code EAS)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 0 |
| Investigative (I) | 29 |
| Artistic (A) | 61 |
| Social (S) | 49 |
| Enterprising (E) | 80 |
| Conventional (C) | 41 |

## What you'd do

- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 94/100)
- Communicating with People Outside the Organization (importance 94/100)
- Getting Information (importance 93/100)
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships (importance 90/100)
- Developing Objectives and Strategies (importance 88/100)
- Thinking Creatively (importance 86/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 85/100)
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work (importance 85/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 82/100)
- Working with Computers (importance 81/100)

## Skills

Active Listening, Speaking, Reading Comprehension, Social Perceptiveness, Writing, Coordination, Critical Thinking, Time Management, Persuasion, Judgment and Decision Making

## Knowledge

Communications and Media, English Language, Administration and Management, Customer and Personal Service, Sales and Marketing, Computers and Electronics, Administrative, Education and Training, Personnel and Human Resources, Sociology and Anthropology

## Also called

Audience Coordinator, Brand Advocate, Communication Specialist, Communications Associate, Communications Coordinator, Communications Specialist, Community Liaison, Community Relations Coordinator, Concert Promoter, Consumer Advocate

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Communication and Media Studies](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/0901) (CIP 0901, 1,386 colleges)
- [Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/0909) (CIP 0909, 621 colleges)
- [Business/Corporate Communications](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5205) (CIP 5205, 74 colleges)
- Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services (CIP 1902, 29 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [University of Pennsylvania UPENN](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-pennsylvania-upenn-3009) | Communication and Media Studies | $65,287 | $114,266 | not reported |
| [Northwestern University-Illinois](https://www.collegesref.com/college/northwestern-university-illinois-1966) | Communication and Media Studies | $64,034 | $93,541 | $19,500 |
| [Syracuse University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/syracuse-university-2667) | Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $63,858 | $90,535 | $24,250 |
| [Southern Methodist University SMU](https://www.collegesref.com/college/southern-methodist-university-smu-2498) | Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $56,398 | $89,330 | $17,375 |
| [Cornell University-New York](https://www.collegesref.com/college/cornell-university-new-york-710) | Communication and Media Studies | $63,499 | $88,463 | $10,000 |
| [University of Southern California USC](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-southern-california-usc-3050) | Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $63,165 | $87,946 | $12,125 |
| [George Washington University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/george-washington-university-1066) | Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $63,370 | $85,459 | $19,500 |
| [Santa Clara University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/santa-clara-university-2371) | Communication and Media Studies | $62,295 | $84,206 | $19,000 |

## Related careers

- [Public Relations Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/public-relations-managers): $146,910 median pay
- [Advertising and Promotions Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/advertising-and-promotions-managers): $133,660 median pay
- [Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/market-research-analysts-and-marketing-specialists): $78,760 median pay
- [Writers and Authors](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/writers-and-authors): $76,910 median pay
- [Marketing Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/marketing-managers): $166,790 median pay
- [Advertising Sales Agents](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/advertising-sales-agents): $64,820 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.