PR Manager Training and Jobs
Schools and Degrees
If one aspires to be a successful Public Relations Manager, a bachelor’s or master’s degree in public relations is preferred. There are many colleges and universities that can provide a two-year degree or four-year degree in journalism or public relations. Colleges also offer certificate courses to aspiring PR candidates, which include business administration, advertising, public speaking, public affairs, creative and technical writing and political science.
Training and Education
Education or job training for employees typically involves a bachelor's or higher degree, plus work experience. At least 75% of PR managers had a degree of four or more years. About 16% of workers had some college below a bachelor's degree. An estimated 9% of employees had just a high-school diploma.
Job Overview
The job of public relations managers entails supervision of public relations specialists. PR managers develop publicity programs that are aimed towards a target audience. These managers work in coordination with advertising and promotional programs. They help the company executives arrange interviews, draft speeches and maintain any kind of public contact. They also look over the company archives and respond to requests for information. For the kind of job they do, these managers are considered to be the eyes and ears of the top management.
Job Requirements
To qualify for the Public Relations Society of America certification program, a candidate must go through an examination and should have the relevant experience in public relations fields. Certification is very important as far as the competitive public relations job market is concerned. Based on education and job performance, there are many certification programs currently available.
Public Relations managers should possess a creative mind and must be able to handle a work load and the stress that comes with it. One needs to be flexible, highly motivated and decisive to be able to succeed as a PR manager. PR managers are also responsible for maintaining good personal relations with clients’ firms, supervisory and professional staff members.
Nature of Work
PR managers formulate publicity programs for the purpose of a particular target audience. They make use of all available communication mediums to gain support of the targeted consumer group. On the basis of social, political and economic trends that have the potential to affect the firm closely, PR managers make necessary recommendations for building the image of the firm.
PR managers usually work from offices that are close to that of the top managers. They have to work under pressure and for long hours when there is a change of schedule or deadlines that have to be met. PR managers might be required to travel for meetings with government officials or special interest groups.
Area Job Conditions
The cities with the most PR managers per capita are Fairbanks (Alaska), Bloomington (Illinois), and Bismarck (North Dakota), while the worst cities are Virginia Beach (Virginia), McAllen (Texas), and Bakersfield (California).
The highest salaries for workers are in and around San Jose (California), Washington (District of Columbia), and Lowell (Massachusetts). The lowest-paying areas are Gulfport (Mississippi), Johnson City (Tennessee), and Billings (Montana).
Part-Time and Self Employment
An estimated 5% of PR managers work part-time. An estimated 2% of workers were self-employed.
Career Videos
PR Managers by Metropolitan Area (city and its surroundings)
In the table below, a Job Density near 0% means the area has an average number of people in this occupation, for its population. A higher or lower Job Density (e.g., +22% or -45%) tells you there are that many more or fewer workers of that type there than in the average US metro area. So, the higher the number, the more common the occupation.
Alabama
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | $89,000 | 190 | -8% |
| Huntsville | $108,000 | 40 | -53% |
| Mobile | $88,000 | 80 | +12% |
| Montgomery | $79,000 | 120 | +82% |
| Tuscaloosa | 40 | +14% |
Alaska
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage | $80,000 | 60 | -11% |
Arizona
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flagstaff | $74,000 | 30 | +43% |
| Phoenix | $85,000 | 730 | -2% |
| Tucson | $80,000 | 230 | +62% |
Arkansas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville | $105,000 | 40 | -52% |
| Little Rock | $75,000 | 90 | -37% |
California
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield | $76,000 | 30 | -72% |
| Fresno | $85,000 | 90 | -32% |
| Los Angeles | $115,000 | 1,840 | +7% |
| Modesto | $99,000 | 30 | -52% |
| Oakland | $104,000 | 440 | +5% |
| Oxnard | $99,000 | 110 | -10% |
| Riverside | $99,000 | 250 | -51% |
| Sacramento | $122,000 | 370 | +1% |
| Salinas | $95,000 | 50 | -22% |
| San Diego | $101,000 | 540 | -2% |
| San Francisco | $142,000 | 1,080 | +158% |
| San Jose | $141,000 | 500 | +32% |
| San Luis Obispo | $79,000 | 30 | -17% |
| Santa Ana | $107,000 | 480 | -22% |
| Santa Barbara | $91,000 | 70 | +3% |
| Santa Rosa | $89,000 | 60 | -15% |
| Stockton | $96,000 | 60 | -30% |
Colorado
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder | $98,000 | 50 | -19% |
| Colorado Springs | $108,000 | 70 | -32% |
| Denver | $115,000 | 410 | -22% |
| Fort Collins | $107,000 | 40 | -20% |
Connecticut
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport | $89,000 | 420 | +136% |
| Hartford | $86,000 | 390 | +62% |
| New Haven | $94,000 | 80 | -29% |
| Norwich | $86,000 | 40 | -18% |
Delaware
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington | $135,000 | 200 | +48% |
District of Columbia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $128,000 | 4,210 | +309% |
Florida
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Lauderdale | $121,000 | 100 | -66% |
| Jacksonville | $102,000 | 120 | -52% |
| Miami | $110,000 | 210 | -49% |
| Orlando | $116,000 | 230 | -46% |
| Tallahassee | $99,000 | 70 | +8% |
| Tampa | $97,000 | 330 | -32% |
| West Palm Beach | $125,000 | 100 | -54% |
Georgia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Athens | $85,000 | 30 | +11% |
| Atlanta | $104,000 | 1,140 | +17% |
| Augusta | $89,000 | 60 | -28% |
| Savannah | $74,000 | 60 | +0% |
Hawaii
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honolulu | $83,000 | 160 | -13% |
Idaho
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boise | $87,000 | 140 | +30% |
Illinois
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bloomington | $73,000 | 40 | +50% |
| Champaign | $80,000 | 30 | -25% |
| Chicago | $91,000 | 2,190 | +38% |
| Rockford | $75,000 | 30 | -47% |
| Springfield | $92,000 | 40 | -5% |
Indiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evansville | $70,000 | 60 | -13% |
| Fort Wayne | $80,000 | 50 | -40% |
| Gary | $63,000 | 30 | -73% |
| Indianapolis | $82,000 | 470 | +25% |
| Muncie | $68,000 | 30 | +81% |
| South Bend | $61,000 | 50 | -3% |
Iowa
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids | $88,000 | 80 | +44% |
| Davenport | $70,000 | 40 | -47% |
| Des Moines | $83,000 | 170 | +24% |
| Iowa City | $75,000 | 30 | +12% |
| Waterloo | $54,000 | 30 | -9% |
Kansas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Topeka | $79,000 | 50 | +15% |
| Wichita | $75,000 | 110 | -8% |
Kentucky
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowling Green | $75,000 | 50 | +141% |
| Lexington | $71,000 | 190 | +92% |
| Louisville | $71,000 | 360 | +41% |
Louisiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge | $67,000 | 100 | -35% |
| New Orleans | $71,000 | 120 | -46% |
| Shreveport | $68,000 | 30 | -59% |
Maine
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bangor | $67,000 | 50 | +117% |
| Portland | $70,000 | 140 | +71% |
Maryland
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore | $90,000 | 570 | +3% |
| Bethesda | $113,000 | 320 | +32% |
Massachusetts
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barnstable Town | $106,000 | 60 | +54% |
| Boston | $121,000 | 1,540 | +109% |
| Framingham | $119,000 | 110 | +67% |
| Lowell | $119,000 | 40 | -16% |
| Peabody | $88,000 | 40 | +0% |
| Springfield | $107,000 | 80 | -35% |
| Worcester | $102,000 | 90 | -13% |
Michigan
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit | $102,000 | 210 | -25% |
| Grand Rapids | $88,000 | 60 | -62% |
| Kalamazoo | $92,000 | 30 | -45% |
| Lansing | $94,000 | 40 | -51% |
| Warren | $83,000 | 320 | -30% |
Minnesota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duluth | $82,000 | 40 | -23% |
| Minneapolis | $109,000 | 1,030 | +37% |
| St Cloud | $86,000 | 60 | +61% |
Mississippi
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gulfport | $74,000 | 40 | -5% |
| Jackson | $63,000 | 120 | +15% |
Missouri
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson City | $101,000 | 50 | +77% |
| Kansas City | $96,000 | 480 | +12% |
| Springfield | $76,000 | 70 | -10% |
| St Louis | $96,000 | 440 | -22% |
Nebraska
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln | $87,000 | 140 | +117% |
| Omaha | $80,000 | 270 | +37% |
Nevada
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas | $110,000 | 190 | -47% |
| Reno | $79,000 | 110 | +42% |
New Hampshire
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester | $85,000 | 50 | +23% |
| Portsmouth | 40 | +86% | |
| Rochester | $86,000 | 30 | +51% |
New Jersey
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic City | $95,000 | 50 | -14% |
| Camden | $102,000 | 110 | -50% |
| Edison | $140,000 | 500 | +15% |
| Newark | $116,000 | 650 | +54% |
| Trenton | $147,000 | 160 | +72% |
New Mexico
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque | $76,000 | 70 | -56% |
| Santa Fe | $76,000 | 30 | +28% |
New York
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany | $95,000 | 260 | +38% |
| Buffalo | $96,000 | 140 | -40% |
| Nassau | $110,000 | 350 | -35% |
| New York | $153,000 | 4,440 | +102% |
| Poughkeepsie | $96,000 | 40 | -61% |
| Rochester | $81,000 | 250 | +18% |
| Syracuse | $81,000 | 80 | -38% |
| Utica | $82,000 | 60 | +21% |
North Carolina
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte | $98,000 | 290 | -20% |
| Durham | $118,000 | 190 | +67% |
| Greensboro | $97,000 | 110 | -26% |
| Greenville | 40 | +56% | |
| Raleigh | $101,000 | 240 | +11% |
| Wilmington | 40 | -27% | |
| Winston Salem | $114,000 | 120 | +39% |
North Dakota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bismarck | $62,000 | 30 | +22% |
Ohio
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akron | $86,000 | 100 | -25% |
| Canton | $88,000 | 30 | -55% |
| Cincinnati | $91,000 | 270 | -37% |
| Cleveland | $101,000 | 350 | -19% |
| Columbus | $113,000 | 300 | -23% |
| Dayton | $93,000 | 100 | -37% |
| Toledo | $75,000 | 70 | -43% |
| Youngstown | $81,000 | 50 | -46% |
Oklahoma
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City | $73,000 | 180 | -26% |
| Tulsa | $60,000 | 140 | -22% |
Oregon
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bend | $52,000 | 30 | +26% |
| Eugene | $68,000 | 100 | +77% |
| Medford | $71,000 | 30 | +1% |
| Portland | $95,000 | 740 | +72% |
| Salem | $77,000 | 70 | +17% |
Pennsylvania
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allentown | $96,000 | 140 | -3% |
| Erie | $73,000 | 40 | -22% |
| Harrisburg | $85,000 | 170 | +28% |
| Philadelphia | $104,000 | 780 | -3% |
| Pittsburgh | $84,000 | 450 | -7% |
| Scranton | $82,000 | 40 | -63% |
Rhode Island
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence | $127,000 | 260 | +11% |
South Carolina
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $78,000 | 160 | +34% |
| Columbia | $72,000 | 200 | +37% |
| Florence | $86,000 | 30 | -2% |
| Greenville | $75,000 | 120 | -3% |
| Myrtle Beach | $84,000 | 30 | -30% |
| Spartanburg | $96,000 | 30 | -34% |
Tennessee
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga | $66,000 | 90 | -4% |
| Knoxville | $80,000 | 190 | +37% |
| Memphis | $67,000 | 140 | -46% |
| Nashville | $83,000 | 420 | +35% |
Texas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin | $114,000 | 300 | -9% |
| College Station | $88,000 | 40 | +11% |
| Dallas | $117,000 | 580 | -35% |
| El Paso | $58,000 | 70 | -38% |
| Fort Worth | $93,000 | 280 | -23% |
| Houston | $110,000 | 730 | -34% |
| Killeen | $79,000 | 40 | -22% |
| San Antonio | $100,000 | 250 | -32% |
| Waco | $86,000 | 40 | +2% |
Utah
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Provo | $81,000 | 40 | -42% |
| Salt Lake City | $90,000 | 200 | -22% |
Vermont
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington | $88,000 | 70 | +59% |
Virginia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond | $106,000 | 220 | -15% |
| Virginia Beach | $81,000 | 100 | -69% |
Washington
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bellingham | $72,000 | 30 | +6% |
| Olympia | $94,000 | 180 | +365% |
| Seattle | $105,000 | 1,140 | +92% |
| Spokane | $72,000 | 100 | +19% |
| Tacoma | $88,000 | 160 | +47% |
Wisconsin
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green Bay | $79,000 | 70 | +3% |
| La Crosse | $75,000 | 40 | +46% |
| Madison | $92,000 | 210 | +49% |
| Milwaukee | $99,000 | 430 | +23% |