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PR Specialist Training and Jobs


Schools and Degrees

A bachelor's degree or post secondary studies in journalism and communications is required in order to become a PR specialist. Many colleges offer courses in this field. Generally, a program in PR teaches public relationship management, writing and preparation of press releases, annual reports and speeches. Courses in other subjects like advertising, creative writing and business management can also be helpful.

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Training and Education

Obtaining a bachelor's degree will help job seekers. PR specialists with four or more years of college are 81% of the total. An estimated 14% of workers attended college at some level but did not pursue a 4-year degree. High school was enough education for 5% of employees.


Job Overview

PR specialists work as campaigners for non-profit organizations, businesses, hospitals and other private organizations to establish and sustain good relationships with the public. Managers depend on the approach and guidelines of PR specialists to maintain positive public relations in order for their company to succeed.


Job Requirements

Association with the Public Relations Student Society of America or the International Association of Business Communicators helps PR students exchange views and opinions with professionals in the field. Such associations are also helpful in finding job opportunities after graduation. Experience preparing slide presentations or TV/ radio programs, along with experience as a publish writer provide better job opportunities for prospective employees..

Training is important in this field. In small organizations, young recruits work under the guidance of experienced and senior PR professionals. In larger organizations, they are given formal training. Those starting out in this field often have to maintain databases of articles and clippings from newspapers and magazines. They also need to gather material for speeches. However, only after substantial and relevant experience can they write speeches, news releases or execute programs of public relations.

PR specialists need to possess creativity, good judgment and excellent communication skills. They also need skills in research, problem solving and decision-making. The ability to work in a team and an open mind to new ideas is particularly important in order to excel in this profession.


Nature of Work

PR specialists look into employee-investor relationships and interest group representations. It is important for them to understand the mind-set of consumers, employees and interest groups, and maintain good relations with them. They outline press releases and get in touch with the media to broadcast their material. PR specialists also organize programs to maintain contact between the organization and the public. In addition, they make annual reports and prepare proposals for different projects.

PR specialists work for about forty hours in a week. Their work involves meeting deadlines and maintaining tight schedules>


Area Job Conditions

Where are jobs most numerous? Washington (District of Columbia), Olympia (Washington), and Jefferson City (Missouri). Least common? Lafayette (Louisiana), Fayetteville (North Carolina), and Rockford (Illinois).

Salaries vary across the country, from highest in San Jose (California), Washington (District of Columbia), and Oxnard (California) to lowest in Chico (California), Columbus (Indiana), and Wheeling (West Virginia).


Part-Time and Self Employment

Whether by choice or necessity, 14% of PR specialists work part-time. About 5% of workers do not work for a company or organization.


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PR Specialists 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
Anniston $49,000 60 -18%
Auburn $50,000 170 +141%
Birmingham $48,000 1,020 +13%
Decatur $40,000 60 -31%
Dothan $40,000 90 -6%
Florence $36,000 50 -41%
Gadsden $42,000 50 -7%
Huntsville $47,000 340 -8%
Mobile $43,000 340 +9%
Montgomery $46,000 530 +84%
Tuscaloosa $42,000 100 -35%

Alaska

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Anchorage $65,000 170 -42%
Fairbanks $51,000 60 +21%

Arizona

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Flagstaff $48,000 60 -35%
Kingman $42,000 40 -47%
Phoenix $65,000 2,310 -29%
Prescott $37,000 30 -66%
Tucson $50,000 490 -21%
Yuma $46,000 40 -56%

Arkansas

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Fayetteville $46,000 150 -59%
Fort Smith $43,000 60 -72%
Jonesboro $37,000 30 -60%
Little Rock $50,000 640 +2%
Pine Bluff $46,000 50 +8%

California

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Bakersfield $44,000 230 -51%
Chico $44,000 70 -39%
Fresno $50,000 270 -53%
Los Angeles $64,000 7,400 -1%
Modesto $46,000 70 -74%
Napa $53,000 90 -13%
Oakland $68,000 1,570 -15%
Oxnard $60,000 370 -31%
Redding $51,000 90 -8%
Riverside $60,000 810 -64%
Sacramento $81,000 1,720 +8%
Salinas $65,000 150 -47%
San Diego $56,000 2,030 -16%
San Francisco $79,000 3,800 +107%
San Jose $85,000 1,550 -6%
Santa Ana $62,000 2,130 -21%
Santa Barbara $63,000 320 +8%
Santa Cruz $46,000 230 +56%
Santa Rosa $56,000 200 -35%
Stockton $51,000 170 -55%
Vallejo $58,000 90 -57%
Visalia $53,000 50 -79%
Yuba City $49,000 40 -33%

Colorado

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Boulder $65,000 720 +167%
Colorado Springs $66,000 770 +70%
Denver $63,000 5,300 +130%
Fort Collins $57,000 390 +79%
Grand Junction $51,000 70 -25%
Greeley $52,000 150 +24%
Pueblo $40,000 70 -24%

Connecticut

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Bridgeport $63,000 630 -19%
Hartford $59,000 990 -6%
New Haven $53,000 340 -31%
Norwich $55,000 110 -48%
Waterbury $56,000 40 -64%

Delaware

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Dover $54,000 90 +8%
Wilmington $59,000 560 -5%

District of Columbia

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Washington $81,000 13,040 +190%

Florida

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Cape Coral $52,000 250 -27%
Deltona $43,000 250 -7%
Fort Lauderdale $62,000 1,220 -5%
Fort Walton Beach $56,000 70 -45%
Gainesville $51,000 280 +33%
Jacksonville $53,000 970 -12%
Lakeland $52,000 180 -46%
Miami $57,000 1,940 +7%
Naples $47,000 130 -33%
Ocala $45,000 80 -46%
Orlando $56,000 1,610 -14%
Palm Bay $53,000 260 -26%
Panama City $59,000 40 -65%
Pensacola $72,000 270 +3%
Port St Lucie $47,000 110 -47%
Punta Gorda $41,000 30 -51%
Sarasota $58,000 410 -7%
Sebastian $67,000 50 -34%
Tallahassee $58,000 780 +174%
Tampa $59,000 2,120 +0%
West Palm Beach $63,000 750 -21%

Georgia

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Albany $51,000 40 -61%
Athens $33,000 90 -24%
Atlanta $57,000 3,400 -20%
Augusta $52,000 150 -59%
Brunswick $49,000 30 -54%
Columbus $49,000 80 -58%
Gainesville $50,000 70 -39%
Macon $48,000 90 -41%
Rome $49,000 60 +10%
Savannah $62,000 190 -28%
Warner Robins $55,000 40 -54%

Hawaii

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Honolulu $55,000 930 +16%

Idaho

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Boise $59,000 370 -21%
Idaho Falls $49,000 40 -47%

Illinois

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Bloomington $36,000 340 +191%
Champaign $55,000 90 -49%
Chicago $60,000 5,010 -28%
Peoria $53,000 70 -77%
Rockford $47,000 80 -67%
Springfield $70,000 130 -30%

Indiana

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Anderson $44,000 40 -33%
Bloomington $50,000 310 +168%
Columbus $56,000 40 -33%
Elkhart $58,000 90 -52%
Evansville $48,000 220 -27%
Fort Wayne $38,000 330 -9%
Gary $38,000 380 -22%
Indianapolis $51,000 1,790 +8%
Kokomo $40,000 60 -1%
Lafayette $48,000 160 +27%
Michigan City $44,000 30 -54%
Muncie $40,000 90 +24%
South Bend $44,000 250 +11%
Terre Haute $38,000 90 -20%

Iowa

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Ames $49,000 130 +124%
Cedar Rapids $43,000 250 +3%
Davenport $56,000 190 -43%
Des Moines $52,000 590 -1%
Dubuque $45,000 40 -54%
Iowa City $54,000 80 -32%
Sioux City $46,000 50 -59%
Waterloo $44,000 40 -72%

Kansas

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Lawrence $52,000 70 +2%
Manhattan $51,000 160 +90%
Topeka $52,000 220 +16%
Wichita $46,000 410 -21%

Kentucky

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Bowling Green $40,000 90 -1%
Elizabethtown $60,000 90 +28%
Lexington $41,000 450 +4%
Louisville $44,000 1,020 -9%
Owensboro $38,000 30 -60%

Louisiana

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Baton Rouge $45,000 770 +14%
Lafayette $46,000 70 -72%
Lake Charles $40,000 50 -67%
New Orleans $54,000 520 -46%
Shreveport $44,000 70 -78%

Maine

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Bangor $43,000 90 -11%
Lewiston $34,000 30 -63%
Portland $55,000 420 +17%

Maryland

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Baltimore $61,000 1,560 -36%
Bethesda $69,000 880 -17%
Cumberland $33,000 40 -30%
Hagerstown $46,000 40 -76%
Salisbury $56,000 90 +4%

Massachusetts

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Barnstable Town $60,000 380 +123%
Boston $63,000 6,760 +110%
Brockton $61,000 80 -48%
Framingham $67,000 430 +49%
Haverhill $58,000 90 -35%
Lawrence $60,000 50 -49%
Leominster $60,000 40 -50%
Lowell $66,000 160 -23%
New Bedford $48,000 100 -7%
Peabody $57,000 80 -54%
Pittsfield $45,000 40 -20%
Springfield $52,000 480 -11%
Taunton $60,000 50 -30%
Worcester $63,000 350 -23%

Michigan

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Ann Arbor $58,000 480 +62%
Battle Creek $68,000 60 -28%
Detroit $59,000 1,030 -16%
Flint $56,000 140 -38%
Grand Rapids $46,000 380 -45%
Holland $50,000 60 -64%
Kalamazoo $49,000 130 -45%
Lansing $63,000 750 +112%
Niles $51,000 50 -47%
Saginaw $51,000 90 -35%
Warren $57,000 1,250 -37%

Minnesota

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Duluth $50,000 100 -56%
Mankato $54,000 70 -24%
Minneapolis $60,000 2,380 -28%
Rochester $62,000 80 -55%
St Cloud $52,000 90 -45%

Mississippi

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Gulfport $45,000 160 -14%
Hattiesburg $37,000 60 -36%
Jackson $39,000 820 +80%
Pascagoula $35,000 60 -19%

Missouri

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Cape Girardeau $51,000 60 -15%
Columbia $42,000 350 +160%
Jefferson City $51,000 350 +183%
Joplin $44,000 90 -32%
Kansas City $55,000 2,550 +36%
Springfield $47,000 470 +38%
St Joseph $41,000 80 -3%
St Louis $54,000 2,990 +21%

Montana

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Billings $49,000 100 -30%
Great Falls $44,000 40 -30%
Missoula $41,000 130 +53%

Nebraska

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Lincoln $49,000 710 +151%
Omaha $44,000 1,300 +51%

Nevada

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Carson City $60,000 40 +2%
Las Vegas $59,000 720 -54%
Reno $60,000 180 -47%

New Hampshire

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Manchester $57,000 170 -4%
Nashua $51,000 110 -54%
Portsmouth $56,000 120 +28%
Rochester $48,000 60 -31%

New Jersey

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Atlantic City $49,000 90 -65%
Camden $50,000 310 -68%
Edison $60,000 1,160 -39%
Newark $52,000 1,420 -23%
Ocean City $49,000 50 -23%
Trenton $62,000 660 +62%
Vineland $41,000 50 -49%

New Mexico

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Albuquerque $59,000 250 -64%
Santa Fe $63,000 120 +17%

New York

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Albany $59,000 1,160 +41%
Binghamton $49,000 120 -38%
Buffalo $50,000 570 -44%
Elmira $42,000 30 -50%
Glens Falls $41,000 40 -53%
Ithaca $35,000 90 +39%
Kingston $49,000 120 +21%
Nassau $63,000 1,470 -37%
New York $74,000 16,870 +75%
Poughkeepsie $60,000 240 -46%
Rochester $50,000 620 -33%
Syracuse $50,000 330 -42%
Utica $45,000 120 -45%

North Carolina

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Asheville $44,000 180 -43%
Burlington $45,000 30 -68%
Charlotte $52,000 1,000 -37%
Durham $56,000 710 +42%
Fayetteville $51,000 80 -64%
Goldsboro $44,000 30 -53%
Greensboro $47,000 320 -51%
Greenville $42,000 80 -29%
Hickory $45,000 70 -73%
Jacksonville $46,000 30 -56%
Raleigh $55,000 920 -3%
Rocky Mount $48,000 40 -58%
Wilmington $48,000 100 -58%
Winston Salem $57,000 250 -34%

North Dakota

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Bismarck $47,000 110 +2%
Fargo $44,000 160 -25%
Grand Forks $46,000 40 -48%

Ohio

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Akron $46,000 320 -45%
Canton $46,000 140 -53%
Cincinnati $48,000 1,270 -32%
Cleveland $53,000 1,270 -33%
Columbus $54,000 1,810 +7%
Dayton $52,000 510 -27%
Mansfield $38,000 30 -64%
Sandusky $50,000 30 -44%
Springfield $41,000 50 -35%
Steubenville $35,000 40 -39%
Toledo $45,000 320 -40%
Youngstown $42,000 240 -41%

Oklahoma

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Lawton $43,000 40 -38%
Oklahoma City $47,000 720 -32%
Tulsa $46,000 360 -54%

Oregon

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Bend $45,000 60 -42%
Corvallis $52,000 50 +23%
Eugene $51,000 130 -47%
Medford $45,000 50 -62%
Portland $58,000 1,630 -14%
Salem $74,000 300 +14%

Pennsylvania

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Allentown $53,000 510 -19%
Altoona $44,000 40 -60%
Erie $50,000 210 -6%
Harrisburg $55,000 890 +53%
Johnstown $44,000 50 -45%
Lancaster $63,000 320 -24%
Philadelphia $67,000 4,170 +18%
Pittsburgh $57,000 2,310 +9%
Reading $44,000 170 -42%
Scranton $46,000 300 -36%
State College $55,000 100 -3%
Williamsport $49,000 70 -16%
York $48,000 210 -33%

Rhode Island

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Providence $54,000 1,400 +37%

South Carolina

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Anderson $51,000 50 -46%
Charleston $47,000 430 -17%
Columbia $47,000 620 -3%
Florence $42,000 70 -48%
Greenville $39,000 530 -2%
Myrtle Beach $42,000 120 -36%
Spartanburg $47,000 160 -20%
Sumter $37,000 40 -20%

South Dakota

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Rapid City $43,000 110 +4%
Sioux Falls $45,000 380 +56%

Tennessee

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Chattanooga $46,000 200 -51%
Clarksville $50,000 70 -47%
Jackson $45,000 50 -48%
Johnson City $42,000 60 -50%
Kingsport $40,000 90 -57%
Knoxville $48,000 430 -29%
Memphis $49,000 490 -57%
Nashville $51,000 870 -36%

Texas

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Abilene $37,000 90 -14%
Amarillo $43,000 200 +9%
Austin $59,000 3,620 +150%
Beaumont $52,000 210 -26%
Brownsville $46,000 110 -52%
College Station $60,000 280 +78%
Corpus Christi $51,000 250 -21%
Dallas $66,000 5,170 +33%
El Paso $49,000 280 -43%
Fort Worth $59,000 1,360 -15%
Houston $60,000 4,300 -12%
Killeen $45,000 150 -33%
Laredo $52,000 150 +14%
Longview $56,000 110 -33%
Lubbock $45,000 240 +9%
Mcallen $40,000 300 -27%
Midland $52,000 90 -13%
Odessa $42,000 50 -46%
San Angelo $46,000 50 -24%
San Antonio $53,000 1,590 -1%
Sherman $50,000 90 +38%
Texarkana $45,000 50 -43%
Tyler $48,000 130 -15%
Victoria $89,000 30 -61%
Waco $49,000 220 +28%
Wichita Falls $63,000 70 -22%

Utah

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Logan $56,000 80 +5%
Ogden $52,000 220 -38%
Provo $41,000 400 +33%
Salt Lake City $52,000 1,720 +54%
St George $40,000 60 -18%

Vermont

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Burlington $52,000 430 +123%

Virginia

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Blacksburg $43,000 140 +40%
Charlottesville $49,000 270 +84%
Harrisonburg $40,000 120 +31%
Lynchburg $45,000 120 -29%
Richmond $58,000 1,170 +3%
Roanoke $47,000 160 -42%
Virginia Beach $54,000 990 -29%
Winchester $68,000 50 -38%

Washington

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Bellingham $58,000 80 -35%
Bremerton $55,000 100 -29%
Kennewick $67,000 120 -30%
Mount Vernon $55,000 40 -43%
Olympia $66,000 440 +160%
Seattle $60,000 3,280 +26%
Spokane $49,000 220 -40%
Tacoma $56,000 270 -44%
Yakima $53,000 70 -50%

West Virginia

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Charleston $49,000 170 -34%
Huntington $49,000 70 -64%
Morgantown $49,000 50 -42%
Parkersburg $49,000 40 -65%
Wheeling $37,000 70 -35%

Wisconsin

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Appleton $53,000 130 -35%
Eau Claire $41,000 90 -27%
Fond $42,000 40 -41%
Green Bay $45,000 210 -30%
Janesville $47,000 50 -52%
La Crosse $49,000 50 -58%
Madison $54,000 880 +43%
Milwaukee $56,000 1,650 +8%
Oshkosh $43,000 90 -40%
Racine $52,000 60 -52%
Sheboygan $48,000 70 -23%
Wausau $46,000 60 -45%

Wyoming

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Casper $54,000 60 +6%
Cheyenne $52,000 80 +19%
*FOOTNOTES: Job Facts salary and numbers data is based on US Department of Labor Statistics data for 2011. Other data on page may be from earlier years. Typical salary is given as median salary, where 50% in the job make more and 50% less. Salary range is Job Hunt's estimates of typical starting salary as being at the 10th percentile of reported pay and typical top end salary, for the most senior workers, as being at the 90th. Job openings is an estimate of new jobs every year due to growth plus those leaving the field. Where NA is given data is not available. Suggested studies is based on Job Hunt research, suggesting a minimum degree level that is judged to offer the best opportunities for entry-level employment. This Public Relations Specialists schools and career page was originally researched by CityTownInfo.com.