Public Relations Officer Salary And Steps To Become One

A job in public relations (PR) entails using all kinds of media and communication to develop, maintain, and manage your clients' reputations. These include everything from public entities or services to corporations and non-profit organizations.

You'll convey essential ideas to specific target groups, frequently with third-party endorsements, in order to create and sustain goodwill and understanding between an organization and its public. This might be between businesses (business-to-business, or B2B) or between individuals and the broader public.

As a public relations officer or public relations account executive, you will watch publicity and do research to learn about the problems and expectations of your client's stakeholders. You will then report and explain your results to the company's management.

Keep reading to know more!

COPYRIGHT_MARX: Published on https://marxcommunications.com/public-relations-salary/ by Keith Peterson on 2021-10-22T09:48:01.554Z

Job Description 

Public relations (PR) is a separate management activity that aids in the establishment and maintenance of channels of communication between an organization and its constituents.

The editorial space inside print media, internet, television, and radio broadcasts is used by public relations to promote a brand's message. It all boils down to reputation management. There are two types of jobs available: consulting and in-house.

A wide range of organizations benefits from the advice and services provided by public relations firms. Most consultancies provide a broad variety of services and areas of expertise, but some may specialize in a specific field such as consumer PR, corporate PR, or public affairs.

Positions are also available in-house in governmental, private, and non-profit organizations. While the abilities necessary for in-house PR officers are the same as those required for consultancy, in-house practitioners may and must acquire an in-depth understanding of their organizations and their business environment to a degree not feasible for an external consultant.

Public Relations Officer Salary

• Starting wages for public relations officers range between £18,000 and £24,000.
• Senior public relations professionals and account managers often make between £25,000 and £40,000 per year.
• Senior management jobs, such as PR director or head of corporate affairs, can earn up to £100,000 per year.

Salaries in Puerto Rico vary according to the setting and area. For example, compensation in the private sector is generally greater. Aside from the governmental sector, there are no defined wage ranges, and starting earnings might be below.

Salaries in London and the South East are often higher.

Some companies have bonus programs, while others may provide other benefits such as private health insurance or a corporate automobile. You may also be given a laptop and/or a mobile phone.

The income numbers are just meant to serve as a reference.

What Are Top 10 Highest Paying Cities For Public Relations Jobs

We've discovered ten places where the average compensation for a Public Relations position is higher than the national average. Richmond, CA is at the top of the list, with Stamford, CT and Bellevue, WA close behind in second and third place.

Bellevue, WA outperforms the national average by $8,148 (18.9%), while Richmond, CA outperforms the national average by another $9,650 (22.4%).

Richmond, CA has a highly active Public Relations job market, with numerous firms actively recruiting for this sort of position.

With average wages greater than the national average in these ten cities, the prospects for economic progress by shifting locales as a Public Relations look to be quite beneficial.

Finally, another point to consider is that the average income in these top ten locations changes only by 9% between Richmond, CA and Glendale, CA, confirming the restricted possibility for wage growth.

When evaluating location and income for a Public Relations position, the prospect of a reduced cost of living may be the most important aspect to consider.

• Richmond, CA - $52,812
• Stamford, CT - $51,426
• Bellevue, WA - $51,310
• Lakes, AK - $49,511
• San Francisco, CA - $49,498
• Palmdale, CA - $48,966
• Santa Clara, CA - $48,781
• Hartford, CT - $48,684
• Pasadena, CA - $48,507
• Glendale, CA - $48,221

What Are The Top 5 Highest-Paying Public Relations Jobs In The United States?

We discovered at least five occupations in the Public Relations job category that pay more per year than the average Public Relations income. Director of International Relations, Senior Media Relations Specialist, and Media Relations Specialist are just a few examples.

Importantly, all of these positions pay between $35,229 (81.6 percent) and $60,725 (140.7 percent) more than the national average of $43,162. If you are qualified, being recruited for one of these related Public Relations positions may allow you to earn more money than the usual Public Relations position.

• Director International Relations - $103,887
• Senior Media Relations Specialist - $81,399
• Media Relations Specialist - $80,961
• Director Customer Relations - $79,246
• Public Relations Manager - $78,391

Steps To Become A Public Relations Officer

Public relations officers, often known as public relations or communications professionals, help organizations and the general public communicate.

They may work for businesses, non-profit organizations, or government bodies. Public relations officers' typical responsibilities include informing journalists about their organizations' operations, organizing public appearances for company leaders, and engaging in marketing efforts.

Earn A Bachelor's Degree

According to the BLS website, the usual educational qualification possessed by public relations professionals when they begin their employment is a bachelor's degree.

Students can pursue degrees in public relations, communications, journalism, or a similar profession. The Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) accredits undergraduate public relations programs in the United States and across the world.

In the United States, there are over 20 approved public relations degree programs. Coursework in persuasive speaking and writing, as well as visual communication strategies, is common in these programs.

Courses in digital, print and broadcast media may also be included in public relations degree programs.

When pursuing a career in public relations, here are a few pointers for success:

• Improve your practical abilities. According to the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), which is connected with the PRSA, aspirant public relations officers usually require the ability to utilize computer software and the Internet for research, communication, and desktop publishing.
• Look for an internship. Internships can assist prospective public relations officers to gain job-related skills. Public relations companies and corporations aren't the only groups that provide internship opportunities, according to the PRSSA. Local schools, museums, hospitals, and sports teams may also provide internship opportunities.
• Join a public relations student organization. Joining pre-professional groups such as the PRSSA may be a great approach to expand your knowledge and abilities in public relations. University PRSSA chapters provide members with access to industry and educational information, as well as internships and scholarships. The International Association of Business Communicators includes student chapters as well, and membership gives similar benefits as PRSSA membership.

Gain Experience

According to the BLS, prospective public relations officers may need to obtain many years of experience in the profession before moving up to managerial roles.

Entry-level public relations professionals are responsible for a variety of tasks, including looking for and filing print pieces about their companies. They may also collect and organize material for speeches and press releases.

Career Advancement Options

Public relations officers may desire to seek further educational options in order to enhance their careers in addition to acquiring professional experience in the industry.

A master's degree in communication, public relations, or business may assist public relations professionals to advance to positions of management. Furthermore, participation in professional organizations like the PRSA and IABC can give access to networking possibilities in the area.

A profession as a public relations officer entails investigating, tracking, and accumulating information about a company in order to disseminate content to the public and respond to internal concerns.

These professionals will require a bachelor's degree in journalism, business, or a similar subject, as well as many years of experience obtained via internships or entry-level employment, and potentially certification from a professional organization.

Related Programs That Might Interest You

After graduation, these specializations will prepare graduates for specialized public relations employment. Students should keep in mind that concentrations differ per program, therefore they should do their homework on the concentration options at each potential institution. The following is a list of some of the most frequent job pathways for public relations graduates.

• Advertising. After graduation, these specializations will prepare graduates for specialized public relations employment. Students should keep in mind that concentrations differ per program, therefore they should do their homework on the concentration options at each potential institution. The following is a list of some of the most frequent job pathways for public relations graduates.
• Strategic Communication. Students who choose this job learn how to connect communications with a strategic plan or corporate identity. Students learn how to communicate effectively to promote an organization's brand, maintain positive brand identity, and deliver successful messaging to consumers. The emphasis might also be on outreach tactics and coordinating with marketing and advertising.
• Social Media. A focus on social media equips public relations professionals to integrate social media approaches into strategic communications, public relations, and marketing. Students investigate social media theory, digital communications, and organizational uses of social media for brand identity construction. Search engine optimization (SEO), digital strategy, and digital analytics may also be included.
• Media Relations. Students of public relations who specialize in media relations study how to establish a strong relationship between an organization, agency, or corporation and the media for the goal of public relations. Students learn how to control media coverage, connect with media organizations for interviews, and use media relations to promote a business.

Is PR A Well-Paid Career?

Salaries have decreased in the last year, but public relations remains a well-paying profession. Public relation is a well-paying profession with plenty of room for advancement for ambitious individuals. Average remuneration is calculated using data from the CIPR and the PRCA. In its annual status of the profession survey, the CIPR polls its members.

Is PR A Stressful Job?

It may come as a surprise to many both inside and outside of the industry that a new 2019 survey by CareerCast.com found that public relations are one of the top ten most stressful occupations. "While no career is stress-free, choosing a profession based on its stress level is completely a personal choice," says Kyle Kensing of CareerCast.com.

How Does PR Make Money?

PR firms, as opposed to advertising firms, promote businesses or persons through editorial coverage. This is known as "earned" or "free" media, as opposed to "paid media" or ads, which appear on websites, newspapers, magazines, and television shows.

What Is A Good Public Relations Officer?

A competent public relations professional is involved in the world and keeps up with news in the customers' sectors as well as current events, trends, and advances in our own "business." This entails comprehending social media and its ramifications. The aim of public relations is to draw the outside in as well as the inside out.

Is Public Relations A Fun Career?

PR might be an interesting sector to work in if you are ready to improve your communication skills, work in a fast-paced, ever-changing environment, and learn new things every day. It won't be simple, but if you're ready to make errors and get right in, you'll find plenty of possibilities.

Is Public Relations In Demand?

Public relations experts' employment is expected to rise 11 percent between 2020 and 2030, faster than the average for all occupations. On average, 29,200 job opportunities for public relations professionals are expected each year during the next decade.

Is It Hard To Get A Job In Public Relations?

You don't have to major in public relations, but it will be more difficult to get into the field if you don't. People who majored in public relations have a big advantage, therefore if you study in the liberal arts, you should educate yourself about it through other means, such as internships.

Can You Make 6 Figures In PR?

A bachelor's degree in public relations, marketing, communications, journalism, English, or a similar field is often required for public relations practitioners. PR professionals with numerous years of experience can go to management and earn six-figure salaries.

About The Authors

Keith Peterson - I'm an expert IT marketing professional with over 10 years of experience in various Digital Marketing channels such as SEO (search engine optimization), SEM (search engine marketing), SMO (social media optimization), ORM (online reputation management), PPC (Google Adwords, Bing Adwords), Lead Generation, Adwords campaign management, Blogging (Corporate and Personal), and so on. Web development and design are unquestionably another of my passions. In fast-paced, high-pressure environments, I excel as an SEO Executive, SEO Analyst, SR SEO Analyst, team leader, and digital marketing strategist, efficiently managing multiple projects, prioritizing and meeting tight deadlines, analyzing and solving problems.