Occupation · SOC 27-3031
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.
Median wage
$69,780
$40,750–$129,480
Projected growth
+4.8%
Average growth
Annual openings
1,500
per year
Employed (US)
280,590
Job Zone 4
Typical preparation
Considerable preparation
Stackable credential programs
678 mapped
Core skills
Active ListeningSpeakingWritingReading ComprehensionSocial PerceptivenessTime ManagementCritical ThinkingCoordination
Knowledge areas
Communications and MediaEnglish LanguageAdministration and ManagementCustomer and Personal ServiceSales and Marketing
Technology & tools
Word processing softwareDocument management softwareDevelopment environment softwareVideo creation and editing softwareGraphics or photo imaging software
Representative tasks
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.Coach client representatives in effective communication with the public or with employees.Study the objectives, promotional policies, or needs of organizations to develop public relations strategies that will influence public opinion or promote ideas, products, or services.Prepare or edit organizational publications, such as employee newsletters or stockholders' reports, for internal or external audiences.Arrange public appearances, lectures, contests, or exhibits for clients to increase product or service awareness or to promote goodwill.Develop plans or materials to communicate organizational activities that are beneficial to the environment, public safety, or other important social issues.Plan or conduct market or public opinion research to test products or determine potential for product success, communicating results to client or management.Confer with production or support personnel to produce or coordinate production of advertisements or promotions.Consult with advertising agencies or staff to arrange promotional campaigns in all types of media for products, organizations, or individuals.Prepare or deliver speeches to further public relations objectives.Coordinate public responses to environmental management incidents or conflicts.Develop marketing campaigns for environmental technologies or services.Purchase advertising space or time as required to promote client's product or agenda.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Press releases and basic media communications — draft under supervisor review to promote client accomplishments in an agency or in-house PR setting.Media inquiry logs and contact databases — maintain and update using document management software to support timely spokesperson coordination.Company website and social media platforms — post approved content updates under direction to ensure consistent organizational messaging.Public relations strategy documents — read and summarize key objectives to support planning efforts for an assigned client or department.Community and stakeholder contact lists — compile and organize using database software to assist in maintaining cooperative external relationships.News monitoring tools and media reports — review and flag relevant coverage under guidance to track organizational reputation and emerging trends.Presentation software and word processing tools — use to prepare supporting materials for internal briefings and client communication drafts.Style guides and organizational messaging frameworks — follow consistently when producing written content for media or public-facing channels.Colleague communications and stakeholder feedback — listen actively during team meetings to capture key information and relay it accurately.Graphics and desktop publishing software — apply under direction to produce basic visual assets supporting press kits and promotional materials.
developing
Media responses and spokesperson coordination — manage independently for routine inquiries, applying organizational messaging guidelines in a fast-paced newsroom-facing environment.Press releases, pitch letters, and media advisories — write and distribute with minimal oversight to promote client products, services, or milestones across targeted outlets.Social media content calendars and website updates — develop and execute on a recurring basis to maintain consistent and engaging organizational presence.Public relations programs — assist in planning and communicating initiatives that sustain favorable public and stakeholder perceptions of an organization's agenda.Community groups, consumer advocates, and employee representatives — build and maintain cooperative relationships through regular outreach in a mid-size organization context.Business unit managers — confer with on a regular basis to identify emerging trends and stakeholder concerns and to provide communications advice on decisions.Video creation, photo imaging, and desktop publishing tools — use proficiently to produce multimedia PR assets for campaigns and press materials.Client and executive representatives — coach in public communication techniques, preparing talking points and conducting practice sessions ahead of media appearances.Organizational objectives and promotional policies — analyze to draft targeted public relations strategies that shape public opinion within a defined market segment.Active listening and social perceptiveness — apply during stakeholder meetings to identify unstated concerns and adjust communication approaches accordingly.
proficient
Comprehensive public relations programs — plan and direct end-to-end across multiple audiences to build and protect favorable organizational or client reputation in competitive environments.Complex or sensitive media inquiries — respond to or designate the most appropriate spokesperson autonomously, managing risk and messaging precision in high-visibility situations.Non-routine crisis communications materials — develop and deploy rapidly, integrating cross-channel messaging across web, social, and traditional media platforms.Multi-stakeholder relationship networks — cultivate and sustain across community, consumer, investor, and public interest groups to advance long-term organizational goals.Executive and client leadership teams — advise on business decisions with reputational implications, synthesizing stakeholder intelligence and competitive landscape analysis.Public relations strategies — design from organizational objectives and market research, applying systems analysis to forecast how messaging will influence public opinion.Senior leaders and subject-matter experts — coach extensively in media engagement, crisis response, and employee communications using tailored, evidence-based techniques.Persuasion and negotiation skills — apply in high-stakes media negotiations, partnership discussions, and community relations initiatives to achieve favorable coverage and outcomes.Campaign performance and systems evaluation — conduct using analytics platforms to measure PR program effectiveness and redirect resources toward highest-impact activities.Emerging digital and content tools — evaluate and integrate proactively, including web page editing and multimedia software, to keep organizational communications at the leading edge.
advanced
Enterprise-wide public relations and communications strategy — set organizational direction and lead development across all business units, aligning messaging with executive leadership priorities.PR department or agency practice — build and lead, establishing policies, workflow systems, and quality standards that govern all media relations and stakeholder communications functions.Organizational reputation and brand equity — govern at the executive level, advising the C-suite and board on reputational risk, stakeholder sentiment, and long-term communications investment.Cross-functional leadership teams — influence and align by facilitating strategic counsel on communications implications of major business, policy, and environmental responsibility decisions.Emerging professionals and mid-level practitioners — mentor and develop through structured coaching, feedback frameworks, and stretch assignments that build organizational PR capability.Industry coalitions, media organizations, and civic bodies — represent the organization at the highest level, establishing thought leadership and sustaining strategic external alliances.Crisis communications command structures — lead and activate during enterprise-scale incidents, directing spokespeople, legal, and operations teams to protect organizational standing.PR technology ecosystems and data infrastructure — champion and oversee adoption of advanced analytics, CRM, and content management platforms to drive evidence-based communications decisions.Public affairs and public relations budgets — own and allocate at the program portfolio level, applying systems evaluation to maximize return on communications investment across the organization.Organizational culture of communication excellence — foster by defining competency standards, championing innovation and optimism, and modeling socially oriented leadership across the enterprise.
Also known as
300 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Intragovernmental Inquiries Officer (Navy 2410)Foreign Area Officer (FAO), Bomber (Air Force 16F4R)Rated Foreign Area Officer (FAO) (Air Force 16Z3)Public Relations Consultant (PR Consultant)Public Information SpecialistMarketing CoordinatorLobbyistForeign Area Officer (FAO), SOUTHCOM (Air Force 16F4C)Political AdvisorForeign Area Officer (FAO), EUCOM (Air Force 16F1H)Public Affairs (Air Force 35PX)Officer Combat Aviation Advisor, Mission Commander (Air Force 89I0)Master Photojournalist (Navy A08A)Communications SpecialistForeign Area Staff Non-Commissioned Officer-Northeast Asia (Marine Corps 8233)Navy Tactical Counter-Intelligence and Human Intelligence (CI/HUMINT) Specialist (Navy K13A)Foreign Area Officer, Asia-Pacific (Army 48P)Enlisted Air Advisor - Basic, Team Leader (Air Force 8L300)Foreign Area Officer-Latin America (Marine Corps 8241)Foreign Area Officer (FAO), Trainer (Air Force 16F1Q)Counterintelligence/Human Source Intelligence Officer (Marine Corps 0204)Foreign Area Officer (FAO), ABM (Air Force 16F4N)Content Marketing SpecialistForeign Area Officer (FAO), ABM (Air Force 16F1N)Political-Military Affairs Strategist (PAS), Bomber (Air Force 16P4R)Third Tier Recruiter (Air Force 8R300)Political AidePsychological Operations, Designated (Army 37X)Psychological Operations (Army 37A)Counterintelligence/Human Source Intelligence (CI/HUMINT) Operations Officer (Marine Corps 0210)Content Developer (Navy 002760)Staff Theater Security Cooperation Officer (Navy 9058)Foreign Area Officer (FAO), Bomber (Air Force 16F3R)Officer Air Advisor (Conventional Force) Basic (Air Force 89A0)Rated Foreign Area Officer (FAO), EUCOM (Air Force 16Z3H)RL - Special Duty - Foreign Area Officer, Qualified (Navy 171)Foreign Area Staff Non-Commissioned Officer-Eurasia (Marine Corps 8232)Enlisted Air Advisor - Basic, Team Sergeant (Air Force 8L200)Civil Affairs Officer Special Operations (Army 38S)Public Affairs Specialist