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Technology
Microsoft, Google, Salesforce
Public Relations Managers
Public relations managers shape how a company is seen by employees, reporters, customers, and regulators. They spend as much time preventing damage through crisis plans and careful messaging as they do promoting the organization, so the job is part storyteller and part damage control. The tradeoff is that the work can be highly visible and influential, but one misstep can spread quickly and create immediate pressure.
Also known as PR ManagerCommunications ManagerCorporate Communications ManagerMedia Relations ManagerExternal Communications Manager
Median Salary
$138,520
Mean $163,520
U.S. Workforce
~76K
6.6K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+5%
83.2K to 87.3K
Entry Education
Bachelor's degree
+ 5 years or more experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Public Relations Managers sits in the Business category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~76K workers, with a median annual pay of $138,520 and roughly 6.6K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 83.2 K in 2024 to 87.3K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with Bachelor's degree in public relations, communications, journalism, or marketing, and employers typically expect 5 years or more of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Communications Coordinator / PR Assistant and can progress toward Vice President of Communications. High-value skills usually include Crisis Communication Planning & Media Response, Executive Messaging, Speechwriting & Q&A Prep, and Media Relations & Press Outreach (Cision, Muck Rack), paired with soft skills such as Clear writing, Calm under pressure, and Relationship building.
Core Responsibilities
- Supervise the public relations team, review their work, and make sure deadlines are met.
- Work with leadership and HR to send clear updates to employees about company news and changes.
- Write and edit brochures, news releases, and other promotional materials.
- Build and protect the company’s public image, including logos, signage, and other brand details.
Keep exploring: more Business careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Supervise the public relations team, review their work, and make sure deadlines are met.
02 Work with leadership and HR to send clear updates to employees about company news and changes.
03 Write and edit brochures, news releases, and other promotional materials.
04 Build and protect the company’s public image, including logos, signage, and other brand details.
05 Prepare executives for interviews and speeches and help them deliver a clear message.
06 Run crisis communication plans and coordinate with outside agencies, media contacts, clients, and government officials.
Industries That Hire
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Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals
Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, CVS Health
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Consumer Brands
Nike, Coca-Cola, Procter & Gamble
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Entertainment and Media
Disney, Netflix, Comcast
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Airlines and Transportation
Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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The pay is strong, with a median of $138,520 and a mean of $163,520, which puts experienced managers well above many office jobs.
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The work is visible and influential because you help decide how the public, employees, and media understand the company.
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There are about 6.6 thousand annual openings, so turnover creates steady chances for experienced communicators to move up.
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The role develops a broad view of how executives, legal teams, HR, and media all interact during routine work and crisis moments.
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Skills transfer across many industries, so someone with good writing and media instincts can move between sectors without starting over.
Challenges
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You usually need at least 5 years of work experience before employers trust you with the manager title, so it is not a quick entry point.
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Projected growth is only 5.0% from 2024 to 2034, which means the field is expanding slowly rather than booming.
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Crisis work can mean sudden nights, weekends, and pressure to respond fast when a company is under public scrutiny.
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There are only so many leadership seats in most organizations, so the upper end of the career ladder can be competitive and narrow.
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AI tools can draft press releases and scan coverage quickly, so managers need judgment, relationships, and strategy to stay valuable.
Career Progression
Communications Coordinator / PR Assistant
0-2 years
$45K-$64K
Entry-level work focuses on drafting basic materials, tracking media lists, and helping senior staff stay organized.
Public Relations Specialist
2-5 years
$65K-$99K
Specialists handle press outreach, event support, and day-to-day communication tasks with less supervision.
Public Relations Manager THIS ROLE
5-10 years
$100K-$169K
Managers lead messaging, coach executives, manage crises, and oversee the PR team’s work across several projects.
Director of Communications
10-18 years
$170K-$229K
Directors set communication strategy for the whole organization and coordinate across departments, agencies, and senior leaders.
Vice President of Communications
15+ years
$230K-$320K
This executive role owns the company’s public voice at the highest level and often handles the toughest reputation issues.
Education Paths
Bachelor's degree in public relations, communications, journalism, or marketing
The BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry requirement for this role.
Bachelor's degree plus several years of communications or media experience
This is a practical route for people who build up writing, media, or internal communications experience before moving into management.
Master's degree in communications, business, or public affairs
Some workers add graduate study to move into larger organizations or broader corporate communications work.
Professional certificate in public relations, crisis communication, or digital media
A certificate can help career changers sharpen specific skills, but it usually supports experience rather than replacing it.
Key Skills
Technical
Crisis Communication Planning & Media Response 94%
Executive Messaging, Speechwriting & Q&A Prep 91%
Media Relations & Press Outreach (Cision, Muck Rack) 88%
Corporate Communications Strategy 85%
Adobe InDesign & Canva 72%
Microsoft PowerPoint & Keynote 70%
AP Style Editing & Google Workspace 67%
Slack, SharePoint & Internal Communications Platforms 65%
Soft Skills
Clear writingCalm under pressureRelationship buildingDiplomacyQuick judgmentProject coordination Job Outlook and Trends
+5%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
6.6K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 83.2K to 87.3 K over the next decade, representing 5% growth. Around 6.6 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Moderate. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.