How to hire a media relations manager

How to hire a media relations manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step media relations manager hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a media relations manager job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new media relations manager
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a media relations manager do?

Post a media relations manager job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your media relations manager job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a media relations manager for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect media relations manager also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   Here's a comparison of media relations manager salaries for various roles:

   Type of Media Relations Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Media Relations Manager	Public relations managers plan and direct the creation of material that will maintain or enhance the public image of their employer or client. Fundraising managers coordinate campaigns that bring in donations for their organization.	$27-62
   Director Of Public Affairs	Directors of Public Affairs are executives who manage the public relations and communications initiatives of the company. They oversee all external communications that are intended for broadcast... Show more	$33-89
   Manager Of Corporate Communications	A manager of corporate communications is primarily responsible for overseeing the external and internal communications in a company, ensuring everything is running smoothly. They are also responsible for managing marketing communications and public relations, and even developing various marketing content... Show more	$27-58

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Press Releases
   • Strategic Communications
   • External Communications
   • Crisis Communications
   • Web Content
   • Corporate Communications
   • Twitter
   • Facebook
   • Fact Sheets
   • Event Planning
   • Press Conferences
   • Subject Matter Experts
   • Content Creation
   • Press Materials

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Hire, train and manage play-by-play broadcasters guaranteeing a professional and informative listening experience.
   • Direct corporate communications, publicity, media relations, crisis communications and serve as company spokesperson for major sports/entertainment venues.
   • Create and maintain the school s official Facebook page.
   • Help the college utilize social media (including Facebook) to engage alumni and current students.
   • Respond to media inquiries; coordinate media interviews, including spokesperson preparation and message development.
   • Direct internal communications tactics including newsletters, Intranet, domestic and international executive meetings, and special events.

   More media relations manager duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your media relations manager job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A media relations manager can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, media relations managers' average salary in mississippi is 35% less than in delaware.
   • Seniority. Entry-level media relations managers 56% less than senior-level media relations managers.
   • Certifications. A media relations manager with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a media relations manager's salary.

   Average media relations manager salary

   $86,031yearly

   $41.36 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level media relations manager salary

   $57,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 31, 2026

   Average media relations manager salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$105,492	$51
   2	Pennsylvania	$105,235	$51
   3	Connecticut	$104,057	$50
   4	New Jersey	$103,368	$50
   5	District of Columbia	$95,975	$46
   6	New York	$94,475	$45
   7	Illinois	$91,756	$44
   8	Massachusetts	$90,055	$43
   9	Arizona	$89,805	$43
   10	Texas	$86,416	$42
   11	Michigan	$84,003	$40
   12	Tennessee	$79,901	$38
   13	Maryland	$79,279	$38
   14	Ohio	$79,212	$38
   15	Minnesota	$76,306	$37
   16	Alabama	$75,038	$36
   17	Missouri	$73,302	$35
   18	Washington	$72,435	$35
   19	South Carolina	$72,279	$35
   20	Georgia	$70,023	$34

   Average media relations manager salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Shearman & Sterling	$178,143	$85.65
   2	Ross Stores	$152,851	$73.49	1
   3	Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center	$146,910	$70.63
   4	Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group	$141,235	$67.90
   5	JPMorgan Chase & Co.	$130,987	$62.97	38
   6	Interactive Brokers	$117,327	$56.41	2
   7	The University of Chicago	$114,957	$55.27	6
   8	Siemens Enterprise Communications Inc	$114,621	$55.11
   9	University of California-Berkeley	$114,001	$54.81
   10	Nostrum Laboratories	$112,346	$54.01
   11	HP	$111,731	$53.72	6
   12	White & Case	$111,673	$53.69
   13	Corning Incorporated	$110,940	$53.34	2
   14	PepsiCo	$110,036	$52.90	1
   15	Athletico	$109,118	$52.46
   16	Institute of Food Technologists	$108,278	$52.06
   17	Campbell Soup	$107,782	$51.82	6
   18	Beaumont Health	$106,343	$51.13
   19	Rocky Mountain Institute	$105,580	$50.76
   20	Wells Fargo	$104,763	$50.37

4. Writing a media relations manager job description

   A media relations manager job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a media relations manager job description:

   Media relations manager job description example

   About us
   
   At Peoples Natural Gas, a subsidiary of Essential Utilities, Inc., we are more than just an energy provider. We are a company that is truly passionate about serving our customers.
   
   Peoples Natural Gas is an energy company in Pennsylvania, providing Western Pennsylvania with clean, safe and reliable natural gas for more than 130 years and has a combined workforce of almost 1,300 employees. Peoples has been a committed partner and leader in the natural gas industry, currently providing reliable energy to more than 700,000 customers. Our vision of Making Lives Better is redefining the way we serve our customers. We are committed to being an environmental leader utilizing technology and innovation to create cleaner, more reliable energy sources.
   
   Job Summary
   
   What You Will Do:• You will help us protect and build a positive reputation for Peoples Natural Gas by developing and executing impactful external and media relations strategies. Peoples is part of Essential Utilities family of companies. Your role and responsibilities will include: o Developing an in-depth understanding of the Peoples Natural Gas business priorities'o Uncovering/securing unique media opportunities that support the business objectives - including but not limited to promoting new business initiatives, community outreach, and executive / thought leadership. o Serving as primary media contact and spokesperson o Managing ongoing issues / crisis / litigation communications and incident response; includes developing and maintaining a comprehensive issues / crisis management plan, stakeholder materials and reactive media responses o Serving as a strategic media adviser for C-Level and functional leaders. Providing counsel, preparation materials and media training, as neededo Maintaining a rich understanding of industry best practices, industry news / developments and emerging trends to inform media relations strategy and provide anticipatory executive supporto Continually monitoring and measuring media coverage - and adjusting program as needed for maximum impact and reacho Participating in operations and management meetings to stay informed and update cross functional teamso Collaborating with community and industry partners on media relations and outreach initiativeso Partnering with the Peoples Communications Manager - and closely collaborating with the Aqua Communications and Essential Corporate Communications Teams - to ensure an integrated enterprise approacho Researching / writing compelling media materials (including but not limited to: media pitches, news releases, media statements, talking points, Q&As, fact sheets, Op-Eds, and speeches)o Managing agency partner(s)
   
   What You Will Love:
   
   * Being empowered to add value from day one! As the subject matter expert in media relations/external communications, you'll have the opportunity to lead Peoples' media strategy, while working with a collaborative team. • Being part of a culturally diverse and inclusive workforce• Our customer- and employee-focused culture • Industry-leading benefits and professional development opportunities
   
   Basic Qualifications
   
   What You Will Bring:• Bachelor's degree (preferably in a Communications, Journalism or Marketing-related discipline) - or closely related experience• A minimum of 8 years of professional experience • Experience in the gas or utilities industries preferred• Successful track record implementing strategic media relations programs• Strong media judgment and acumen, particularly when dealing with sensitive issues• Experience as an on-camera spokesperson• Strong Pittsburgh media relationships preferred• Successful track record developing message maps, media statements, and narratives • Strategic and quick thinker who can remain calm in crisis situations and works well under pressure • Strong familiarity with media analysis and monitoring tools• Strong presentation skills and experience providing communications counsel to senior leadership• Passion for media and consuming news, in all forms, through a variety of channels• Team player who thrives in a collaborative and fast-paced environment• Must be able to work off-hours with media and internal teams during incidents/crises - i.e., nights and weekends, variable schedule(s) and overtime as needed• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Outlook) A valid U.S. driver's license as the position may require driving a company vehicle to events.Are you a leader that wants to take your career to the next level? Let's talk!
   
   Peoples is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer dedicated to the goal of building a culturally diverse and inclusive workforce. We strongly encourage applications from women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and veterans. Employment decisions are based upon job-related reasons, regardless of an applicant's race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, marital status, genetic information, protected veteran status or any other status protected by law. Peoples Natural Gas is committed as an equal opportunity employer. To maintain the integrity of the recruitment process and to avoid real or perceived conflicts of interest due to employment and/or assignment of family members and personal referrals, specific guidelines apply to the hiring and assignment of these individuals, including, but not limited to:• Family members cannot result in a supervisor/subordinate reporting relationship• Family members cannot work in the same department

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right media relations manager for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with media relations managers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit media relations managers who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your media relations manager job on Zippia to find and attract quality media relations manager candidates.
   • Use niche websites such as pr news job board, pr council, prsa job center, hoojobs.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit media relations managers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new media relations manager

   Once you've selected the best media relations manager candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new media relations manager first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a media relations manager?