How to hire a public affairs manager

How to hire a public affairs manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step public affairs 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 public affairs manager job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new public affairs manager
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a public affairs manager do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The public affairs manager hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   A public affairs manager's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, public affairs managers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   Here's a comparison of public affairs manager salaries for various roles:

   Type of Public Affairs Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Public Affairs 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.	$26-62
   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
   Vice President Of Communication	A vice president of communication is in charge of overseeing and implementing internal and external communication programs. Their responsibilities revolve around setting goals and objectives, allocating budgets, delegating tasks, liaising with key clients, and managing the workforce to ensure an efficient workflow... Show more	$45-124

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • External Stakeholders
   • Press Releases
   • Government Relations
   • Strategic Communications
   • Community Relations
   • Community Outreach
   • Spokesperson
   • Crisis Communications
   • Public Policy Issues
   • External Communications
   • Business Objectives
   • External Audiences
   • Public Affairs
   • Corporate Communications

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Respond to media queries, write news releases and manage media engagements while acting as spokesperson for several multifacete organizations.
   • Respond to media queries, write news releases and manage media engagements while acting as spokesperson for several multifacete organizations.
   • Establish air show hashtags to auto-populate the wing s Facebook page with images taken by viewers in the crowd.
   • Track and optimize SEM and SEO for international online marketing campaigns.
   • Support SEO strategy to drive traffic to website, e-store and B2B sites.
   • Coordinate with USDA scientists to ensure accurate information before publishing.

   More public affairs manager duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, public affairs managers' average salary in florida is 43% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level public affairs managers 57% less than senior-level public affairs managers.
   • Certifications. A public affairs 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 public affairs manager's salary.

   Average public affairs manager salary

   $84,758yearly

   $40.75 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level public affairs manager salary

   $55,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 19, 2026

   Average public affairs manager salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$123,555	$59
   2	Nevada	$109,424	$53
   3	District of Columbia	$105,137	$51
   4	New Jersey	$104,777	$50
   5	New York	$101,588	$49
   6	Massachusetts	$97,364	$47
   7	Oregon	$97,175	$47
   8	Texas	$91,173	$44
   9	Virginia	$86,878	$42
   10	Washington	$86,853	$42
   11	Alaska	$84,928	$41
   12	Wisconsin	$84,474	$41
   13	North Carolina	$81,200	$39
   14	Colorado	$80,900	$39
   15	Pennsylvania	$77,806	$37
   16	Ohio	$75,962	$37
   17	Minnesota	$75,841	$36
   18	Illinois	$74,675	$36
   19	New Hampshire	$73,661	$35
   20	Florida	$64,453	$31

   Average public affairs manager salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Meta	$180,200	$86.63	10
   2	Google	$171,661	$82.53	36
   3	Microsoft	$151,156	$72.67	14
   4	Amazon	$139,654	$67.14	64
   5	Intuit	$133,106	$63.99	2
   6	Koch Industries	$124,417	$59.82
   7	Hoffmann-LA Roche Inc	$117,198	$56.35	3
   8	SAGE Publishing	$116,315	$55.92
   9	Mayo Clinic	$112,815	$54.24	6
   10	Sanofi US	$108,890	$52.35	21
   11	Luminex	$108,281	$52.06
   12	Clear Channel Airport	$107,716	$51.79
   13	Alere	$103,180	$49.61
   14	Colgate-Palmolive	$102,302	$49.18
   15	Caterpillar	$102,020	$49.05	1
   16	Florida Power and Light	$101,560	$48.83	2
   17	Abbott	$99,344	$47.76	25
   18	Volkswagen Group of America	$97,380	$46.82
   19	UPS	$93,925	$45.16	4
   20	Wolters Kluwer	$91,589	$44.03

4. Writing a public affairs manager job description

   A good public affairs manager job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a public affairs manager job description:

   Public affairs manager job description example

   ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS: Works under the direction of an assigned manager to develop and coordinate the communication needs of the Memphis Police Department(MPD), including photographing assigned events. Provides direction and guidance in response to staff inquiries. Develops special publications and serves as editor for agency publications. Provides direction for major media relations activities, including the administration of specific media relations events. Reviews and recommends media relations policies and procedures to the Police Services Director or her/his designee. Coordinates outgoing information about the Memphis Police Department (MPD) with the City's Chief Information Officer, in conjunction with the Police Services Director. Researches, writes, develops, and coordinates media campaigns for the Division as assigned. Advertises, photographs, and promotes the events and activities of MPD. Researches and monitors current events and activities that could affect the MPD. Assists the MPD leadership with strategic planning for known and potential regulatory activities related to the business and industry. Builds and maintains professional relationships with members of federal, state, and local partners and the media. Recommends effective ways to achieve communication objectives. Plans and implements communication strategies. Prepares speaking points for interviews and other meetings as required. Drives to various locations throughout the City to attend media and public relation events.
   OTHER FUNCTIONS:
   
   1.Performs additional functions (essential or otherwise) which may be assigned.
   
   TYPICAL PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Requires ability to effectively communicate, verbally and in writing with management, staff, employees, volunteers, media, business executives, community leaders, city officials, and the general public. Requires the ability to operate an automobile. Requires the ability to lift and carry materials up to 30 lbs. such as video equipment or materials for presentations. Requires the ability to use a personal computer.
   
   TYPICAL WORKING CONDITIONS: Work is performed in an office environment, except during on-site visits. Travel throughout the City will be required for meetings and presentations, occasionally at night and on weekends. Overnight travel and flexibility of schedule may be required. Some evening and weekend shifts may be required.
   
   MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business Administration or a closely related field and six (6) years' experience in public relations with four (4) of the six(6) years in a supervisory capacity; or any combination of experience and training which enables one to perform the essential job functions. Must have working experience in desktop publishing and graphics software programs. Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license as a condition of continued employment.
   
   Additional Information
   
   * Posting Date: Oct 13, 2022
   
   Compensation
   
   * Minimum Salary: US Dollar (USD) 54,733.38
   * Maximum Salary : US Dollar (USD) 84,281.6
   * Pay Basis: Yearly

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find public affairs managers for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your public affairs manager job on Zippia to find and attract quality public affairs 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

   Your first interview with public affairs manager candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   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 public affairs manager

   Once you've found the public affairs manager candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   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.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new public affairs manager. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

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.)

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How much does it cost to hire a public affairs manager?