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Public relations coordinator job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected public relations coordinator job growth rate is 8% from 2018-2028.
About 22,300 new jobs for public relations coordinators are projected over the next decade.
Public relations coordinator salaries have increased 8% for public relations coordinators in the last 5 years.
There are over 72,541 public relations coordinators currently employed in the United States.
There are 35,324 active public relations coordinator job openings in the US.
The average public relations coordinator salary is $46,225.
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 72,541 | 0.02% |
| 2020 | 72,754 | 0.02% |
| 2019 | 72,639 | 0.02% |
| 2018 | 70,562 | 0.02% |
| 2017 | 68,673 | 0.02% |
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $46,225 | $22.22 | +2.7% |
| 2025 | $45,003 | $21.64 | +1.9% |
| 2024 | $44,157 | $21.23 | +1.2% |
| 2023 | $43,642 | $20.98 | +2.2% |
| 2022 | $42,700 | $20.53 | +2.2% |
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 308 | 44% |
| 2 | Vermont | 623,657 | 232 | 37% |
| 3 | Delaware | 961,939 | 294 | 31% |
| 4 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 176 | 30% |
| 5 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 289 | 27% |
| 6 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 312 | 23% |
| 7 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 175 | 23% |
| 8 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 195 | 22% |
| 9 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 320 | 19% |
| 10 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 358 | 17% |
| 11 | West Virginia | 1,815,857 | 309 | 17% |
| 12 | Alabama | 4,874,747 | 669 | 14% |
| 13 | Hawaii | 1,427,538 | 196 | 14% |
| 14 | Oklahoma | 3,930,864 | 516 | 13% |
| 15 | Alaska | 739,795 | 94 | 13% |
| 16 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 156 | 12% |
| 17 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 122 | 12% |
| 18 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 673 | 10% |
| 19 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 269 | 9% |
| 20 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 167 | 9% |
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Brunswick | 1 | 2% | $58,706 |
| 2 | Boston | 3 | 0% | $47,898 |
| 3 | San Francisco | 3 | 0% | $50,666 |
| 4 | Austin | 2 | 0% | $44,408 |
| 5 | Chicago | 1 | 0% | $43,842 |
| 6 | Dallas | 1 | 0% | $43,614 |
| 7 | Denver | 1 | 0% | $43,603 |
| 8 | Las Vegas | 1 | 0% | $46,200 |
| 9 | San Antonio | 1 | 0% | $44,723 |
| 10 | Urban Honolulu | 1 | 0% | $49,747 |
New Jersey Institute of Technology
Coastal Carolina University
Grand Valley State University
Saint Mary's College
Elon University
Winthrop University
Denison University
Bowie State University
University of Florida
Wartburg College
Washington State University
California State University - Long Beach
Washington State University
Matthew Turner Ph.D., M.B.A.: Communication is central to pretty much every business and organization so someone with good communication skills will always be employable. The skills acquired in getting a degree in communication are transferable to many different career paths.
Laura Willis Calo Ph.D.: A couple of skills that will become all the more important in coming years are editing and critical thinking. With AI being able to produce initial drafts of content, our role as 'writer' is transitioning to that of 'editor.' In reworking AI-generated content, we need to think critically to ensure it is in line with the strategy driving our work.
Laura Willis Calo Ph.D.: Highlight your relevant experiences from internships and/or courses focused on experiential learning. Complete certifications, such as those offered through PRSA, Hubspot, and Google, that further develop your skills and demonstrate your mastery.
Laura Willis Calo Ph.D.: Stay up-to-date with the news! Being able to speak about current events will help you stand out in an interview and once you land the job. Get involved in your local PRSA chapter/district - this will help you grow your professional network and build your reputation.
Kimberly Lauffer: Public relations practitioners work in many different types of organizations, so it's hard to generalize a typical day. However, some activities include clipping (physically or electronically) mentions of their organization and its employees, coordinating interviews between media outlets and experts, identifying good internal stories and writing them, collecting B-roll for video news releases, identifying good external stories and pitching them to media outlets, monitoring social media, heading off or dealing with crises, etc. At the entry level in large academic, corporate, or agency-based organizations, a PR practitioner might have a very specialized role but in small or non-profit organizations, she might be a Jill-of-all-trades. Crucial public relations skills include writing, oral communication, critical thinking, and time management.
Kimberly Lauffer: Some of the drawbacks in public relations include the 24-7 nature of some roles (media relations, crisis communication, social media). It can be difficult for new practitioners to prioritize daily activities when they have multiple demands for attention. However, it can also be a rewarding career, both intrinsically and financially.
Kimberly Lauffer: PR is a good profession for a number of reasons. Depending on one's role, it often has a set, regular schedule. This is one reason why many journalists move into public relations after several years. Public relations can also be advocacy- or issue-focused, so when people have a strong interest in a particular topic (energy, animal welfare, health), it allows them to take an active role in promoting that issue.
Dr. Joy Daggs: I think making yourself the most well-rounded candidate you can be is the best way to maximize your salary potential. Try lots of things in your undergraduate experience. What you think you want to do as a freshman may not be as appealing after you try it. Most jobs do not require only one skill, so having a variety of skills where you can plug in several places in an organization is helpful. Even if you want to go into something like event planning, you still need writing skills, design skills, interpersonal skills, etc. to do that job effectively.
Don't be afraid to negotiate your salary. There are workshops from organizations such as AAUW (American Association of University Women) to help you build those skills.
Dr. Joy Daggs: 1. Knowing how to use AI responsibly. It can be used to make work more efficient. It's important to understand how to use it appropriately at a tool.
2. Understanding social media and how to interpret data to create and change messages.
3. 'Soft skills' such as public speaking, conflict management, and relationship building are not going away. You may need to learn to adapt those skills to a digital platform, such as Zoom or Teams. I am seeing current articles from publications such as Forbes about current graduates struggling in these areas, so sharpening these skills and your writing skills will set you apart.
Dr. Joy Daggs: I have quite a bit of advice:
1. Get as much experience as an undergraduate as possible. Many programs require internships, but even if they don't, seek opportunities to get experience. Take leadership roles in student organizations. Even if it's not specifically a 'public relations' entitled position, anything where you practice your skills is helpful. Even if you need to work a job in retail or service, those jobs still provide important benefits other than a paycheck. Don't discount your experiences!
2. Don't pass up opportunities to meet professionals. Many schools and departments bring their alumni on campus or do virtual events so that you can meet and chat with professionals. Even if it's not required for class, GO. You never know when a casual conversation may lead to an internship or an important professional connection.
3. Use your LinkedIn profile to your advantage. Make sure you have a professional picture that shows you in your best light. Follow organizations that you want to work for and other professional organizations related to your interests. I know of people getting interviews based off of LinkedIn interactions. Check your other social media accounts to make sure that you are not presenting yourself poorly. Most likely, organizations will Google you or look up your personal social media. There are reports of students losing opportunities because of poor social media choices.
Andrew Wood Ph.D.: People entering the field should become increasingly familiar with technologies related to social media, artificial intelligence, and augmented reality, while demonstrating an interest in contemporary issues such as health care, climate change, environmental justice, community engagement, and similarly high-impact issues. It's one thing to possess a degree in communication studies; it's a much more important thing to translate the field's concepts and theories to the problems (and opportunities) that are transforming our planet.
Andrew Wood Ph.D.: Communication Studies, a field that traces its roots back to ancient inquiries into the nature of persuasion, remains in many ways an emerging field. After all, while traditional notions of public speaking emerge from time-testing insights, our field is constantly evolving to address new challenges, modalities, and opportunities. Thus my general advice to anyone entering the field is to avoid relying solely on established career pathways. Yes, there are plenty of jobs in marketing, media production, speech writing, education, management, and the like. But the most effective job-seekers are those who are nimble, flexible, and focused on how they can articulate the value-add of their training to an organization's unique exigences.
Dr. Alice Veksler Ph.D., BCPA: Practice your interpersonal skills and think about how what you have learned in your coursework translates to your chosen field of work. Teamwork, conflict resolution, social media savvy, and professionalism can make or break a career. Being able to articulate and demonstrate mastery of these skills with concrete examples during an interview can help land the job and then embodying the skillset of an excellent communicator will lead to professional success. Networking is also key so making sure that you do internships and engage with others in your chosen field helps with securing a job. Forging connections early in one's career can pay massive dividends down the road. We say that 'you get jobs by talking to people' and this maxim is especially true for a broad field like communication studies. Finally, I always encourage a healthy work-life balance to avoid burnout and maximize productivity.
Yao Sun: People like being a Communication Specialist because of its dynamic and vibrant working environment. However, sometimes people dislike being a Communication Specialist due to the fact that this job demands high energy in dealing with various relationships, and this is a capability that not everybody can have.
Coastal Carolina University
Communication And Media Studies
Wendy Weinhold Ph.D.: Negotiation is so important whenever you start a job. Research will help you understand what people are making in similar jobs in your area, and you will be more likely to get a better offer if you know what to ask for based on what’s reasonable. Beyond salary, you can negotiate technology—such as laptop computers, tablets, phones—as well as other perks, such as professional development stipends. And remember: your first salary is just a start!
Dr. Mikhila Wildey PhD: Maximizing salary potential often has to do with knowing your worth. It is important for individuals to do some research on what similar positions in the field are being paid in order to understand what an acceptable salary range may be for a particular position. In order to argue for an offer to be on the higher end of a typical salary range and maximize earning potential, it is important to vocalize your skills and assets within interviews and in your application materials. Individuals will need to self-advocate to show why they should earn a higher salary. It can be helpful to write out their skills and assets on paper first and rehearse saying them out loud to feel more comfortable and confident within an interview.
Dr. Mikhila Wildey PhD: I think the ability to engage and connect with people will be very important in the field as we shift more and more to a culture that is driven by AI. Although AI can be a useful tool, it likely won’t ever fully replace the value of human interaction and connection. In addition, employers often comment that they want to see employees with strong work ethic, and I think this will continue to be the case in 3-5 years. Having a strong work ethic can separate the people that move forward in their careers to those who remain stagnant.
Dr. Mikhila Wildey PhD: My general advice for a graduate beginning their career in the field is to work hard, stay open-minded, and network! Most employees won’t stay in the same position for their entire career, and so I often tell graduates to not get too hung up on the first job needing to be the 'perfect' job for them. Often, the first job will be a place where they learn how to navigate the workplace, learn about their own strengths/weaknesses, and figure out what they like and don’t like. I encourage graduates to use this information to help them make decisions about the next steps in their career. And, if they are working hard and networking with people at their job, then opportunities will often times present themselves or be more available to them as they navigate their future career path.
Dr. Veronica Hefner: Knowing how to brand yourself, both in person and online, is becoming increasingly important. If you're networking at an event, do you have short stories or anecdotes that you can share that help you come across as interesting? A story can tell a listener about your values, work ethics, drive, and competencies much better than you sharing a laundry list of your achievements. The same thing is true when branding yourself online. Another skill is the ability to communicate, even if that sounds simple. Are you able to write a professional email? Can you carry on an intelligent conversation with a potential client? Do you know when to stop talking and actively listen? Are you able to get your message across to diverse audiences? These skills are applicable no matter what job you do.
Kenn Gaither Ph.D.: Adopt a growth mindset and keep learning. The skills from college are still valuable and useful, but so too is the ability to stay at the forefront of relevant trends. Public relations practitioners are strategic communicators, requiring disciplinary expertise, knowledge of cultural and technological trends and news, and a broad skill set. Continuing to invest in these areas will give a new graduate both a competitive edge and pathway for upward mobility.
Kenn Gaither Ph.D.: Interpersonal skills will become as valuable as ever. AI will eliminate some of the more menial parts of public relations, allowing practitioners to get to face-to-face, which is still the space where opportunity, innovation and relationships-building thrive.
Kenn Gaither Ph.D.: Focus on your skills honed by coursework, internships or involvement in student media organizations. Although you might not have significant full-time experience yet, offer your skill set as salary negotiation lever. Also, know your worth. If you receive an offer, consult with a mentor or career advisor to discuss strategies to maximize your salary potential and know a good starting point. Finally, ask about opportunities for promotion and timelines. Sometimes it can pay off to take slightly less than anticipated if there is a clear path toward salary increases or the company has a track-record of rapidly advancing entry-level employees.
Winthrop University
Public Relations, Advertising, And Applied Communication
Bonnye Stuart: I would say be flexible - you may be asked to do a variety of tasks. Some tasks you may feel comfortable doing, others you may feel you don't have the experience to tackle. Be confident in your abilities – you probably know more than you think you do – especially in the areas of technology and social media. Above all, be a sponge – soak up all everything you can from soft, people skills to specific industry knowledge. You can learn from every experience in the workplace (even mundane meetings can yield much information about the culture of the company or organization and who's voice is heard and valued). There is much to learn as you begin your career, even if your first position is not your 'dream job'!
Dr. Charles St-Georges Ph.D.: Be sure to communicate to potential employers all the skills you've acquired besides just 'speaking the language.' For example, your study of language and culture has helped you develop strong communication skills in both speaking and writing, and your intercultural competence has enabled you to engage with and learn from diverse populations in positive, productive ways. Your analytical skills are well developed after several years interpreting texts and cultural production across a variety of contexts and in comparison with your own language and culture. You already have significant experience adapting to new systems and learning to function and communicate quickly and effectively within them. Language majors are also uniquely aware of how cross-cultural communication needs to work if it is to happen successfully in an increasingly globalized world, regardless of the language of communication. Take the time to reflect on all the skills you've developed as a language major so you're ready to articulate them and advocate for yourself in a job interview.
Dr. Charles St-Georges Ph.D.: With American K-12 education continuing to gut the humanities and stress the importance of a STEM-only education (which is a false either/or choice, by the way), and with each new generation of college students having fewer and fewer social skills and poorer mental health due in part to an increasingly unhealthy relationship with technology, the workforce will increasingly be looking for college graduates who have people skills: effective communicators who are emotionally intelligent, culturally aware, and adept at encountering difference and navigating human complexity. A.I. is not going to provide these skills—especially when it comes to the cross-cultural communication that this increasingly globalized world will require. A quick A.I. translation from language A to language B is not going to facilitate the kind of contextually-savvy, culturally and historically-aware communication needed to combat climate change, deal with the next pandemic, or avert a major armed conflict. Or even effectively sell products, for that matter.
Dr. Rochelle Daniel: My general advice to a graduate who transitions into that first professional job in the Communication field is similar to advice I give Communication students for navigating internship workspaces (Communications Internship Handbook: What HBCU Students Need to Know, 2022). Be intentional about learning the organizational or office culture, really listen to find out what is expected of you, be flexible and adaptable when there are changes in workflow, and don't be afraid to ask questions.
University of Florida
Public Relations, Advertising, And Applied Communication
Dr. Rebecca Frazer: Research the average salaries for the different types of positions you are interested in and take note of what skills are needed for higher paying positions. Students should be thinking about what skills they can build to maximize their earning potential before they even reach the job market.
Dr. Rebecca Frazer: The ability to harness new technologies without becoming distracted from key goals will drive success in the future of the field. With the explosion of artificial intelligence technologies and the proliferation of new social media platforms in recent years, some practitioners may be struggling to keep up. The most successful practitioners will work to understand new technologies and strategically harness their power, while also staying focused on the fundamental role of public relations: building strong, genuine, mutually-beneficial relationships with key publics.
Dr. Rebecca Frazer: Be eager, flexible, and willing to learn. Entry-level PR positions often involve a broad range of different tasks that may require the employee to quickly teach themselves new skills, software, and applications. Demonstrating an ability to catch on quickly and an eagerness to take on new challenges goes a long way in impressing an employer.
Dr. Penni Pier: I wholeheartedly believe the same skills that have been important over the past 50. You need to be a good storyteller, a good writer, and a good researcher. Technology will change, the mediums will change, but the skills of being able to research, use your resources and tell a compelling story that touches the heart of your consumer or target audience remains constant.
Washington State University
Public Relations, Advertising, And Applied Communication
Ms. Chelsea Thomas: A public relations professional's job is to act as a liaison between the public and the client, helping to communicate effectively based on the client's needs. The goal is to communicate the client's messaging in a way that is consistent and mission-driven through a variety of communication tools and tactics. Communication tactics may include press releases, media collaboration, strategic meetings and media monitoring. Ultimately, the public relations professional is responsible for executing a well-strategized public relations campaign and message in an efficient, effective and timely manner for the benefit of both the public and the client being served. Someone entering the field of public relations, such as an intern, may be responsible for client media monitoring, assisting the executive team in organizing events, press releases and media pitches, and conducting general research on industry competitors, trends and media outlets.
Ms. Chelsea Thomas: Public relations is a good fit for those who enjoy a fast-paced lifestyle with low predictability. That said, a professional in this field will spend significant time building a well-planned, strategic campaign that anticipates potential issues and capitalizes on client successes. A person in this field would do well being organized, strategic, flexible and sociable. A strong writing capacity is a positive aspect as well. Conversely, those in this profession might dislike unpredictable hours, as this industry can sometimes require significant time, attention and dedication to the client's needs.
Ms. Chelsea Thomas: Public relations is a unique and dynamic field that allows professionals to execute both strategic and tactical initiatives. This profession allows one to experience a fast-paced industry where creativity, objectivity and strategy meet. No two days are likely the same; one can be filled with socializing at planned events, another working with media to manage external relations, and another spending quality time strategizing with a client representative. With the growing need for an organization to build and maintain a positive relationship with the target audience and stakeholders, public relations is an excellent profession for those skilled in communication and customer relationship management.
Dr. Nick DiFrancesco: Communication- many grads lack even basic communication skills such as presenting, writing, or conversation; the industry is going to be seeking out not just the best and brightest, individuals who are personable, can relate and have rational discussions with others. The inability to engage in conversation and debate, or network with others is a serious issue among students, and these are skills that are absolutely vital to any professional.
Dr. Nick DiFrancesco: Be reliable and willing to do different things. You don’t know where your best suited after graduation, but demonstrating that you can be counted on is not easily forgotten by most employers. Similarly, employees who decide to pigeon-hole themselves into a narrow set of tasks are rarely asked to do much beyond that, and can impede the progress in one’s career.
California State University - Long Beach
Classics And Classical Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics
Dr. Nancy Meyer MA MA PhD: As AI becomes a bigger force, it will become increasingly important that students be able to communicate clearly and intentionally (really know and understand what you want to say, and say it clearly). AI responds clearly to clarity. So, my first bit of advice is learn to communicate clearly. Additionally, in spoken communication—which will continue to be important!—clarity and professionalism will become increasingly difficult to find and more important. My student write for me at least twice during the semester and many of them don’t communicate their thoughts clearly and they can’t (or won’t?) use accepted formats in writing. In know APA is not going to be used at Kaiser or Chase, but every profession, every corporate entity has accepted formats for written communication and students will be expected to emulate those basic formats, likely without formal training. #2, learn to use different formats in written communication. Third, do whatever you need to do to think differently and gain different perspectives. I always encourage my students to take different classes! This is will help them foster curiosity, which will help them not only make a living, but also help them make a LIFE that they want to inhabit! Professionally, these odd classes will help them understand the world and their professions differently! If every engineer takes the same basic classes, they are all going to ask the same questions and come to the same conclusions or lack of answers. It’s the one that took Art History as a minor, or Classics, that sees the world a bit differently! They see different analogies, ask different questions, and find different solutions. Likewise, the Religious Studies major that takes Physics or Psychology is going to approach their work differently. I got into my PhD program BECAUSE I had weird degrees and so I brought very different perspectives. And, my colleague at Soka University, who is an Ob/Gyn, was excited to meet Classicist because in medical school students with Classics degrees always did better on exams (because of the Latin).
Dr. Nancy Meyer MA MA PhD: Do the research! And, be able to clearly articulate your value. This is especially true for women, and doubly so for women of color who most often get shafted on salary! Women are never assumed to be needed or intelligent in the same way that (white) men are. We have to make our case with data. Know your value, but don’t assume anyone else will know it. Do the research and find out what people at your level in that field get paid and then MAKE YOUR CASE, clearly.
Michelle Galey: PR is a great profession to enter now because of the growing demand for PR professionals, varied career opportunities, growth potential, competitive salary and benefits, and work-life balance and flexibility. Plus, working in PR allows you to be creative and work with so many different software tools and platforms. With the increasing reliance on digital media and online platforms, there is a growing demand for PR professionals who can effectively navigate these channels and stay up to date with current trends and technologies. We live in an era of 24/7 communication and public scrutiny, so organizations need highly skilled PR professionals to manage and mitigate potential crises effectively. Although this is a sad reality, it provides more work for PR professionals!
Michelle Galey: From my experience being a PR practitioner myself and talking to my former PR students, it’s easy to find both rewards and challenges in the PR profession. My former students tell me that they enjoy the variety, creativity, impact, and networking opportunities in the field but that can sometimes come with high pressure, stress, unpredictability, client expectations, and mundane administrative tasks. These tasks can range from data entry to maintaining media lists and contact databases. Despite the challenges, they find the field rewarding and fulfilling, knowing they have an opportunity to grow in their careers and make significant impacts within their organizations and for their clients.
Michelle Galey: A PR professional and a new hire entering the field might have different responsibilities, but they often share some common tasks as well. Both the seasoned PR professional and the new hire play important roles in the PR process. While the PR professional’s day may be centered around strategy development, media relations, and working directly with clients and upper administration, the new hire is often involved with research, press release writing, event planning, social media coordination, and administrative tasks. However, as new hires gain experience and expertise, they will take on more responsibilities and play a more significant role in their firms and organizations.