Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz
PR Managers
PR Managers plan, direct, or coordinate activities designed to create or maintain a favorable public image or raise issue awareness for their organization or client; or if engaged in fundraising, plan, direct, or coordinate activities to solicit and maintain funds for special projects or nonprofit organizations.
Table of contents
What they do
PR Managers plan, direct, or coordinate activities designed to create or maintain a favorable public image or raise issue awareness for their organization or client; or if engaged in fundraising, plan, direct, or coordinate activities to solicit and maintain funds for special projects or nonprofit organizations.
- Establish goals for soliciting funds, develop policies for collection and safeguarding of contributions, and coordinate disbursement of funds.
- Identify main client groups and audiences, determine the best way to communicate publicity information to them, and develop and implement a communication plan.
- Develop and maintain the company’s corporate image and identity, which includes the use of logos and signage.
- Manage special events, such as sponsorship of races, parties introducing new products, or other activities the firm supports, to gain public attention through the media without advertising directly.
Typical day
On a daily basis, PR Managers develop and maintain the company’s corporate image and identity, which includes the use of logos and signage. They facilitate consumer relations or the relationship between parts of the company, such as the managers and employees, or different branch offices.
A typical day for a Public Relations and Fundraising Manager will also include:
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, government officials, and media representatives and use these relationships to develop new business opportunities.
- Establish goals for soliciting funds, develop policies for collection and safeguarding of contributions, and coordinate disbursement of funds.
- Assign, supervise, and review the activities of public relations staff.
- Manage communications budgets.
- Evaluate advertising and promotion programs for compatibility with public relations efforts.
Other responsibilities
Besides their typical day, PR Managers also manage communications budgets. They may also evaluate advertising and promotion programs for compatibility with public relations efforts.
On a weekly to monthly basis, PR Managers maintain company archives. They might also identify main client groups and audiences, determine the best way to communicate publicity information to them, and develop and implement a communication plan.
In addition, they write interesting and effective press releases, prepare information for media kits, and develop and maintain company internet or intranet web pages.
Although specific duties may vary, many of them direct activities of external agencies, establishments, and departments that develop and implement communication strategies and information programs.
To some PR Managers, it is also their responsibility to establish goals for soliciting funds, develop policies for collection and safeguarding of contributions, and coordinate disbursement of funds.
What is the job like
Job satisfaction
Is this job meaningful
73% said they were satisfied with their job and 65% said they found their job meaningful.
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Pros
Suitable for people who like to start and carry out projects.
Suitable for people who wants job security and a good working condition.
This career is perfect for people who love to work indoors.
One of the highest-paid careers in the world.
Cons
Not suitable for people who like to solve problems mentally.
It is hard to get into this career. A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career.
Long working hours (More than 40 hours per week).
How much do they make
Average salary
Average hourly wage
Entry-level PR Managers with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $66,740 to $86,440 per year or $32 to $42 per hour.
Salary by experience | Annual | Hourly |
---|---|---|
Highest (Top 10%) | $208,000+ | $100+ |
Senior (Top 25%) | $165,340 | $79 |
Median | $118,430 | $57 |
Junior (Bottom 25%) | $86,440 | $42 |
No experience (Bottom 10%) | $66,740 | $32 |
This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for PR Managers based on their average annual salary.
Salary by industry | Annual | Hourly |
---|---|---|
Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing | $205980 | $99.03 |
Couriers and Express Delivery Services | $197880 | $95.14 |
Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing | $183080 | $88.02 |
Cable and Other Subscription Programming | $179510 | $86.31 |
Wholesale Electronic Markets and Agents and Brokers | $176200 | $84.71 |
Waste Collection | $172440 | $82.90 |
Support Activities for Mining | $171430 | $82.42 |
Oil and Gas Extraction | $167240 | $80.40 |
Scientific Research and Development Services | $166200 | $79.90 |
Other Information Services | $165150 | $79.40 |
View more salary by industries here.
Where can they work
Where can PR Managers work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of PR Managers including the average salary in that industry.
Employers | Total Employed | Annual Salary | Hourly Wages |
---|---|---|---|
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | 10850 | $119810 | $57.60 |
Management of Companies and Enterprises | 7400 | $150260 | $72.24 |
Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services | 7310 | $161180 | $77.49 |
Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations | 5150 | $156230 | $75.11 |
Grantmaking and Giving Services | 4760 | $134900 | $64.86 |
Social Advocacy Organizations | 3730 | $134600 | $64.71 |
Local Government | 2900 | $110160 | $52.96 |
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | 2460 | $132560 | $63.73 |
Elementary and Secondary Schools | 2150 | $116380 | $55.95 |
Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | 1900 | $151640 | $72.91 |
What is the work day like
Working hours
Working schedule
How often do you use email in this job?
Telephone
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
Group discussions
How often do you have group discussions in this job?
Public speaking
How often does this job require you to do public speaking?
Level of competition
How much competitive pressure is in this job?
What is the work environment like
Office-style environment
Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition
Warehouse-style environment
Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse
Outdoors
Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions
Outdoors – Under Cover
Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)
How to become one
Difficulty to become one
Required level of education
What level of education do you need to perform the job?
Relevant majors
Business/Corporate Communications
Business/Corporate Communications
Communication Management and Strategic Communications
International and Intercultural Communication
Political Communication
Public Relations/Image Management
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
Mass Communication/Media Studies
Speech Communication and Rhetoric
Communication
Relevant work experience
How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?
On The Job Training
How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?
Should you become one
Best personality type for this career
People with this personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.
People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.
People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.
People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.
People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.
People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.
You can read more about these career personality types here.
People who are suitable for this job tend to like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk-taking and often deal with business.
They also like working with forms, designs, and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.
Work Values
Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?
You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.
You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.
You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.
You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.
You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.
You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.
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