Quick answer
A public relations or advertising degree leads to jobs as a PR specialist, marketing specialist, social media or content manager, account executive and, later, PR, advertising or marketing manager. BLS reports a median of $69,780 for PR specialists and $138,520 for public relations managers (May 2024).
Public relations and advertising attract students who write well, read people well and like a fast pace. The work is about getting attention for the right reasons: news coverage, campaigns, social media and crisis response.
Parents usually want to know two things: whether the first job pays the bills, and whether AI is about to take over the writing. Below we answer both with federal data. For a broader view of the field, see our marketing degree guide.
What Entry-Level Jobs Can You Get With a Public Relations Degree?
Pay figures are national medians (the middle wage, not the average) from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024. Half of workers earn more and half earn less. Our calculators and Continuum chart use BLS averages (means), which are usually higher, so their numbers may not match these.
1. Public Relations Specialist
Writes press releases, pitches reporters, runs social media and handles messaging for companies, agencies and nonprofits. BLS: median $69,780 (middle half earns $51,970–$95,940).
2. Marketing Specialist or Market Research Analyst
Plans campaigns and studies what customers want. BLS market research analysts and marketing specialists earn a median $76,950 ($56,220–$104,870).
3. Agency Account Executive
Manages client relationships at a PR or advertising agency. BLS doesn't publish a separate figure for this title, so we don't give one. It is a common first job and a fast way to learn the business.
4. Writer or Content Creator
Writes for brands, agencies and media. BLS writers and authors earn a median $72,270.
What Are the Highest-Paying Jobs With a Public Relations Degree?
Most of the high pay in this field comes from leading teams, budgets and accounts.
5. Public Relations Manager
Directs an organization's communications and reputation strategy. BLS: median $138,520 ($102,300–$198,000).
6. Advertising and Promotions Manager
Runs campaigns and the budgets behind them. BLS: median $126,960.
7. Marketing Manager
Owns a brand's or product's overall marketing. BLS: median $161,030 ($111,210–$211,080).
8. Art Director
Leads the visual side of campaigns. BLS: median $111,040. It usually takes years of design work first.
9. Fundraising Manager
Leads fundraising for nonprofits, schools and hospitals, a natural fit for PR skills. BLS: median $123,480.
How Much Do Public Relations Majors Make?
| Career | Median pay | Middle 50% range | Typical education |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public relations specialist | $69,780 | $51,970–$95,940 | Bachelor's |
| Writer or author | $72,270 | $52,890–$98,320 | Bachelor's |
| Market research analyst or marketing specialist | $76,950 | $56,220–$104,870 | Bachelor's |
| Art director | $111,040 | $80,130–$160,460 | Bachelor's + experience |
| Advertising and promotions manager | $126,960 | $85,990–$178,570 | Bachelor's + experience |
| Public relations manager | $138,520 | $102,300–$198,000 | Bachelor's + experience |
| Marketing manager | $161,030 | $111,210–$211,080 | Bachelor's + experience |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 national estimates. The middle 50% is the 25th to 75th percentile. Pay varies by state, employer and experience.
What Do Public Relations Majors Study?
Expect writing for media, PR principles, campaign planning, crisis communication, media relations, social media strategy, research and analytics, visual design basics, and communication law and ethics. Many programs end with a campaign for a real client. Students who run a campus organization's social accounts, write for the student paper and complete two or more internships graduate with a portfolio, and that portfolio is what employers hire on.
Is a Public Relations Degree Worth It?
MajorMatch's Advertising and Public Relations Loan vs Upside calculator starts from Continuum wages of about $109,000 early-career and $151,000 mid-career. At its default $50,000 loan (6.5% for 10 years), total repayment is about $68,129, against an estimated lifetime earnings gain of about $2,936,987 over a high-school-only path, about 43.1 times the loan cost. It is an illustration, not a promise, and you can change every input.
Those Continuum figures are averages that include managers, so they run well above a typical first PR job (the specialist median is $69,780). The degree pays off best for students who build a portfolio and move into management. Students who stop at entry-level writing roles face more competition, including from AI tools.
How Will AI Affect Public Relations Careers?
MajorMatch's AI-Proof Career Check (part of the assessment results) estimates what share of a job's tasks AI tools could significantly speed up or automate. It measures exposure, not a forecast of job loss. Public relations specialists score 69%, one of the higher scores in our data, and the major scores 56%. Writing promotional material and editing are the most exposed tasks. Building relationships with reporters and partners, coaching executives and making calls in a crisis stay human. Students should learn to use AI writing tools well and put extra effort into the parts of the job that depend on trust.
Is Public Relations the Right Major for Your Teen?
PR fits students who write clearly, stay calm under pressure, like people and follow the news. If your teen is more interested in data and strategy, compare marketing. If they love reporting, compare journalism. The free MajorMatch assessment uses our own proprietary scoring method to compare your student's strengths and interests with all 100 majors, including advertising and public relations, and shows their top 3 for free. Take the assessment before you commit to a program.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can you do with a public relations degree?
Work as a PR specialist, marketing specialist, account executive, social media or content manager, and later as a PR, advertising or marketing manager.
How much do public relations majors make?
BLS reports a median of $69,780 for PR specialists and $138,520 for public relations managers in May 2024.
What are the highest-paying jobs with a public relations degree?
Management roles: marketing managers (BLS median $161,030), PR managers ($138,520), advertising and promotions managers ($126,960) and fundraising managers ($123,480).
Is public relations a good major?
It can be, for strong writers who build a portfolio and get internships. Entry pay is moderate; the big raises come with management.
What are entry-level jobs with a public relations degree?
PR assistant or coordinator, agency account coordinator, social media coordinator, communications assistant and marketing coordinator.
Will AI replace public relations jobs?
MajorMatch's AI task-exposure estimate for PR specialists is 69%. Drafting and editing are most exposed; relationships, strategy and crisis judgment stay human.