USA Career Guide - Public Relations Manager

Education and Training of a Public Relations Specialist in USA

• Bachelor’s degree in English, Journalism, Communication or Public Relations

• Courses in advertising, business administration, public affairs, public speaking, political science, and creative and technical writing are helpful. Some employers prefer a master’s degree in public relations or journalism. In 2010, one-fourth of public relations managers held a master’s degree in the US.

Related Instructional Programs for PR Specialist in the US

• Communication
• Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Communication
• Health Communication
• International and Intercultural Communication
• Political Communication
• Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
• Public Relations/Image Management
• Speech Communication and Rhetoric
• Sports Communication

Training is usually on the job and the one gets to pick the nitty-gritty of the profession by working with experienced staff. It takes 6 months to 1 year to complete training which includes writing news releases, speeches, and articles for publication or planning public relations programs.
The Public Relations Society of America offers a certification program for public relations managers based on years of experience and on passing an exam. The Accredited Business Communicator credential is also available from the International Association of Business Communicators.

Work Experience: Public relations managers must have several years of experience to work in a reputable agency or organization. People with 5 to 10 years of experience work as directors in a firm.

Pay of a Public Relations Specialist in the US Median annual wages, May 2010 Public Relations and Fundraising Managers: $91,810 Public Relations Managers and Specialists: $57,550 Public Relations Specialists: $52,090 (Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics)

Industry Overview

Employment of public relations managers and specialists is expected to grow 21 percent from 2010 to 2020, faster than the average for all occupations. In days of recession, organizations are still willing to invest in their image building.

Increased use of social media is expected to increase employment of public relations specialties. They help their clients to expand their visibility through the new media. Since organizations are in a cost-cutting mode, they are not employing full-time public relations in their companies. Companies are resorting to public relation firms for all their media and public relations activities.
(Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, United States Department of Labor)

Job Prospects of a Public Relations Specialist in USA

A public relations manager can work in:

• Public Relations Firms
• Advertising Agencies
• Media Houses
• Corporate Offices
• Event Management Companies
• Colleges and Universities