Jobs Similar to Public Relations Specialists
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to public relations specialists, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Public Relations Managers, Advertising and Promotions Managers and Fundraisers.
Public Relations Specialists: $74,750 median pay · usual preparation: Bachelor's degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Public Relations Specialists) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Public Relations Managers | 86% | $146,910+97% | Bachelor's degree |
| 2 | Advertising and Promotions Managers | 83% | $133,660+79% | Bachelor's degree |
| 3 | Fundraisers | 83% | $72,550−3% | Bachelor's degree |
| 4 | Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes | 82% | $82,890+11% | Bachelor's degree |
| 5 | Talent Directors | 82% | $90,360Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 6 | Advertising Sales Agents | 81% | $64,820−13% | Training or associate |
| 7 | Marketing Managers | 81% | $166,790+123% | Bachelor's degree |
| 8 | Fundraising Managers | 80% | $125,470+68% | Bachelor's degree |
| 9 | Writers and AuthorsSame group | 79% | $76,910+3% | Bachelor's degree |
| 10 | Media Programming Directors | 79% | $90,360Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 11 | Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners | 78% | $61,160−18% | Bachelor's degree |
| 12 | Search Marketing Strategists | 78% | $78,760Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 13 | EditorsSame group | 77% | $77,920+4% | Bachelor's degree |
| 14 | Sales Managers | 77% | $148,270+98% | Bachelor's degree |
| 15 | Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists | 77% | $78,760+5% | Bachelor's degree |
| 16 | Producers and Directors | 76% | $90,360+21% | Bachelor's degree |
| 17 | Education Administrators, Postsecondary | 76% | $104,590+40% | Graduate degree |
| 18 | Lawyers | 75% | $159,670+114% | Graduate degree |
| 19 | Training and Development Managers | 75% | $133,000+78% | Bachelor's degree |
| 20 | Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel | 75% | $69,990−6% | High school |
- 1Public Relations Managers
86% similar · $146,910 (+97%) · Bachelor's degree
- 2Advertising and Promotions Managers
83% similar · $133,660 (+79%) · Bachelor's degree
- 3Fundraisers
83% similar · $72,550 (−3%) · Bachelor's degree
- 4Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes
82% similar · $82,890 (+11%) · Bachelor's degree
- 5Talent Directors
82% similar · $90,360 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 6Advertising Sales Agents
81% similar · $64,820 (−13%) · Training or associate
- 7Marketing Managers
81% similar · $166,790 (+123%) · Bachelor's degree
- 8Fundraising Managers
80% similar · $125,470 (+68%) · Bachelor's degree
- 9Writers and Authors
79% similar · $76,910 (+3%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 10Media Programming Directors
79% similar · $90,360 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 11Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners
78% similar · $61,160 (−18%) · Bachelor's degree
- 12Search Marketing Strategists
78% similar · $78,760 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 13Editors
77% similar · $77,920 (+4%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 14Sales Managers
77% similar · $148,270 (+98%) · Bachelor's degree
- 15Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists
77% similar · $78,760 (+5%) · Bachelor's degree
- 16Producers and Directors
76% similar · $90,360 (+21%) · Bachelor's degree
- 17Education Administrators, Postsecondary
76% similar · $104,590 (+40%) · Graduate degree
- 18Lawyers
75% similar · $159,670 (+114%) · Graduate degree
- 19Training and Development Managers
75% similar · $133,000 (+78%) · Bachelor's degree
- 20Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel
75% similar · $69,990 (−6%) · High school
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than public relations specialists.
- Marketing Managers81% similar · $166,790 (+123%)
- Sales Managers77% similar · $148,270 (+98%)
- Public Relations Managers86% similar · $146,910 (+97%)
- Advertising and Promotions Managers83% similar · $133,660 (+79%)
- Training and Development Managers75% similar · $133,000 (+78%)
- Fundraising Managers80% similar · $125,470 (+68%)
Similar jobs that need less preparation
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for public relations specialists also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where public relations specialists is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Fundraisers (93)
- Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes (92)
- Media Programming Directors (89)
- Talent Directors (89)
- Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners (88)
- Advertising Sales Agents (83)
- Search Marketing Strategists (82)
- Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists (81)
- Producers and Directors (76)
- Advertising and Promotions Managers (73)
Questions about jobs like public relations specialists
What jobs are most similar to public relations specialists?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Public Relations Managers (86% similar), Advertising and Promotions Managers (83% similar), Fundraisers (83% similar), Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes (82% similar) and Talent Directors (82% similar).
Which jobs like public relations specialists pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Marketing Managers ($166,790, +123%; usually a bachelor's degree), Lawyers ($159,670, +114%; usually a graduate degree) and Sales Managers ($148,270, +98%; usually a bachelor's degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with public relations specialists ($74,750). Without more preparation than public relations specialists usually need: Marketing Managers, Sales Managers and Public Relations Managers.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.